In a landmark cultural and heritage event held in the Legislative Chambers of Brasília, Brazil, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, for their commitment to deepening cultural ties between Africa and its Diaspora.
The event, which formed part of President Tinubu’s State Visit to Brazil, spotlighted Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s Return to Africa project, described as a spiritual and cultural reconnection with African roots.
Dabiri-Erewa underscored the significance of initiatives such as Nigeria’s Door of Return Festival in Lagos, which symbolises unity and reconnection for people of African descent.
She disclosed that a permanent Door of Return would be inaugurated on October 18, describing it as “a symbolic gateway connecting the diaspora back to their motherland, historically, spiritually, economically.”
Prof. Soyinka, speaking on the project, explained that the idea was not about a physical relocation but a deeper spiritual bond.
“It is a symbolic return. Not about physically going back, but spiritually reconnecting with our African heritage, highlighting the resilience and strength of the African people,” he said.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Yemi Cardoso, who is of Afro-Brazilian descent, said the moment represented both pride and opportunity.
He noted that the introduction of direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil would be a “game changer” for business, tourism, and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
The heritage dialogue in Brasília further strengthened Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy agenda, highlighting the role of arts, heritage, and people-to-people connections in building global solidarity across the African diaspora.
