Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday pledged his administration’s commitment to make the first Annual Diaspora Festival in Badagry a major success, adding that a master plan that would prescribe strategies and programmes to boost the potentials of the ancient town was also underway.
Governor Ambode, who spoke when he received a delegation of the festival led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said the state government remains committed to partnerships that would explore the tourism potentials of the ancient town and its environs.
Welcoming the idea of the diaspora festival billed to hold in Badagry on August 23, 2017, the governor pledged his administration’s commitment to expand the scope of the festival in order to ensure that it becomes a major event in the state’s tourism calendar every year.
“This is a rebirth for us. I have always been looking forward to see what it is that I can do more to the Badagry axis, so I am excited that this delegation has been put up,” he said.
While reiterating that fact that Lagos remains the capital of the black race, the Governor stressed the need to create a convergence between commerce, investment, tourism and total well being of the black race, noting that it would become a major economic opportunity on the long run.
He also commended Dabiri-Erewa for her efforts in protecting the rights and interests of Nigerians in diaspora, noting specifically the recovery of some Nigerian nationals in neighbouring countries.
Earlier, Dabiri-Erewa commended Ambode, saying that his achievements in the past two years were not only making Lagosians proud but Nigerians especially those in the diaspora.
