The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has paid a condolence visit to the palace of the late Akran of Badagry, His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Akran, to honour his legacy and contributions to the community.
Received by the Regent, palace Chiefs, and members of the late monarch’s family, Dabiri-Erewa expressed her heartfelt condolences, described Oba Akran as a visionary ruler whose reign fostered peace, socio-economic development, and cultural enrichment in Badagry and across Nigeria.
Highlighting the late monarch’s impactful initiatives, she particularly commended the institutionalisation of the Badagry Door of Return Festival, noting that it positions Badagry as a symbolic destination reconnecting Africans in the Diaspora with their ancestral roots. “His enduring commitment to heritage preservation and diaspora engagement will remain a lasting legacy,” she added.
The palace Chiefs and family members thanked Dabiri-Erewa for the visit and reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining a cordial relationship between the palace, the people of Badagry, and NiDCOM.
During the visit, Dabiri-Erewa also toured the site of the Door of Return, currently under construction. She applauded the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for approving the permanent project, described it as a landmark tourism initiative aimed at strengthening cultural ties and reconnecting the African diaspora with their historical homeland.
