Badagry to become center for Africa Slave Trade Museum- Obasanjo, Garvey

Badagry in Lagos State has been selected as the location for the World Africa Slave Trade Museum by both Dr. Julius Garvey, the head of the diasporan delegation to motherland Africa, and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president.

This came after a meeting held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a courtesy visit on the former President and renowned African statesman.

In a statement on Thursday, by Obasanjo Special Assistant on Media Kehinde Akinyemi,  the decision to locate the world museum centre in Badagry was made in light of the historic town’s major contributions to the history of the slave trade

Senegal, Ethiopia, Addis-Ababa, Ghana, and Nigeria were considered as options; nevertheless, Nigeria was selected because of her power and ability as the continent’s leader.

Along with other current challenges, the visiting team talked about how to enhance trade between Africa and the Caribbean.

Garvey described the visit as “a wonderful experience for me seeing President Obasanjo personally” in his remarks “ He has the interest of the Africans at heart; Africans here in the continent and in Diaspora and I am happy to see that. We discussed about the situation in Africa and am pleased to say that the understanding we both reached on the Museum location is pleasing.

According to Garvey, “I am happy about the direction the conservation took,” the group also talked about the continent and the Caribbean as one of the six regions.

He added that he saw Obasanjo as somebody “who is on top of issues of the day. He has done so much for Africans and from the pan-African sense. He has a sharp mind and willing to contribute to the development in Africa. He really looked like my father from his old pictures and that he’s really taking good care of his health,” the Vascular Surgeon said.

He disclosed that having served as a vascular surgeon and professor of medicine for many years, “I am now focused on advancing my father’s legacy. I am interested in cultivating collaboration with Nigerians to bring home transformation through health, education, business, agriculture, aviation, tourism, technology, manufacturing and more. I hope to see Nigeria become Africa’s transformation engine and the Nigerian Diaspora as the continent’s best Global Ambassadors in this lifetime.”

Julius Garvey, who is the son of the human right promoter Marcus Garvey noted that his father though preached to Africans in the Diaspora about returning to the Motherland physically or mentally was not opportuned  to set his feet in Africa.

Obasanjo however hinted that as the Prime Minister (Balogun) of his Owu clan, he would recommend a chieftaincy title for him.

The delegation included, the Chairman of Space Network and notable Prince in Ijebu Land, Otunba Ayodeji Osibogun, the Olu Orile Ilawo, HRM (Prof) Alexander Olusegun MacGregor, who is also the Founder & President of Toronto Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology and Moses A. Mawa, President & CEO of Silvertrust Media, Afroglobal Television and Transformation Institute and the Executive Producer of a documentary film being produced on Marcus Mosiah Garvey and Julius Garvey historic trip to Nigeria is expected to be reflected in the film.