Lagos Woos Small Businesses in the Diaspora

• Lagos Woos Small Businesses in the Diaspora

The Lagos State Government has lined up exhibitions and other activities aimed at wooing small businesses in the Diaspora back to the country.

Among the activities, according to a statement from the organisers, are carnival procession, boat regatta, fishing competition, dark era procession, Diaspora dinner, beauty pageant, fashion show, cultural displays and the festival market.

A statement about the event, whose theme was given as ‘Voyage to Heritage, read in part, “This ceremony is very significant because for the first time, a door of return is opened for the ‘Diasporans’ whose ancestors were historically taken away as slaves, through the point of no return in Badagry.

“This will be a fun filled and educative three-day event organised jointly by the African Renaissance Foundation, Agile Communications Limited, in partnership with the Lagos State Government and the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri. The event is slated to hold towards ending of August.”

The statement quoted Dabiri as saying that she was delighted about the concept of the door of return and the opportunity to invest in Lagos, the most viable commercial hub in Nigeria.