An NGO, Centre For Heritage Preservation (CHP) on Friday, called on governments, organisations and individuals, to collaborate in the eradication of slavery in the country.
Chief Hunkanlin Afolabi, President and Founder of the CHP made the call in a statement on Friday.
The the call is in commemoration of the International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and its Abolition, schedule for Aug. 22 and Aug. 23
The theme of the 2025 edition is: “United Against Slavery; Past, Present and Future”.
According to Afolabi, the commemoration is to honour the courageous spirit of enslaved Africans, who fought for freedom, particularly the 1791 Haitian Revolution.
“We remember the enslaved Africans, including those from Badagry, who were forcibly taken and contributed to the historic Haitian Revolution.
“We acknowledge modern slavery’s persistence and its devastating impact.
“We call on governments, organisations and individuals, to collaborate in eradicating slavery in our society,” he said.
The president also called on government at all levels, to strengthen laws and enforcement against slavery in work places and homes.
He further urged stakeholders to support victims and survivors, while communities should also step up awareness.
Afolabi appealed to the Federal Government to prioritise development projects in Badagry, which included the establishment of a university or institution with courses in tourism and related fields.
He further urged the Federal Government to address the Badagry Deep Seaport Project which had been pending for over 15 years.
According to him, this will lead to the creation of jobs and stimulate economic growth, making Badagry a tourism hub in Lagos and Nigeria at large.
Recounting the event that led to the day, Mr Sewanu Fadipe, the NGO’s Project Coordinator, said it all started on the night of Aug. 22, through the morning of Aug. 23, 1791, in the Island of Saint Dominique now Republic of Haiti.
“Uprising of slaves started as slaves in the boat, that saw the slave masters awaiting the arrival of the slaves.
“The slaves came out from the ship and overpowered the slave masters.
“This event made Haiti to be the first black nation to gain independence in the world.
“This made the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to declare Aug.23 each year for remembrance of slave trade and its abolition.
“Badagry participation in this event is symbolic, besides Haiti. Other communities that usually remembered the agony of slave trade included Goree Island in Senegal, as well as Jufre and Saint James in The Gambia.
”Others are Cape Coast and Elimina in Ghana and Whydah in Republic of Benin,” he said.
