TIDA turns attention to the ancient city of Badagry home of tourist attractions

This museum has been abandoned for long, even though we kept disturbing government to renovate the museum, you can see the state of the museum now. The wall of the building is falling off gradually, we are only lucky that students still come in on tour, we use the money they pay to patch the museum up from time to time. This place is capable of generating huge revenue for the government if renovated and well maintained.

Emmanuel Ukudolo l Saturday, March 30, 2019

BADAGRY, Lagos, Nigeria – Badagry, was on the frontburner during the week when journalists and tourism practitioners stormed the ancient city, courtesy,Skyview Communications in partnership with Halogen Security ahead of the Tourism Innovation and Development Advantage (TIDA) conferenc slated for April 24, 2019. The conference with the theme, “Impact of Sustainable Tourism Development and Marketing of Tourism Destinations on Host Communities”, is expected to unleash the tourist attractions in Badagry and exposed it to visitors. The second TIDA conference, holds at 10 am at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs(NIIA), Kofo Abayomi, Lagos.

For the journalists, the tour was an eye opener, as the TIDA team, led by Femi Lawson stormed historical sites. Toping the list was the Seriki Faremi Williams Abass slave museum(Brazillian Barracoon) , Seat of cannon gun for slavery abolition in 1843, the Union Jack in the Wawu compound, Ancient Wawu palace and notable shrines inside the Wawu Kingdom like Obatala, Osun, Sango, Dagbe (snake), Orisa Ibeji, Egungun and host of other gods.

Origin of Yorubas in Badagry

The Wawu of Badagry Kingdom, HRH High Chief Tajudeen Dosa Ayipe-Wawu( Asheji Tenshiemente), traced the origin of Yoruba speaking people of Badagry to Oduduwa in Ile-Ife and not Ghana as claimed in a recent publication.

“We, Badagry people are from Ile-Ife and settled at Quidah in Benin Republic, later the Ifa oracle directed us to return through Gberefu to our present location in Badagry. The Wawu is famous because the family refused to support slavery at the time it was banned. Another means of identification with the Oduduwa race is the staff of office presently used which is known as “Kanako,” a metallic sceptre in the shape of the tree leaf to which tiny pieces of metal are connected and able to produce a scintillating sound when shaken. The staff was used then to shorten a long distance journey without using any means of transportation,’’ the Wawu said.

He tasked the Lagos State Government and Non-Governmental Organisations to invest in training youths in the community on how to latch onto the tourism potential inherent in the kingdom. For him, there are numerous tourist attractions that needed development to make them beneficial to government and the people of Badagry.

“Most of these tourists sites are the seat of cannon gun for slavery abolition in 1843, the Union Jack in the Wawu compound, Ancient Wawu palace. Also, notable shrines in the Wawu Kingdom includes: Obatala gods, Osun, Sango, Dagbe (snake), Orisa Ibeji, Egungun and host of other gods. We want these shrines and tourist sites well promoted for local and international recognition,’’ he said.

Earlier, Mr Femi Lawson, Founder of TIDA, said that the 2019 conference would rub off positively on individuals and the tourism industry and that Badagry was selected host city to promote and give more awareness to tourist sites in the area as well as it’s rich cultural heritage. This, he said will engender development of the Kingdom.

“TIDA is set for development of ideas that will add value to tourism promotion through tourism insurance, infrastructural tourism and the virtual tourism device. This will help market the nation’s tourism potential domestically and help increase traffic of international tourists into the country,’’ the Wawu said.

Seriki Faremi Williams Abass slave museum(Brazillian Barracoon) in terrible shape

In his reaction, a descendant of a Badagry slave master, Mr Wasiu Ajibola-Abass called on the Federal Government to renovate the Seriki Faremi Williams Abass slave museum, which is not looking too good for tourism. Seriki Williams Abass was a renowned slave merchant during the 19th century who became the paramount ruler of Badagry for 24 years. He was used to source for slaves in Nigeria until his death in 1919.

As the custodian of the museum, Ajibola-Abass said that the entire building had become dilapidated and was no longer attractive to woo local and international tourists.

“This museum has been abandoned for long, even though we kept disturbing government to renovate the museum, you can see the state of the museum now. The wall of the building is falling off gradually, we are only lucky that students still come in on tour, we use the money they pay to patch the museum up from time to time. This place is capable of generating huge revenue for the government if renovated and well maintained,” he said.

Seriki Faremi Williams died 100 years ago. Ajibola-Abass said June 11, 2019 has been set aside to commemorate his death, adding that it would be a celebration of freedom from slave trade.

“We are planning to celebrate 100-years of freedom from slavery and you know this place will not be presentable enough for the event, if it is not renovated,” he said. Foremost security outfit, Halogen Security catered for the safety of journalists and tourism practitioners during the trip.

NB: With reports from NAN