… Presidency Takes Charge
The grand celebration of the return of people of African descent and Friends of Africa, from the Diaspora to Nigeria and Africa at large in November and December, has received a great boost as the Federal Government of Nigeria has stepped in, to take charge of the entire movement and celebration.
In a letter dated 9th of August 2024, the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila stated that:
“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed his attendance for the IPADA CARNIVAL event as the Chief Host and has graciously accepted the roles of being the Grand Patron and the Chief Global Ambassador of the Carnival and IPADA Initiative.”
In a happy sweet reaction, the Founder of IPADA Initiative and Carnival, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, said the development is most welcome and in line with general motive of the grand celebration.
“The celebration is for Africa and Friends of Africa. Nigeria has taken the Initiative to welcome our brothers and sisters back to Africa and from here, they can reach out to other countries of Africa. We thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for deciding to Champion this initiative, to welcome home our own people, back into the African continent, from a long sojourn, as they return through cruise ships and luxury airlines in November and December, starting from this year. Indeed it is a new beginning,” said Akinboboye.
‘IPADA’ is the response to the beckoning of Motherland Beckons, which is a clarion call on Africans in Diaspora and lovers of Africa, to come back and better their lot by taking advantage of all the possibilities available in African countries and by so doing, benefitting and helping the growth of the continent of Africa.
IPADA is putting the entire continent of Africa in a single basket making it very easy for Africans in Diaspora and lovers of Africa to connect with Africa through Nigeria, taking advantage of cruises at the Lagos deep seaport, when they heed the call and Return home to Africa. IPADA is the Yoruba word which means, ‘the Return.’
The IPADA Carnival is an annual celebration of the return of people of African ancestry to motherland. The carnival will be held from the last week in November through the first week in December at La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Ibeju-lekki, Lagos, and will feature, representation of carnivals from African [settlements] all over the world, with opportunity to honour African legends with 21 chieftaincy titles through the Ose award, a beauty pageant exclusive to women of African Ancestry and a Durbar.
The IPADA Carnival celebration has also been partnered by The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Tourism, Lagos State Government, Ondo State Government, Ekiti State Government, The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Studies (NIHOTOUR) and tourism organisations.
