Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has endorsed the "Heritage Voyage of Return" initiative focused on reconnecting Brazil's people of African descent with their African ancestry, the presidency said in a statement.
According to the president, this move will "re-awaken" the historical consciousness of the society by reviving the memory of the long-standing events.
"Reconnecting Afro-Brazilians with their African roots will be an iconic project that will rekindle our past and light up the spirit of our ancestors. It will re-awaken memories of what happened many years ago," the statement read. "And it is a good thing that this is coming now at a time when we are working on expanding the frontiers of freedom and democracy in Africa."
The president emphasized that the initiative will also yield economic benefits that must be harnessed, noting that "this is an important project that must be pursued."
He was echoed by the Professor Wale Adeniran who led the delegation, noting that the Heritage Voyage of Return is a "historic maritime journey that will begin in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, making stops at various African nations and terminating in Lagos."
Another member of the delegation, Carolina Maira Morais, pointed out that Brazil has 126 million people of African descent and such a move would facilitate the integration of the two countries.
"Nigeria, the largest black population and the leading economy in Africa, and Brazil, a giant of South America. There are many African traditional families in Brazil. But no African country has gone to Brazil to identify and connect with them,” she said.
Morais said that Brazilian President Lula da Silva plans to visit Nigeria and has a special awe for Africa.
Earlier, Lula da Silva expressed his desire to revitalize the once good and productive relations between Brazil and Africa that developed during his first presidential term in the 2000s.
The leader revealed his intention to visit several African countries in the coming year, stressing that Brazil has the potential to help Africa in many aspects, including education, industry and agriculture.