Mohammed Shosanya
The Akwa Ibom State Government is collaborating with the Akwa Tours Development Company (ATDC) to create a Slave Memorial Park to preserve and honor the memory of those who suffered during the transatlantic slave trade.
The park,which will feature the names of local slave trade victims engraved on memorial stones, will be located at the waterfront of the Marina Resort within the Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort.
This development comes just weeks after the state hovernment, in partnership with NAAKIBOM, unveiled a 179-year-old slave boat that was confiscated from transatlantic slave traders. The Slave Memorial Park aims to further acknowledge the deep scars left by the slave trade on the region and its people.
During the foundation stone-laying ceremony at the Marina Resort, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh, highlighted the historical significance of the state as a major route for the transatlantic slave trade.
He emphasized that the park is part of broader efforts to create enduring legacies that both acknowledge the pain caused by the slave trade and educate future generations. The initiative is aligned with the tourism development vision of Governor Umo Eno, as articulated in the Arise Agenda.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Grace Akpan, Udoh urged other public-spirited individuals and organizations to support the state’s tourism development initiatives. He noted that tourism has become a significant driver of economic growth and foreign exchange, and the sector’s success requires collaborative efforts from all stakeholders.
Mr. Ubong Ekpe Okon, Managing Director of Akwa Tours Development Company and Curator of the Slave Memorial Park, provided historical context during the event.
According to him,some of the victims of the slave trade hailed from areas such as Ndiya, Ikpa Uruan, and Ifiayong.
He described the chosen site for the memorial as a historically significant location, previously used as a point of entry and exit for both the slave trade and timber business.
Mr. Ekpe further appealed to attendees to advocate total abolition of slavery in all its forms, including modern-day slavery and neo-colonialism.
He reiterated the project’s commitment to honoring the memories of those enslaved, with their names to be engraved in gold at the park.
