A Nigerian cleric and founder of the Universal Prayer Fellowship, Dr Iwuchukwu Ezenwafor, has called on the President, United States of America, Mr Donald Trump, to initiate a global reparations process on restitution for Africa over the transatlantic slave trade.
In an open letter addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Peace at the White House in Washington, D.C., Ezenwafor described the centuries-long slave trade as a “heinous crime against humanity” whose consequences continue to affect African societies.
In the letter made available to journalists in Awka on Tuesday, the cleric argued that the time has come for Western nations that benefited from the trade to acknowledge their historical roles and support a structured programme of restitution and development for affected communities in Africa.
The cleric stated that the transatlantic slave trade, which spanned from the late 15th Century to the 19th Century, led to the shipment of millions of Africans to Europe and the Americas.
According to him, the trade depleted the continent’s workforce, disrupted traditional social systems and contributed to long-term poverty and instability across West and Central Africa.
He said, “History is criminally silent over the devastating consequences and the indelible scars trailing the inhuman transatlantic slave trade spanning over a space of four centuries (1480 – 1870AD) with the shipment of over twelve and half million souls.
“The perpetrating of the heinous transactions, first by the Portuguese and the Spaniards followed by the British, the French, the Dutch, the Irish and other European merchants, critically depleted the workforce/human capital necessary for sundry development entrenching pain, sorrow, loss of self-worth and abject poverty.
Till date the various communities, ethnic societies, tribes and kingdoms across the entire catchment areas of the West Coast and the Central Africa are yet to recover from the ripple effects of the carefree rampage.
“The strongest debilitating impact on man is entrenched via loss of self-confidence or self-worth. And when a people who have over the ages sojourned and flourished in a quiet serene abode suddenly became emasculated by darkness of despair as endangered species owing to universal conspiracy of the Europeans, things literally fell apart!
“Prior to the ominous invasion of the European merchants, most of the affected people were literally dwelling together in an organic community settings devoid of man-made crisis like war and hostilities. Owing to largely the rainforest habitation environment and other factors, they were neither threatened with invading attacks nor conquests.
“But the eventual encroachment by the shrewd strange intruders instantly turned the regions upside down! It’s not therefore a mere coincidence that the sub-saharan Africans had over the centuries grappled with peculiar and uncommon challenges since the initial visit of the Europeans down to the creation and annexation of the territorial colonies of the various European powers.
“One cannot truly appreciate the enormity of the ill-fate suffered by the Black race up until now without unearthing the Augean stables of the historical past!”
He said the demand for enslaved Africans by European powers, including Portugal, Spain, Britain, France and the Netherlands, triggered widespread violence, raids and kidnappings, which destroyed many communities and cultural institutions.
Ezenwafor further noted that the legacy of slavery and colonialism played a major role in shaping global economic inequalities and the development gap between Africa and Western nations
He also highlighted psychological and cultural effects, including loss of identity and self-worth among affected populations.
He therefore urged the US government, given its global leadership role, to convene an international conference on reparations.
The cleric also suggested that the reparations process could be structured over a long period to ensure sustainable funding and accountability.
He added that contractors and supervisors of projects should operate independently of local governments to minimise corruption and ensure transparency.
“Such global conference on restitution will bring together all countries historically linked to the slave trade to assess their responsibilities and make voluntary contributions to a global reparations fund.
“The proposed fund should be managed by an independent international board responsible for implementing projects in affected African communities. These projects should focus on infrastructure, education, economic empowerment and cultural restoration.
“Global calls for reparations for slavery and colonialism have gained attention in recent years, with advocacy groups, scholars and some governments pushing for official apologies, financial compensation and development partnerships.
However, the issue remains politically sensitive and continues to generate debate across Africa, Europe and the Americas,” he added.
Ezenwafor expressed optimism that such measures would help heal historical wounds, restore dignity and improve living conditions in Africa. He also linked the issue to migration, arguing that development driven by reparations could reduce irregular migration from Africa to Western countries.
He concluded by urging Western nations to embrace justice, equity and fairness by addressing the historical injustices of slavery and colonial exploitation.
By: Ikenna Obianeri
