African unity is key to overcoming slavery’s enduring legacy – Dean Roberts Jnr

Amb. Prof. Dean Roberts Jnr, the Continental Vice President of UNPGC-USA, urged Africans globally not to let the burden of slavery perpetuate division among them. Speaking at the Ibiaku Clan Development Association's family gathering at Villa Hilton Hotel in Uyo, Nigeria, Roberts stressed unity, reconciliation and a shared identity as crucial for the continent's advancement.

He warned that the transatlantic slave trade's legacy still manifests in poverty, land disputes, youth restiveness, and other contemporary challenges. Roberts described himself as a survivor, not a victim, of history and emphasized that slavery's impact extends beyond mere displacement, erasing identities and damaging community cohesion.

He likened the strategy behind the slave trade to dividing people, weakening them, and exploiting them. To counteract this, he called for Africans to recognize their shared humanity and collective potential, avoiding internal divisions that could hinder progress. Roberts highlighted the need to confront the historical consequences of slavery, such as poverty and land disputes, as a means to break the cycle of conflict.

He also praised figures like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose lives exemplified the power of unity and collective purpose. Roberts pledged to advocate for Ibiaku's identity and interests on international platforms, urging stronger cooperation among traditional leaders, diaspora members, and younger generations to foster development and preserve heritage.