Williams Kayode
Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has urged the state government to prioritise the preservation and proper documentation of Lagos history.
Speaking at the launch of Discover Lagos State: A History Puzzle Book (Volume 1) at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Fashola emphasised that accurate records are crucial to preventing historical distortions, especially as debates on street naming and renaming continue.
He cited the archives of the University of Glasgow as a model, highlighting how the university’s records documented the contributions of Dr Isaac Ladipo Oluwole, Nigeria’s first African medical officer of health, after whom a street in Ikeja is named.
Fashola called for better funding for the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB) to serve as a central repository for the state’s heritage.
Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the puzzle book as a creative way to engage young people and build cultural pride.