We Must Preserve Lagos History – Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Government has called for innovative ways to teach the rich cultural and historical heritage of the state using technology to preserve them for future generations.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said this at a symposium organised by the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau with the theme: “Lagos: Bridging Knowledge and Unraveling History” held in Ikeja.

The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, also urged stakeholders including the public and private sectors, civil societies, as well as, the community to work together in addressing the challenges of urbanization, infrastructure and social inequality while preserving the cultural and historical heritage for every voice to be heard.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, said the symposium aimed at sharing knowledge as well as ideas, unraveling the history that enriched the perspective on culture of Lagos as a vehicle of peace and harmony.

Mr Omotoso also supported the reintroduction of history as a subject in schools curriculum in Nigeria.

Delivering papers, scholars at the symposium called on the Lagos State Government to dig deep into the culture and history, revamp and archive them to get things right while embracing locally driven economic growth.

They denounced the claim that Lagos is a no man’s land, while also expressing concern about people asking people of other tribes to leave the state.

A former Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN, stressed the need for the government to remain sensitive to the values of indigenous people while recognising the importance of close collaboration with non-indigenous people to foster a harmonious environment.

Also speaking, Former Attorney General and Commissioner For Justice in Lagos, Mr Olasupo Shasore, SAN urged Nigerians to be involved in international conversations in getting back their history which is in the custody of the British Government.

Giving a brief on the Symposium, a historian, Professor Rasheed Olaniyi, stated that the discussions were geared towards creating historical narrative taken into cognizance of oral tradition while strengthening collaboration between academic and cultural communities by engaging them in conversations.

The Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, who stressed the need to refresh people’s memories on the history of Lagos teaching valuable lessons fostering social, political dynamics and cultural heritage.

Mr Agoro thanked the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his commitment in upholding the legacy and preserving the rich history and culture of Lagos.

The Director General of the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau, Toyin Ogunlana, thanked academics and stakeholders for being part of the knowledge-sharing engagement which dissected some of the historical background, colonial influences, and socio-political evolution of Lagos.