Babatunde Fashola, former Minister of Works, has warned Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration not to distort the history of Lagos State.
Fashola, a former Governor of Lagos State issued this warning amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the renaming of streets by local governments.
He gave the warning on Tuesday at the public presentation of “Discover Lagos State: A History Puzzle Book (Volume 1)”, which took place at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to Fashola, it is very important to preserve historical records and landmarks to promote civic values and foster an understanding of Lagos State’s past.
Fashola, in his address, referenced historical records archived at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, highlighting the far-reaching impact of proper documentation and its role in shaping historical consciousness.
“For instance, the Glasgow University archives service gives fascinating insights into the influence that the university, its staff and students have had in the history and development of many countries, including Nigeria,” Fashola said, referring to Dr. Isaac Ladipo Oluwole, a Nigerian who studied at the University of Glasgow between 1913 and 1918.
“Dr. Ladipo Oluwole returned to Nigeria to become the first African medical officer of health in the Lagos colony,” Fashola noted.
“He pioneered school health services, with school inspection and vaccination of children in their schools, and started the first Nigerian school of hygiene at Yaba in Lagos in 1920.”
Fashola emphasized on a street named after Oluwole in Ikeja, saying, “So those of us who drive through streets such as Ladipo Oluwole Street in Ikeja will probably now understand and contextualise the contributions of such a man and why it was considered such a high honour to immortalise him by naming a street in his memory.”
Amid the controversy over the recent renaming of streets across Lagos State, Fashola stated, “It is perhaps instructive that we are discussing street naming and street unnaming and I keep my gunpowder dry.
“Today I reiterate those words about street naming and Dr Oluwole and with a greater conviction to reinforce my message that the preservation of our history and the documentation of our progress should be taken seriously.”
