Former Lagos governor Babatunde Fashola has stressed the need to preserve Lagos State’s history amid ongoing debates over street naming, calling for stronger archival practices and public memory preservation.
Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, on Tuesday called for the preservation of Lagos’s historical identity amid controversies surrounding street naming.
Speaking at the launch of *Discover Lagos State: A History Puzzle Book (Volume 1)* at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Fashola warned against distorting the past.
Referencing Dr Isaac Ladipo Oluwole, whose archival records remain in Glasgow, he said, “Those of us who drive through Ladipo Oluwole Street in Ikeja will now understand why he was honoured.”
Fashola added, “We must take preservation of our history and documentation of our progress seriously.”
He urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to ensure adequate funding for the Lagos State Records and Archive Bureau (LASRAB), which his administration established.
Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, representing Sanwo-Olu, described the book as an “innovative learning tool” that fosters pride and cultural awareness.
He noted, “This book is a creative method of crafting historical consciousness… so we don’t misunderstand our being.”