The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, advocated the preservation of history in schools.
This was as professors and historians unravelled the historical records of Lagos and laid to rest the argument surrounding the ownership of the state, dismissing the notion that “Lagos is no man’s land.”
The event was a community symposium organised by Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau, with the theme: ‘Lagos: Bridging Knowledge and Unveiling History,’ held in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said Lagos was a melting pot of culture that attracted people from all over Nigeria.
The governor said, “It is important to preserve the history of Lagos for future generations. It should inspire us to aspire for a greater Lagos. There is a challenge of documentation of our history by our forefathers and distortion of facts.
We must approach the history of Lagos with truth and objectivity. We must make history accessible to younger generations. We need innovative ways to teach history.”
The Director-General, LASRAB, Toyin Ogunlana, said there was a need to restore the history of Lagos.
She also advocated the return of history in secondary schools.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, also said it was high time history was reintroduced into the school curriculum.
He said, “Any nation that forgets its past will lose focus. I support the reintroduction of history in our schools. It will lay to rest those distorting facts and serve as a vehicle for unity, harmony, and inclusion.”
The Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, in his contribution, said knowing the authentic history of Lagos would arouse the mind of Lagosians and “protect our heritage from being bequeathed on generations unborn.”
Prof. Rasheed Olaniyi from the Lagos State University said it was sad that the authentic history of Lagos had been buried over the years.
“Unravelling the history of Lagos can contribute to Lagos’ future as a megacity. Lagos is one of the ancient Yoruba kingdoms and is older than most Yoruba towns. This symposium is to create reminders that go beyond colonial reports. It will also strengthen collaboration between academic research and community,” he said.
A former Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, said LASRAB’s determination to set the record straight about the history of Lagos was commendable.
Fagbohun traced the history of owners of Lagos to the Awori clan through one Chief Olofin Ogunire, which he said was evident in the highest number of communities in Lagos populated by the Aworis.
Former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Olasupo Sasore (SAN), in his paper, said the existence of Lagos dated beyond 1699 as claimed in some books, adding that recent archaeological discovery revealed that salt was produced in Badagry as far as 800 AD.
Controversy about who founded Lagos has been coming up at one time or the other.
Last year, a comment by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, that the Binis founded Lagos sparked debate on social media.
