Former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, says preserving historical records is key to preventing distortion and fostering a deeper understanding of societal values.
He was speaking in Lagos at the launch of Discover Lagos State: A History Puzzle Book which is a project by the state’s archive bureau.
Referencing records from the University of Glasgow, Mr Fashola highlighted the legacy of Dr Isaac Ladipo Oluwole, Nigeria’s first African medical officer of health, to explain why some Lagos streets bear historic names.
He warned against the ongoing trend of renaming streets without full knowledge of their background.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, described the book as a learning tool that promotes pride in Lagos’s heritage.
Dr Hamzat praised Fashola for founding the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau and called for better funding to support its long-term mission.