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Fashola to Lagos Govt: Stop Renaming Lagos Streets Recklessly
Former Minister of Works and former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has cautioned against the rising trend of renaming historically significant streets in Lagos, warning that such actions risk eroding the city’s cultural heritage and collective memory.
Fashola made the statement while speaking at the public presentation of Discover Lagos State: A History Puzzle Book (Vol. 1), held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island. The event, which was organised by the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB), was aimed at promoting historical literacy and cultural awareness among young Lagosians.
According to Fashola, many streets across Lagos are named after pioneers and national figures whose legacies should be preserved, not erased. He cited the example of Dr. Isaac Ladipo Oluwole, a medical pioneer who was the first African medical officer of health and founder of Nigeria’s first School of Hygiene in Yaba in 1920.
“When you drive through Ladipo Oluwole Street in Ikeja, it’s just a name if you don’t know who he was. But when you understand his contribution to public health, that street becomes a memorial, a lesson, and a source of pride,” Fashola remarked.
He stressed that street names are more than mere labels, they are living records of those who shaped the state and nation. Renaming such landmarks, he warned, without due regard for the stories behind them, undermines the work of generations past.
“Street renaming should not be a political reward system. It must be guided by history, legacy, and the need to teach future generations where we’re coming from,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, praised LASRAB for its effort in preserving the state’s cultural identity through education and documentation. He noted that Discover Lagos State: A History Puzzle Book would help younger citizens connect with their heritage in a more interactive and engaging way.
The book, designed for educational use, features key events, figures, and
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