Former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has called for urgent documentation and preservation of Lagos history amid a growing controversy over the renaming of streets across the city. Speaking at the launch of “Discover Lagos State: A History Puzzle Book” in Victoria Island, he lamented that erasing historical names risks distorting collective memory.
Fashola cited the example of Dr. Isaac Ladipo Oluwole—Lagos’s first African medical officer of health and pioneer of school health services—whose legacy is memorialized by a street in Ikeja. He warned that stripping such names could sever ties to past achievements.
He pushed for stronger support and funding for the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB), noting that well-kept archives play a critical role in shaping the city’s education and identity.
Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, representing Governor Sanwo-Olu, praised Fashola’s archival initiatives and highlighted the importance of preserving records on infrastructure and governance developments as a cultural heritage effort.
Fashola warned that renaming while ignoring historical context is akin to erasure. He encouraged Lagosians to appreciate street names as living symbols of legacy—and called for responsible naming practices grounded in historical accuracy.
