PRIDE OF NIGERIA : LEKKI, A QUICK LESSON IN NIGERIAN HISTORY

THE TOMB OF PORTUGUESE SLAVE TRADER MR LECQI
AS IT LIES ON THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACH IN LAGOS

VIEW OF BUNGALOWS ONE OF WHICH WAS CHEIF
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO'S DETENTION HOUSE

Did you know that LEKKI Town in Lagos was named after a Portuguese Slave Trader named Mr LECQI?  Well, according to the Awolowo Institute of Government and Public policy Museum, Mr Lecqi is indeed the progenitor of Lekki Peninsula and Lekki Town. As a matter of fact, the logo of the institute bears the picture of Mr Leqci's tomb as it lies on the grounds of the institute in Lekki Town. Which is on a huge stretch of sandy land along the shores of the Atlantic ocean where other relics of the slave trade era lie for the future Nigeria to touch and experience..

AN ARTISTS IMPRESSION OF THE ELOQUENT LAWYER
AND ELDER STATESMAN.

I was so flabbergasted at how beautiful and how well maintained the beach was (I promise you it beats Nikki Beach in Miami) that I forgot to ask exactly what Mr Lecqi did (apart from sell and buy Slaves) to deserve naming what was formerly known as 'Victoria Island  Extension' (before Eleko) as well as a second town after Eleko (Lekki town and where the institute lies) after him but whatever it was I'm guessing it must have been 'BIG'…

CHEIF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAS A GENTLEMAN
THAT LOVED HIS BALLY SHOES

The institute is a project managed by Trustees and was inaugurated by Governor Raji Fashola in 2009. It is named after the politician and 

Stateman 'Awolowo' as it is also home to a small (now renovated) bungalow, where the young Political Activist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was held wrongly in detention for his views on democracy far away from metropolitan Lagos under a military regime that charged him with treason (Back then they would have taken him there by boat as the town was mostly undeveloped marshlands and beaches).There you will find historical artefacts,books,as well as Chief Obafemi Awolowo's personal effects. It was just so nice to see something being done passionately and properly in Nigeria for a change..

I was proud to have been able to touch and feel  our history and the essence of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a stylish gentleman who passionately 

loved and lived for his motherland, Nigeria. 

I noticed his shoes where mainly classics by Bally, I couldn't see the make of his legendary glasses but from every piece of his belongings (which i gathered were kindly donated by his family) you could see that he was a man of great taste even back then in the 60's

I DOUBT ANYONE WOULD HAVE
RECOGNISED HIM WITHOUT HIS GLASSES

On the walls of the entrance of the detention house, you will find a pictorial journey from our colonial masters to our independence…it was a very refreshing experience. I would certainly recommend this as a fabulous tourist attraction to checkout whenever you are in Lagos. In my opinion, it is the most precious place we have in Lagos today..

THIS IS THE BATH TUB HE USED
THROUGHOUT HIS STAY IN THE DETENSION
HOUSE

It would be an enviable thing to see our history documented and preserved everywhere else in Lagos and in Nigeria as a whole like they have so graciously done at Awolowo Institute of Government and Public policy Museum, so that next generation can learn from the mistakes and successes of our past leaders.. We are rich in history we just need to create a culture of historical preservation, knowledge and power..

The only down side for me is that as much as the renovated detention house looks nice..I would have loved to see it restored to its original standing rather than its modern new look so that the experience would be completely undiluted however, in view of the lack of care for our national 

monuments generallly,  I am pleased that at least the work done here will be there for many generations to experience the making of Nigeria..

WHILE ON DETENTION HE HAD TO
FETCH WATER FROM THIS WELL

On Seriously Doughnuts Pride of Nigeria: I applaud the Trustees and Management of the Awolowo Institute of Government and Public policy Museum and of course, Governor Raji Fashola..A Leader I truly admire..

In the words of The Late Professor Soni Oti of the Theatre Arts Department, University of Jos..I say.. 

"Nigeria Go Survive!  Africa Go Survive! My People Go Survive! Nigeria Go Survive"