History should return to schools’ curriculum, says Sanwo-Olu
…undertakes facility tour of LASRAB
First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has renewed calls for the return of History as a subject to the school curriculum in Lagos State, just as she commended the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB) for its role in preserving the historical records of Lagos State. She disclosed this during a one-day facility tour of the Bureau.
While being welcomed to the Bureau, Sanwo-Olu, as the first sitting First Lady to visit the facility, explained that it was indeed an honour to visit the facility to get first-hand information on how records are kept in Lagos State. She added that school tours should be organised for students so that they can also have first-hand information about the rich history of the State.
“I strongly believe that History as a subject should be returned to our school curriculum, just as keeping monuments in archives for posterity is key. For instance, the dress I wore on the inauguration day could be archived for children to see and appreciate in the years to come, just as the dress Queen Elizabeth wore during her visit to Nigeria in 1960 is being preserved.”
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Olusina Thorpe, lauded the First Lady for the supportive role she plays by helping Mr. Governor in implementing the THEMES Agenda of his administration. He noted that LASRAB is the home of Artefacts, Culture, and History; and since the world is in a digital age, it is imperative that records are properly kept and accessed at the touch of a button: “We remain passionate about the retention of history in the State.”
Speaking further, Thorpe added that by the time the JK Randle Center for Yoruba Civilisation comes onboard, there would be more archival materials to preserve” he said.
On her part, Director-General, LASRAB, Mrs. Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, in her welcome address stated that the Lagos State Government appreciates the significance of record-keeping for planning and implementation of development programmes which gave rise to the establishment of LASRAB, pursuant to Law 22 of 2008; with responsibilities of permanent custody, regulation and control of records and archives of the Lagos State and other archives or historical records of entities operating within the state or outside as may be required by the state:
“You’ll agree with me that the importance of record keeping cannot be over-emphasized. Hence, the Bureau has been able to fulfill its statutory responsibilities in a professional manner, employing best practices in information and knowledge management.”
Adebiyi- Abiola added that since its establishment, the Bureau has not only provided accurate records for planning and policy creation to various MDAs of the State Government but also serves as a tourist destination and excursion centre for both public and private schools in the State; while also appealing to individuals, families and corporate organisations who have records of enduring value to donate them to the Bureau for preservation.
While taking the First-Lady and her entourage on the facility tour, Adebiyi-Abiola intimated the audience about the digitization plan of the Bureau which would be done in three stages viz-a-viz: Recruitment and Training, Retrieval and Archiving as well as making records more accessible.
As part of the tour, the First Lady was also treated to an Audio-visual presentation which chronicled the history of Lagos including the Sungbo Eredo in Epe, the 200-year old Post Office, and the 1851 Conquest of Lagos among other things, with Sanwo-Olu advising the Bureau to expand its office to serve as a one-stop referral place as far as documenting the rich and vast historical heritage of Lagos is concerned.