…urges teachers, parents, and schools to take advantage of book to reinforce learning
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, today unveiled the first of its kind Puzzle Book on the History of the state, where he reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting knowledge-based initiatives that strengthen identity, promote creativity, and inspire civic pride among its citizens.
Speaking at the Public Presentation of the book titled “Discover Lagos State: A History Puzzle Book” held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Governor urged teachers, parents, and school administrators to take full advantage of the puzzle book and use it to reinforce learning in and outside the classroom. He also encouraged pupils to see history not as something abstract or distant, but as something tangible, exciting, and part of their everyday reality.
The Governor, who spoke through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, emphasised that his government recognises that education must be multi-dimensional and appeal not only to the intellect but also to the heart and spirit.
“Let me reiterate that the Lagos State Government remains committed to supporting knowledge-based initiatives that strengthen identity, promote creativity, and inspire civic pride among our people. Let us continue to build a Lagos where history is preserved, knowledge is shared, and innovation leads the way,” said the Governor.
Speaking further, Sanwo-Olu described the book as an initiative that blends education, creativity, and cultural preservation, emphasizing that the remarkable project is an innovative learning tool designed to stimulate young minds, promote curiosity, and deepen their pride as Lagosians and their collective understanding of the history and heritage of Lagos State.
According to the Governor, “To build a truly informed generation of Lagosians is to ensure that our people, especially our children, understand their origins. It is to equip them with knowledge of the heroes who paved the way, the struggles that refined us, and the values that define us. This book is a brick in that foundation, a creative method of transmitting historical consciousness that informs while it entertains,” he said.
The Governor highlighted that one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century is ensuring that history remains alive and relevant in a fast-paced, digital world, noting that the the book rises boldly to the challenge by turning archival content into an engaging experience, stressing that the initiative is a commendable example of how public institutions can evolve with time, using technology and creativity to reach wider and younger audiences.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, therefore, commended Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, for his visionary leadership in establishing the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB) in 2008 when he was the governor of the state, noting that the foundational initiative was a deliberate effort to preserve, document, and share the Lagos story for future generations.
In his Keynote address, the former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, disclosed that the book testifies to what is possible when history and creativity meet, adding that the book makes the past engaging and accessible.
Fashola added that the goal of the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB) is to create a central hub, a trustworthy and comprehensive repository of Lagos State’s memory, which is a place where students, leaders, scholars, journalists, and citizens find facts, documents, policies, and evidence of the development of the people.
Besides, the former Governor urged the state government to adequately fund LASRAB for the agency to continue to carry out the purpose of its establishment and become more relevant in the 21st-century archival purpose.
“To make this goal a reality, LASRAB must be adequately resourced, must be well funded, and those resources go beyond the physical. They transition to the financial. They also move to the digital, as records are preserved for their legal value or enduring historical significance and constitute a key cultural heritage and information source,” Fashola said.
He noted that books will introduce children to their heritage, not through dense pages of text, but through puzzles, pictures, and stories that stimulate curiosity and civic pride, stressing that “the effort by LASRAB is, without any doubt, the most commendable one.”
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, noted that the State government has presented the Book to the people as an innovative way to ignite their curiosity and connect them to their historical narratives in an interactive and internationalist way.
He added that “If we fail to evolve many times, we risk losing our identity. But with initiatives like the event is a significant milestone in the state government’s efforts in preserving its rich history, value, and cultural heritage, and the historical evolution of Lagos in a dynamic, engaging, and modern format.”
Omotosho urged the people not to see the book as a usual publication, but a creative and educational tool that bridges the past with the present and prepares our young people for the future that everyone is always talking about.
While commending the LASRAB, the commissioner expresses confidence that the publication will become an invaluable resource for schools, libraries, families, and institutions that are passionate about history, culture, and education. It will certainly stimulate the minds of our children and deepen their appreciation of Lagos State and its legacy.
In his review of the book, Director, Lagos State University (LASU) Pre-Degree Studies (PSD), Epe Campus, Prof. Olawale Lawal disclosed that the book pays retro heritage and historical attention to the five traditional administrative divisions of Lagos known as IBILE, an acronym which refers to Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos, and Epe. He added that the book combines lucidity in the form of transparent illustration of historical facts and our cultural ties.”
He explained that the 55-chapter book, with 220 pages, is divided into two parts. The first part, from pages 1 to 139, contains 37 chapters and focuses on the history, culture, tradition, and lifestyle of the people of Lagos, while the remaining 18 chapters, running from 140 to 220, feature recordings of significant periods in Lagos State.
He concluded that the puzzle will provide a circle of growth for acquiring knowledge, practicing skills that are targeted at knowledge development, and reflecting on learning experiences.
