Saheed Elegushi’s Glorious Anniversary

The precise drive to attain self-actualisation is as important as arriving at one’s anticipated destination and realising personal dreams and aspirations.

Taking a cue from this novel statement, one would not but agree with how the amiable and gregarious royal father, the inestimable King of Ikateland, Saheed Elegushi, celebrated his glorious 13th coronation anniversary recently.

Unlike the razzmatazz which usually occasioned his previous coronation and birthday anniversaries, the handsome man fondly called, King ‘Gushi’ surprised many when he built and donated a multipurpose and fully-equipped Lagos History Research Centre in the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo Lagos.

The research centre, named after his beloved father, Oba Yekini Elegushi (Kusenla II) of blessed memory, at the study centre for Lagos Studies, will serve as a research institute for the study of the socio-cultural, economic as well as political development of the state since its incipient days, and a hub for organising seminars, workshops and conferences for issues relating to Lagos for policy formulation.

The centre is expected to bring people face to face with the history, culture, geographical location and socio-economic activities of the people of Lagos across all the five divisions since pre-European contact and to correct the misinformation and misrepresentation of the various groups and communities in the state, especially on the erroneous viewpoint that “Lagos is no man’s land.”

This perception is indeed a contradiction to the popular cliché among the indigenous elements of ‘Gedegbe l’Eko wa’ (Lagos Stands alone). Historically, the first assumption rests on a misconception rather than on facts of history. The best way to correct this glitch is through knowledge dissemination and the display of historical artefacts. It is in this quest for such a reputable centre that Oba  Elegushi’s vision is commendable.

Interestingly, LASU happens to be his alma mater. This is indeed a laudable and very exemplary achievement for a king with a knack and affinity with his people in any subject even outside his domain, especially in the area of education.