By Muhammad Mamman
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the Nigerian government and cultural custodians to formally recognise a number of historic sites in Ogun State as national heritage landmarks, warning that neglect of the country’s cultural legacy undermines tourism and collective memory. 
Speaking on Sunday in Abeokuta during a meeting with organisers of the upcoming 2026 Lisabi Festival, Obasanjo highlighted the dilapidated Iwe Iroyin House — where Nigeria’s first newspaper was published in 1859 — as one of several sites that should be preserved and elevated to heritage status. 
“This is part of our history and identity,” Obasanjo said, according to a statement from his media aide. “These places tell the story of Nigeria’s past and must be protected not just for tourism but for future generations to understand who we are.” 
Among the other sites the former president wants recognised are the old Abeokuta Prison at Ibara, the deteriorating Ibara Railway Station, the historic residence of Efunsetan Aniwura, the burial ground of Madam Efunroye Tinubu at Gbagura, and Abeokuta’s first flyover. He also called for greater efforts to highlight the contributions of Egba luminaries such as the Ransome-Kuti family and business magnate M.K.O. Abiola. 
The Lisabi Festival, celebrated annually to honour the legendary Egba warrior Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, is scheduled for March 16 and includes a heritage tour alongside cultural exhibitions. Organisers hope that Obasanjo’s backing will attract wider attention to the region’s historic assets. 
Obasanjo’s appeal comes amid growing concern among historians and cultural advocates that many of Nigeria’s historic sites are either deteriorating or at risk of being lost entirely, depriving younger generations of tangible links to the nation’s rich past. Preservationists say that formal heritage recognition could spur investment and conservation efforts. 
“That the world knows about us not only through our modern achievements but through the places where our story was made,” Obasanjo added.
