BATKORRECT Takes Lagos Street History Book to Secondary Schools

BATKORRECT, a group of Lagos-based professionals, has taken copies of Behind the Streets (Inside the World of Personalities Popular Lagos Streets are Named After) to secondary schools across Lagos as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary. The initiative featured book-reading sessions in three educational districts, where the author, Adeshina Oyetayo, Special Adviser on Research, Media and Documentation to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, introduced students to the stories behind some of the names they encounter on Lagos streets.

The book, dedicated to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it describes as his enduring legacies in Lagos, looks at the lives and contributions of personalities whose names have become associated with some of the state’s well-known streets and areas.

At a reading session held at Mainland High School, Yaba, BATKORRECT Coordinator, Victor Ganzallo, said the group decided to make the book available to students because of the opportunity it offers young people to learn about the people behind the names.

He said the reintroduction of History into the school curriculum makes it even more important for students to understand the stories of people who played different roles in shaping Lagos and Nigeria.

According to Ganzallo, the group hopes the students will be inspired by the lives and contributions of the personalities featured in the book, including those who made significant sacrifices in their time.

BATKORRECT Publicity Secretary, Princess Aminat Elegushi, said the exercise was part of the group’s educational and community-focused activities.

She said the initiative was also aimed at helping young people develop a better understanding of their environment and the history behind some of the places they see and hear about every day.

Elegushi also acknowledged the support of the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, for the group’s programmes.

The team, which included BATKORRECT members Temitope Oyefeso, Olumide Aremu and Gbolahan Adebayo, also visited Osborne Schools Complex in Ikoyi and Ajayi Crowther Memorial High School, Akoka, during the exercise.