Kunle Adelabu
The King Kosoko Palace and Museum located at the highbrow business area of Lagos Island, Ereko, has continued to experience traffic from both local and foreign tourists, students and others, with the students of the Department of History, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, being the latest visitors.
The students, who were in large number, visited the museum last week on an educational tour with Dr Felix Ajibola, a senior lecturer in the department, as the leader of the delegation from the University which has been regarded as the first choice for many JAMB candidates and parents across the country.
Prince Abiola Olojo – Kosoko, the Oloja – elect, while welcoming the lecturers and students of the History Department of the University of Lagos, thanked Prof. David Aworawo, the Departmental Head, who approved the visit and the entire UNILAG community.
Kosoko, who is also the Chief Curator of the King Kosoko Museum, tutored the visiting students on the history of Lagos, as it is related to the Aworis and Benins. He enlightened the contingent on the different perspectives on Awori, Benin, Slavery returnees, Colonial incursion and several other local migrations that populated Lagos.
The visiting students were conducted round the ancient and historic Kosoko palace and the compound where there are graves of the past two Oloja of Lagos, King Kosovo’s cart, canon, Rickshaw, Eyo regalia among others.
“I thank and salute you for recognizing and visiting us. You are welcome to the palace of King Kosoko, built in 1861, and now about 162 years old. This is where late Oba Kosoko died and was buried”.
At the Kosoko Museum, the Oloja – elect took the lecturers and students on the historical journey of the reasons for the establishment of the museum and importance of the artefacts residing in the facility and their relevance to Kosoko, Lagos and Nigerian histories.
Some of the artefacts and materials shown to the students are: King Kosoko’s stool, scepter, Portuguese hats to Kosoko progenitors which later turned into chieftaincy caps in Lagos, royal drums, Fulani gift items to the Kosokos, ancient photography equipment, Syrians gifts, sword presented to King Kosoko by Queen Victoria, King Kosoko’s walking sticks which are over 100 years old and remains of King Kosoko’s mortal.
While interacting with the large delegation in the Kosoko palace, the Oloja – elect narrated the reigns, activities and intrigues of Oba of Lagos from King Ado to the present day.
The leader of the delegation, Dr Felix Ajibola, speaking during the visit, thanked the Kosoko palace for accepting their visitation. He described it as a knowledge – seeking visit.
He further stated that they had embarked on the visit to the Kosoko palace, to hear and see the practical aspect of the historical literature being taught in class.
“We are highly honoured to be here today to witness this remarkable event. This is an acquisition of knowledge and not just an excursion, exhibition or adventure here today. This is to help us understand the historical trajectory of Lagos that we have been taught in class”, he said.
“Most of you that have been listening to rumours and political conjectures, particularly that Lagos is no man’s land. The beauty of our coming here today is to enlighten ourselves with deep sense of historical understanding which will probably remove most of the erroneous beliefs we have imbibed over the time.
“We sincerely appreciate the Honourable Prince Kosoko for having taken us through the historical knowledge, and also to all those that facilitated this tour”, Dr Ajibola said.
“The HoD sent his regards for given us this leverage because we are actually here to learn, though we are students of history, but the reality cannot be separated from the fact that we also need to hear from the owner’s mouth.
“We have learned from the literature and it is also important to know more about the history of Lagos, hence, the interaction with the palace”, he added.
