Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over Nigeria’s lack of institutional memory, attributing it to the country’s failure to maintain documented records, which has resulted in a loss of historical awareness. Obasanjo made these remarks during a virtual appearance at the 70th birthday celebration and book launch of his biography, “Against all Odds,” authored by Nyaknno Osho, in Abuja.
Obasanjo emphasized the importance of record-keeping, stating that preserving the past, capturing the present, and inspiring the future are crucial to a nation’s development. He noted, “The thing that we don’t do well in this country is our ability to keep records well… Failure to keep records is like losing the sense of history, and when you lose sense of history, you lose your memory, which can lead to calamity.”
The former president commended Osho for his efforts in documenting history, recalling how the author had assisted him in maintaining records during his tenure as a democratically elected president.
Nyaknno Osho, the author, also used the occasion to urge the Federal Government to complete the long-abandoned national library in Abuja and to reinstate history as a subject in the Nigerian school curriculum. He expressed his desire to see Nigeria grow into a “big country” and stressed the importance of understanding the story behind historical achievements, which is often captured in biographies.
Osho, a seasoned librarian with extensive experience managing information globally, reiterated his commitment to contributing to Nigeria’s development and called for support to fulfill his goal of enhancing the country’s record-keeping capabilities.
The event highlighted the critical need for Nigeria to invest in preserving its history to avoid repeating past mistakes and to ensure that future generations are well-informed about the nation’s journey.
