The Tafawa Balewa Square Management Board (TBSMB) has introduced a Young Heritage Tour initiative aimed at reconnecting Nigerian children and young people with the nation's history, heritage, and national identity. The programme was launched in Lagos with pupils from Let It Shine Academy (LISA) as the first beneficiaries. The tour takes pupils beyond the classroom to experience important landmarks and events that shaped Nigeria's history.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TBSMB, Ms. Lucia Cobbina Shittu, stated that the initiative was designed to ensure that Nigeria's history is not only taught as a subject but also experienced by the younger generation. According to her, Tafawa Balewa Square is more than a landmark, describing it as a "living chapter of our history" where significant moments in the country's journey took place.
The rehabilitation of the Independence Memorial Obelisk, through a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnership with Lafarge Africa, now HBM Limited, has created an opportunity for the Board to make the historic site more accessible to children, families, local tourists, and international visitors. Shittu explained that the tour would take participants through the Memorial Arcade and Independence Memorial Obelisk, exposing them to documentaries, art, and other activities designed to deepen their understanding of Nigeria's past.
The heritage tour is open to schools, families, and tourists, with the facility available for tours seven days a week. Shittu disclosed that the square currently accommodates close to 400 tenants and hosts events, concerts, and shows, but stressed that its role should extend beyond commercial activities. The selection of LISA as the pioneer school was deliberate, particularly because of its mission of providing free quality education to children from underserved communities.
Founder of Let It Shine Academy, Ms. Damilola Feyide, described the invitation as a significant opportunity for the school's students to connect classroom learning with Nigeria's history. A total of 316 students from the academy participated in the tour, while the SS3 students were absent because they were writing the General Certificate Examination (GCE). Feyide said the experience had given the students an opportunity to see and experience what they had previously learned only from textbooks.
The programme featured guided tours of the monuments, a documentary screening, art activities, interaction with the students, and provision of meals and educational materials. The initiative is expected to continue beyond the 66th Independence anniversary, with TBSMB welcoming other schools interested in participating. Shittu urged the children to remember three things from the experience: "Your history matters. Your dreams matter. Your future matters."
The TBSMB chief executive commended partners and sponsors who supported the initiative with school items, food packs, art materials, and logistics. Feyide expressed hope that the experience would produce young Nigerians who were not only academically strong but also culturally aware and committed to contributing meaningfully to society.
Key points
- The Tafawa Balewa Square Management Board has launched a Young Heritage Tour initiative to reconnect Nigerian children with the nation's history and heritage.
- The initiative is part of TBSMB's efforts to promote Nigeria's history and national identity, and to make the historic site more accessible to children and visitors.
- The programme features guided tours, documentary screenings, art activities, and provision of educational materials, and is expected to continue beyond the 66th Independence anniversary.
