Former President Olusegun Obasanjo will mark his 88th birthday today by unveiling two new books at an event in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The books, titled “Lest We Forget: Slavery, Slave Trade, Emancipation, and Reparation” and “Nigeria: Past and the Future,” explore critical historical and contemporary issues.
The celebration will include a public lecture on slavery and colonization, titled “Echoes of the Past, Visions of the Future: Reflections on Slavery and Colonisation, and Nigeria’s Journey Towards a Promising Future.” The lecture will be delivered by Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs.
In addition to the intellectual discussions, the event will feature performances by children, including drama, dance, and songs. His Majesty King Mswati III, Ngwenyama of Eswatini, is expected to attend.
Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, shared in a statement, “The event will not only celebrate the achievements of our elder statesman but also provoke reflection on Nigeria’s future and the lessons of the past.”