By Dr. Adebunmi Akinbo 
A WELCOME ADDRESS ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF LEGACY 1995 MR TAIYE OLANIYI AT THE 29TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON SATURDAY, 10TH MAY, 2025 AT THE JAEKEL HOUSE, 17 FEDERAL ROAD, EBUTE METTA, LAGOS.
Chair, Board of Trustees.
Members of the Board of Trustees.
Members of the National Management Committee,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a great honor for me today to thank the Almighty for granting us all the divine privilege to gather once again at this Annual General Meeting of our heritage organization, Legacy 1995 the Historical and Environmental Group of Nigeria.
Within a span of a year as we promised on our assumption office at the 28th Annual General Meeting of Saturday 23rd March 2024, we pledge to build on the legacy and the footprint of the previous administration.
To this effect the monthly meetings which have been very regular afforded a great opportunity for us to chat directions and bearing too.
Similarly as the constitutional provision provides, the honorary secretary and I attended 3 meetings of the BOT where we had the privilege of good exchange of thoughts and guidance on how we can further work out modalities for an enviable Legacy vision and mission statements.
Sustainable Development Approaches.
On periodic basis the appropriate functionaries of the Nigerian Railway Corporation especially those that are members of the two committees with which Legacy executives should interact are always being briefed of Legacy’s activities and challenges too.
Members of the Executive and BOT paid a courtesy visit to the new Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa and his top management team in his Board Room on 18th March 2025 and we both had very useful discussions and promises by both partners in progress.
He had similarly paid two impromptu visits to the JAEKEL HOUSE with formidable team.
I cannot but appreciate the commitments of members of the various committees and the duo at the secretariat for devoting themselves, time and energies to make the modest difference during this dispensation.
Membership drives have improved in quantum and quality.
The research committee of Legacy has improved on the quality of project planning and interactions with stakeholders including the community.
Restoration works have started in earnest at the JAEKEL HOUSE and the Old Running Shed.
Ilukwe House is gaining ground as a cynosure of attention based on the unrelenting efforts of Madam Kofo Adeleke, architect Somi Delano the vice president and entire members of the restoration committee.
In order to improve the diversification of heritage preservation , restoration and promotion including expanding the educational milieu of the youths about the environment, Legacy at the instance of architect Bisi Sulu Olumide of the Department of Architecture University of Lagos and the kind contact made for us by the former president Madam Sonja Ally, made it possible for about 70 students of the University of Lagos to enjoy an educational excursion to the National Arts which was then undergoing an heritage restoration project.
Many of such students had also come to Ilukwe House for the appreciation of heritage restoration project planning and systemic structuring courtesy the initiative of both Madam Kofo Adelelke and architect Bisi Sulu Olumide and the restoration committee.
The staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation in the Public Relations Department for the first time had an educational and practical training exposure on the railway heritage courtesy Dr. Olly Owen and Femken the former honorary research secretary.
It is my pride to commend the impressive commitments of the honorary restoration secretary architect Lateefah Olajide for regularly finding the time out of her busy schedule in the office to compare notes with her colleagues in Legacy, pull the bull by the horns and thus embarked on an ongoing serious restoration work at the JAEKEL HOUSE.
Heritage world over is today daily facing one degradation or the other due to neglect of all forms hence , courtesy Dr. Olufemi Adetunji one of Legacy members based abroad initiated a two-day seminar on “Heritage and Climate Crisis ‘ on October 2024at the University of Lagos. It was an impressive educational programme including good attendance cutting across ICOMOS functionaries and other invited guests.
Legacy 95 is today a household name within the railway compound, the in-house platforms and on numerous social media for old schools, the Millenia and GenZ courtesy publicity committee headed by Dr. Akinbo Adebunm Adeola .
For every action and/ or inaction Legacy’s activities are being guided by the rules of law and the constitutional provision.
On this note I must appreciate the efforts of the honorary legal secretary Abibat Olatunde for the review of the constitution and the passing of it in due course.
Outside engagements include the impromptu visits by the Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments Mr Olugbile Holloway and the Special Assistant to the Executive Governor of Lagos State on Tourism and Culture Mr Aregbe respectively.
Finance.
The financial situation of Legacy has improved going by the progress reports being made monthly by the curator Henry Oyediran and Mr Adewale Phillips with respect to students on excursion, adults and their family members, photos and film shootings including the donations therein.
The honorary treasurer Mr. Oladipo Ogunbiyi on occasions could give reports during the monthly meetings and like others would today give account of their stewardships.
The Challenge.
Despite all the aforementioned, there is the challenge of the security of especially the Old Running Shed as well as the unabating vandalization of heritage objects within the railway compound as a whole.
The advent of climate change lmay continue to bring the crisis in weather, flooding of the environment during rain including the partial collapse of the roof of the toilets yet to be renovated. We are still making efforts to see to the proper cleaning of the canal.
The age of both the JAEKEL and Ilukwe Houses require regular and vibrant restoration works for which the funds may not be available.
There are other auxiliary pet projects that need attention as parts of work in progress.
- The financial and audit reports from the past administration(s) till date are still pending despite spirited efforts being made to ensure a clean slate hopefully during this Annual General Meeting.
The honourary secretary architect Oluwatofarati Gbadamosi and his associate architect Ayeni have been two great scribes in whom we are well pleased at the Legacy family.
Conclusions
Taking cognisance that heritage preservation, restoration and promotion are a very herculeantask in a nation like ours, I can assure us all that with the vibes and the spirit of patriotism in us all, together we shall join hands to put Legacy 95 in limelight and annals of the Nigerian history stating from that of the Nigerian Railway Corporation museum.
We shall seek the cooperation of the Nigerian Railway Corporation to recover many of the objects already earmarked for the museum and plead for space in any other iconic sites to store them for the same objective of a typical museum
The joint documentary which the Managing Director Dr Kayode Opeifa had charged us to produce during the course of our visit to his office has started courtesy the honorary Publicity Secretary.
I am using this forum to plead for our cooperation if and when approached to be interviewed when the need arises
Thanks for listening and God bless.
Taiye Olaniyi | President
Taiye Olaniyi | A WELCOME ADDRESS ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF LEGACY 1995 MR TAIYE OLANIYI AT THE 29TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON SATURDAY
Lateefah Olajide | Minute’s of 28th AGM March 2024
Lateefah Olajide | AGM 2025 RESTORATIONS REPORT
Dr. Akinbo Adebunmi | LEGACY 1995 – Office of the Publicity Secretaries – Annual General Meeting Report 2024 -2025
Abibat Olatunji | REPORT OF THE HONOURARY LEGAL ADVISER TO LEGACY 2025
Oliver Owen | 2025 AGM Report from Research Committee
'Bukola Adepeju 