Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday commissioned the Eyo Monument at the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History in Onikan, Lagos Island.
The monument, standing nearly 40 feet high on a six-foot base, is the tallest of its kind in the state.
Designed as an immersive storytelling structure, it allows visitors to explore its interior where exhibitions and visual narratives interpret the historical journey of Lagos and its communities.
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Sanwo-Olu described the Eyo—the iconic white-clad masquerade—as a powerful symbol of Lagosian identity.
He noted that placing the monument at the John Randle Centre provides a fitting environment for showcasing Yoruba art, tradition, and history to a global audience.
“The Eyo as a cultural symbol tells the story of Lagos to the world. This monument will serve as a unique attraction where visitors can learn, take photographs, and share the history of our state,” the governor remarked.
The John Randle Centre offers a comprehensive cultural experience, featuring exhibition spaces including a 1,000-square-metre gallery, an amphitheatre and a traditional “Village Square,” as well as a gift shop and a variety of creative activations.
The governor lauded the creator and curator of the monument, renowned artist Dotun Popoola, for his craftsmanship and intellectual depth.
He noted that the project is a testament to how indigenous talent can be harnessed to preserve history through modern art.
Qudus Onikeku, CEO of the John Randle Centre, revealed that the structure was intentionally designed to be interactive.
Plans are also underway to produce a documentary film chronicling the monument’s creation and the deeper history of the Eyo tradition.
The commissioning serves as a prelude to the 2025 Eyo Festival (Adamu Orisha Play), scheduled for Saturday, December 27.
Returning after an eight-year hiatus, this year’s festival is particularly significant as it marks the first time it will be held during the December festive season.
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The festival will be held at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) and will honour four distinguished figures: Abibatu Mogaji, mother of President Bola Tinubu; Mobolaji Johnson, Lagos’ first military governor; Alhaja Lateef Jakande, Lagos’ first civilian governor; and Michael Otedola, former governor during the Third Republic.
Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the vital support of traditional institutions, specifically thanking the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, for his role in sustaining the state’s cultural legacy.
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