TODAY IN HISTORY

JANUARY 16, 1966
                             
1966: Soldiers revolt in Lagos, Enugu, Ibadan and Kaduna: Balewa and Okoti Eboh missing
The Council of Ministers of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigera issued the following statements in that: “In the early hours of yesterday morning, a dissident section of the Nigerian Army kidnapped the prime Minister and the Minister of Finance and took them to an unknown destination”.
“The G.O.C. and the vast majority of the Nigerian army remain completely loyal to the Federal Government and are already taking all appropriate measure to bring the situation under control. All essential public services continue to function normally”
“The above scenario in Lagos thus signalled the overthrow of the Federal Government by the Nigerian Army in a coup ‘detat’ - Daily Times Nigeria

PEACE OFFERINGS FOR A DUSKY MONARCH The Graphic Newspaper, July 11 1908

Colonel Whitlock,  the leader of the British Commission arrying on negotiations with Africans. He and other British Commissioners commonly provided themselves with coloured pictures of the King and Queen, for "the purpose of presenting them with gifts to woo the savage mind.
This happened during the demarcation at Wukari where, as our illustration shows, Colonel Whitlock placated one of the most powerful Chiefs of that region with framed portraits of their Majesties".      

You can tell a lot about a nation by the names it gives its streets.....intellectuals, heroes, pioneers or even in honour of a vanished past.
Its also interesting, as it can show how society changes and what it places it's values on over the ages.

Having your name on a street is one of the highest honours a nation can bestow on an individual, it often recognises the outstanding work or service an individual has contributed to society.
I will be posting a series of pictures of people who have had streets named after them .
Hopefully it will remind and inspire us
#YourLegacyIsYourWealth

Karimu Kotun

Karimu Kotun, General Merchant of 3 Dosumu Street.

Karimu Kotun was born in Lagos, in 1881 and was the second son of Braimah Kotun.

He started business in cotton goods, immediately after leaving school in1896.
In 1910 he became the sole agent for Messrs E. H. Stein & Co., of Liverpool, but the firm closed due to the war. They recommended him to Messrs S. L. Behrens Ltd. Manchester and he represented them well but due to shipping difficulties he found it better suited to his interests to be an independent contractor in 1919.
In 1907 he was appointed President of the first Mohammedan Cricket Club in Lagos; He became Managing Director of the Alowolagba Society 1913 and in 1919 was appointed by the members of the Lagos community in succession to the late Adolphus B. Martin, as private secretary to His Royal Highness Prince Eshugbayi Eleko

Delo Dosumu

Delo Dosumu, B.A., Produce Dealer and General Merchant , Idunmagbo Street Lagos.

Mr Delo Dosumo was born in Ijebu Remo. After his initial education in Lagos , he went to England in 1908 to continue his studies, and graduated with a B.A, with Honours in Philosophy at London University in 1912. He returned to Lagos the following year to start in business. He was described as an " excellent type of educated and progressive Nigerian" 

David Evaristo Akerele

David Evaristo Akerele, Produce Dealer and General Merchant. 4 Balogun Street

Mr Akerele was born in Lagos in 1876, and began his career as a clerk in the Government services, first in the railway department and afterwards in the Attorney- General's office. In 1906 he commenced business on his own account as a general contractor to the Government, and in 1909 he established his Balogun street business.

Mr George S. A Da Costa

Mr George S. A Da Costa in 1920s Lagos was the best known photographer.
Born in Lagos 1853,he received his education at the C.M.S training institution. He was appointed manager at C.M.S bookshop 1877 and held it till 1895, when he resigned and became an exponent of photography.The excellence of his work was duly recognised by the government , who entrusted to him the photography contracts of such projects like the construction of railway in Jebba and later in Kaduna

Mr L. A.Cardoso

Mr L. A.Cardoso.
Born in 1865 and educated in St Gregory's Grammar School. After thirteen years as a school master he relinquished his scholastic trade in 1893 for the more lucrative field of commerce.As well as being an import and exportmerchant, farmer ( 600 acres farming cocoa) he was also a licensed auctioneer at his 23, Bamgbose Street address, it was said that " at his auction sales on Mondays and Thursdays the things that come under his hammer ranged throughout the entire gamut of human requirement, with results satisfactory to all concerned"

Adenyi Jones

Adenyi Jones, M.B., B.S

Dr Adenyi Jones was born in Waterloo, Sierra Leone, in 1876, and was first educated at the Sierra Leone Grammar School.
In 1906 he went to England to attend Durham University. Taking his degrees as M.B and B.S., He extended his professional knowledge and experience at the Rotunda Hospital Dublin, The West London Hospital, Hammersmith as well as the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, under Sir Robert Boyce.
When he returned to Lagos he started his private practise and in 1914 he built his house and attached to his dwelling, he built an "excellent " private hospital, with an operating theatre, and wards for male and female patients.



To be continued.......

The Arrival And Subsequent Death of Lady Carter At Lagos

The late Lady Carter

General View of Lagos

From The Illustrated London News. January 19th 1895



After the reception accorded to the wife of the Governor on her arrival to Lagos it came as a shock when the news that Lady Carter died on January 13th 1895.

The Event had cast a gloom over the entire colony, which had but a few days before welcomed her with enthusiasm.

Her Ladyship reached Lagos in the Axim on December 6th when the whole city turned out to do her honour. The streets ( as shown in the pictures) were decorated, and Sir Gilbert and Lady Carter were greeted everywhere with applause. From eight o'clock in the morning the Marina was thronged with gay crowds of sightseers on the outlook for the carriage which would convey Lady Carter to Government House. In the harbour her Majesty's Colonial yacht,Margaret and all the mercantile steamers were docked with flags, and carried palm branches on their mastheads. At ten o'clock two guns announced that the steam tender Kwarra had started from the Axim with her Ladyship on board. Eighteen hundred school children sang " Rule Britannia" on the landing -stage as soon as his Excellency appeared escorting his wife from the steamer. A flourish of trumpets, the music of massed bands, also denoted the arrival of the Governors wife. A bouquet was presented to Lady Carter by Miss Lawson, a great - grand daughter of the late Bishop Crowther. A ball was given in her Ladyships honour on December 21st, and five days later she was taken ill. 

                                        Triumph Arch decorated for the arrival of Lady Carter

                                                      Lady Carter Landing in Lagos

Sympathy must be extended towards the Governor of Lagos in his sudden bereavement, and towards the West African Colony which mourns the loss of its chief leader of society.

Sir Gilbert T. Carter K. C. M. G., has been Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Lagos since 1891. The son of a sailor, he entered the Royal Navy 30 years ago and served in the Government yacht Sherbro on the West African coast in 1870 and during the Ashantee War. Retiring in 1875, he became private secretary to the Governor of the Leeward Isles, a position he held till 1879, when he was appointed Treasurer of the Gold Coast and Gambia. He was administrator of The Gambia from 1888 to 1891. In the following year he was charged with the delicate duty of conducting a mission to the Yorubas, on the termination of which he was created K. C. M. G for "valuable and important services as Governor of Lagos". Lady Carter whom he married in 1874, was Miss Susan Laura Hocker, daughter of Lieutenant -Colonel Edward Hocker, C.B