The Tafawa Balewa Square Management Board has disclosed that it will inaugurate the Remembrance Arcade and Independence Garden in October as part of efforts to preserve national heritage and provide a befitting venue for civic events.
While speaking with The PUNCH, the Managing Director of the Tafawa Balewa Square Management Board, Lucia Shittu, explained that the initiative is part of a broader effort to restore the glory of TBS as a national heritage site and reposition it as a major hub for both local and international tourism.
This initiative is not simply about beautification but about preserving Nigeria’s history and cultural memory. TBS has long been a symbolic space where the nation’s founding fathers, Tafawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, and Obafemi Awolowo, played significant roles in the nation’s story.
By redeveloping the grounds, the board intends to ensure that future generations can connect with that heritage. As part of this, plans are in place to have trees planted and named after Nigeria’s founding leaders, with their respective state governments participating in the symbolic exercise.
The project is being implemented in partnership with Lafarge Africa, which has adopted it under its corporate social responsibility portfolio.
Lafarge will deliver the first phase of the park’s redevelopment before October 1, in time for Nigeria’s Independence Day. However, the formal inauguration is scheduled for sometime in October to allow room for national activities on October 1 while ensuring the presence of key stakeholders, including ministers, corporate partners, and state representatives.
The project is not profit-driven. Instead, it is designed to uplift TBS as a public heritage centre, promote tourism, and provide Lagos residents and visitors with a safe, well-maintained, and secure recreational environment. While a minimal fee may be introduced in the future strictly for maintenance, the priority remains on creating a world-class space that reflects Nigeria’s history, supports tourism, and offers value to the public.”
Shittu asserted that beyond the park and arcade, TBS was also working to integrate forward-looking initiatives such as an esports and entrepreneurship skills hub for Nigerian youths.
Corroborating the above, the Director of Commercial Services, Joseph Umar, said as part of its corporate social responsibility, Lafarge has taken up the rehabilitation of the Remembrance Arcade and the Independence Garden, where the historic Independence Memorial Obelisk is located.
He added, “This intervention is a CSR initiative by Lafarge, and the goal is very clear: to safeguard our national heritage and to create a vibrant tourist site that will attract both Nigerians and international visitors. The Independence Obelisk itself is highly symbolic. It marks the very spot where the Union Jack was lowered and Nigeria’s green-white-green flag was hoisted on October 1, 1960. That moment defined our nation’s birth, and the Obelisk continues to stand as a permanent reminder of that transition.
Similarly, the Remembrance Arcade holds deep meaning for us as a nation. It is the site where we honour our fallen heroes, with the statue of the Unknown Soldier standing in their memory. Every January, Lagos State officials gather there to lay wreaths and commemorate the men and women who paid the ultimate price in service to our country. Our plan is not only to preserve these monuments but also to make the space more engaging and educational. The arcade and garden will be redesigned as a park where visitors can experience history in a living way. They will be able to see the Independence Obelisk, learn about our founding fathers through recorded speeches and historical images displayed on screens, and reflect on the sacrifices of our heroes. Schoolchildren, in particular, will benefit greatly, as the site will serve as a practical learning ground where they can connect with Nigeria’s past in an inspiring environment.
“This project is about honour, remembrance, and education. It is about ensuring that TBS continues to serve as a space where history is not forgotten but celebrated and passed on to future generations.”
