Lagos City Center Front View
Lagos Island is blessed with a heritage building that has existed for close to 80 years old. The monument commonly called ‘centre’ by young and old inhabitants and male and female residents has stood the test of time from the colonial period as a vocational training centre. There is arguably no prominent islander from IsaleEko to Apongbon to Ikoyi to Obalende that has not benefited from the vast opportunities the skills centre has provided them.
Chairman, Lagos Island East LCDA, Hon Kamal Olawale Salau Bashua
It is simply a melting point for Lagos Island.It is widely believed that the centre must have been built by the British and it has bridged the skills gap among youth in the community. The visionary leadership of Mr. Kamal Bashua, Executive Chairman, Lagos Island East LGA has come to rebrand the vocational centre while also putting new features that will improve the socio-cultural development of the community. The new ‘Lagos City Centre: Our Heritage’ as boldly emblazoned on the ultramodern edifice now hosts the skills centre, office spaces, event halls, parking lot, swimming pool and other recreational facilities that would make life worthwhile for residents.
In spite of these massive changes in the outlook of the facility, the vision of the founding fathers of the ‘centre’ as it is fondly called has not been defeated. Many schools bring their children at various weekly schedules to the centre to run structured practical sessions. This has made the theoretical knowledge of the crafts and vocational trainings the students have gained in their classroom to come alive.
The brain behind the laudable project, Mr. Kamal Bashua, Executive Chairman, Lagos Island East LGA stated: ‘This centre has it is known from time is a converging point for males of primary school age. From TajudeenOlusi to the Oba of Lagos to Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Alh. Femi Okunnu, several of the bigwigs that have come out of Lagos Island have benefited from this centre. It is a monument that should be preserved for generations to come to behold.’
The ‘Small but mighty’ council boss furthered: ‘The new edifice boast a computer centre where JAMB, GCE can conductedtheir computer-based exams and computer training can hold as well. It also has event halls, office spaces, a parking lot, a swimming pool, a fountain, and many other facilities.’
The Newly Built Swimming Pool inside the Lagos City Center compound.
A woman who simply called herself Mummy Nafisat and spoke with our correspondent in Yoruba remarked: ‘This place is popularly called ‘centre’, it used to house welders, carpenters, and other artisans. Many youths have come to learn a vocation here and many of them have ended up overseas and some others in positions of authority in Nigeria. We are appreciative of the new look the Chairman has brought to this place, it is very useful for many social and economic activities.’
Another resident, NureniSalau who has plied his trade in EbuteElefun market since 1973 commented: ‘This centre must have been built by the British because this centre was already existing when I immigrated to Lagos. It’s been a vocational centre from time immemorial till Mr. Kamal Bashua came to rebuild it into this ultramodern edifice. I have not entered the premises but we have been told that it contains swimming pool, event hall and the vocational centre is still retained there. We can only pray that God will continue to help the Chairman to execute other projects that he has in mind. Schools have been scheduled to come at different times of the week to learn the handcraft skills and there is a permanent teacher in the centre who trains the children. It is like a practical, hands-on session for the theoretical learning the students have read in class.’
The benefits of this ultramodern facility by the Progressive Chairman are myriad. It will curb youth restiveness, promote sports and recreation in the environment, and reduce traffic congestion occasioned by people holding social functions on the streets. If the old ‘centre’ can produce top guns in the Nigerian socio-political realm, it can only be imagined the champions, leaders of industry and gurus that this new edifice will produce.
The Multi-Purpose Event center inside the “Lagos City Center”
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