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The house of late Ibadan politician, Sir Adegoke Adelabu, has been converted to a monument named ‘African Centre of Intellectualism.‘
The Chairman of the Adegoke Adelabu Foundation, Oloye Lekan Alabi, disclosed this while addressing reporters in Ibadan on Monday, saying that the one-storey building located at Oke Oluokun area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, will be unveiled on September 3, to mark the late politician’s post humus 101st birthday.
Oloye Alabi said the house, originally named ‘Taj Mahal’ by the late politician, was being remodeled to serve as a a monument for tourists, researchers and other users for enrichment of knowledge and preservation of Adelabu’s ideals.
He added that the house has the potential of become a world tourist destination for the learning of Adelabu’s great ideas and ideals.
Secretary of the Adegoke Adelabu Foundation, Mr Yinka Adelabu, while reviewing his book, Africa in Evolution, a book on the late politician’s political thoughts, said the ideas are still practical solutions to the problems Nigeria is facing today.
The two-part book, contains the late politician’s thoughts on how Nigeria can gain independence, educational development, economic planning, agriculture as well as unity among the ethnic groups, among others.
Adelabu was born on September 3, 1915. He became the first indigenous manager at the United African Company (UAC) at the age of 21 years. He later went into politics and became one of Nigeria’s most colourful politicians.
He died at the age of 43.