Caption: view of freedom park Lagos with pumping map of Nigeria flanked by blinking photos of local guides during a meetup
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On October 1st, we celebrated Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day with a Local Guides meetup at Freedom Park, Lagos Island. After exchanging pleasantries, we set off on a tour led by Daniel, our knowledgeable guide, who took us through the park’s rich history.
We learned that Freedom Park was once Her Majesty’s Broad Street Prison, Nigeria’s first colonial prison, built in 1882. This prison held several notable figures, including Wole Soyinka, Obafemi Awolowo, Herbert Macaulay, and Anthony Enahoro—all of whom were political activists and independence agitators. These leaders had been schooled abroad, and their exposure made them key players in Nigeria’s fight for freedom.
The prison cells housed six prisoners at a time under dire conditions, with only the strongest having access to a bed. The rest had to sit or squat to sleep. Today, the prison cells are mimicked with the same measurements but now contain chairs and electric sockets, offering visitors a quiet space to reflect on their thoughts, perhaps liberating their minds from their own troubles.
We also viewed several relics from the original prison, including the gallows, providing a sobering reminder of Nigeria’s colonial past.
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Caption: Prison bars and other relics
Caption: Work tools, Chains and other relics
We ended the day at one of the restaurants, located where the prison’s kitchen used to be, enjoying a meal of freshly prepared chicken and chips with cold drinks. While waiting for our food, we discussed the current economic realities in Nigeria, finding reason to celebrate despite the odds and all things Local Guides, from local guides levels to favorite areas of contribution on Google Maps and the current posture of the Lagos local guide. We all agreed on the need for a mega Local guide event to motivate the community. Throughout the tour, we captured photos, made edits to the locations within the park, and submitted reviews, adding even more value to the map.
Caption: Peppered fried chicken and chips meal
A big thank you to everyone who joined the meetup @Idemudia @Olohi and Daniel. shoutout to @MrLabule and @SholaIB for your background support. It was a meaningful experience filled with learning, reflection, and community-building. Let’s keep exploring and contributing to the rich tapestry of Lagos!
Enjoy the photos from the meetup
#Meetup #IndependenceDay #LocalGuides #Lagos #FreedomPark #GoogleMaps
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