Multimedia Journalist - Telling The Story: March 2017

Abeokuta - Pic taken from Olumo Rock

I love adventure so when the opportunity came to do a road trip to Abeokuta for the launch of former president Olusegun Obasanjo's library, I jumped at it. I was excited at the opportunity and could not wait. After a three hour journey we finally arrived and settled into the hotel. I took a quick look at the swimming pool and decided instantly after seeing a sea of bodies in the pool that I wasn't going to even dare it. Some kind of party was on and I cringed at the thought of going into the pool. Looked like there were more bodies than water. Too shocked to look further, I busied myself watching news on television. An hour later it was time to chase that interview with the former president and off we went to the gigantic complex. The complex has a museum, a resort with dozens of rooms, a tennis court, a modern gym, amusement park, sauna, auditorium, amphitheatre, Adire and African Fabrics Centre, a lake among other facilities. We were too caught up trying to ensure we secure the interview all evening we were unable to embark on a full tour of the sprawling site.
Next day of the launch, we got up early cos we wanted to visit Olumo Rock before the event started. Seeing the view of the city from that height was everything. It was such a breathtaking site to behold.
On the way to the venue, it was interesting to see the queues at ATM points. A journalist from another media house told us how he had spent an hour the night before waiting for his turn. I was glad they had a working POS at the hotel. We drove through a festival parade. It was their Lisabi day.
As we got close to the venue, there was slight traffic so we alighted.... tags on, equipment in place, we walked into the complex.
Various African dignitaries joined former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo as he made history by launching Africa's first presidential library.
The event was attended by leaders including, Nigeria's vice president Yemi Osinbajo, Liberian president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan and former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan among others. I tried to take pictures as the dignitaries walked to the entrance of the building. My goodness! It was quite dramatic as journalists were pushing and shoving. My amazing colleague was able to film that sequence. At some point after the ribbon to the building was cut, it all went crazy as some dignitaries struggled to get into the building.
The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library houses books and personal effects including his military uniforms, documents, cultural artefacts, his first car, a well-kept Volkswagen Beetle car, one official car, a jeep, helicopter, a miniature warship, among other interesting materials. It was quite impressive to see the video section where one could watch documentaries and the umbrellas that had audio being played with OBJ as the narrator. The space also has a picture section which I found quite innovative as it provides an opportunity for kids to play dress up and take pictures reflecting their future career.
The library houses a replica of Obasanjo's prison cell. The former president was convicted of plotting to overthrow dictator Sani Abacha, on what were widely seen as trumped-up charges, and jailed in 1995.
After Abacha's death in 1998, Obasanjo was released and was elected as civilian president in 1999.
He helped restore Nigeria's status as a major African power after years of isolation under Abacha, sending peacekeepers into several war zones and being feted at international summits.
This library is not only about his life, it is also about Nigeria's history and I look forward to re-visiting. I would love to take a full tour of the place with my family. Though we did not get the interview because OBJ fell ill and had to rest, I'm grateful we still got a story out of it.