Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that he almost abandoned the construction of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, but was encouraged to complete it through the persistence of late Prof Akinlawon Mabogunje.

Obasanjo disclosed this at the launch of the Prof. Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje Foundation and the second public lecture held in Mabogunje’s honour at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, the Ogun State, was inaugurated on March 4, 2017, as part of programmes to celebrate the 80th birthday of the former president.

The library is reputed to house over 42 million books, documents and archival materials, including the former president’s primary school uniform, shoes, military uniform, his first car and other personal belongings.

Obasanjo recalled how he nearly gave up on the presidential library project, which sits on 32 hectares and is valued at about $150m before its completion in 2017.

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Obasanjo said, “When I thought a little unfortunately about the presidential library, at one location I went to him (Mabogunje) quietly and said, ‘Look, this library has become beyond what I expected.’ He asked what I wanted to do about it, and I said I wanted to stop it. He told me I dared not.”

Obasanjo added that the library’s completion was due largely to Mabogunje’s encouragement and that of other trustees.

“If that library is standing today, it was the encouragement and the fear that Akin and my friends on the Board of Trustees instilled in me that I dared not stop it,” he said.

Obasanjo, at the event held on Saturday, also described the late Mabogunje as a man who exemplified community spirit and service.

“He (Mabogunje) served this country meritoriously in every capacity he was called upon,” Obasanjo said.

The former president, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, described the late Mabogunje as a nation-builder and intellectual giant, whose wisdom shaped major national policies, including the creation of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

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Obasanjo added, “Akin was a geographer, and in that regard, he helped my administration. When we were trying to establish a new capital territory, Abuja, his knowledge and profession were brought to bear. So, when you call him a nation-builder, you are absolutely right.”

He added, “There is no government before or after me that called on Akin and he did not help, even some governments that I personally didn’t feel encouraged to assist.”

The PALM Foundation, according to Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, will preserve Mabogunje’s legacy through lectures, scholarships, and digital repositories of his works, while also inspiring a new generation of thoughtful leaders.

The UNILAG VC, who is Mabogunje’s first child, said the foundation was established to sustain her father’s legacies of scholarship, patriotism, and integrity.

Ogunsola said, “One of the major reasons we set up this foundation is not just his scholarship but also his character and patriotism towards Nigeria. Through his mentorship, he taught us that true development is not about bricks and mortar.”

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Mabogunje died on August 4, 2022, aged 90.

The event, which also marked Mabogunje’s third posthumous birthday, attracted dignitaries including the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Dr Tunji Olaopa; Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN); and Vincent Maduka, who chaired the occasion.

Also speaking, a former Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, recalled how Mabogunje’s mentorship guided him during his unexpected appointment as Minister of Housing and Urban Development in 2005 under Obasanjo’s administration.

“When Obasanjo appointed me Minister for Housing and Urban Development in 2005, there was a vacancy in the Ministry of Health, so I thought I would be posted there,” Mimiko said.

“After the swearing-in, I went to him (Obasanjo) and said, ‘Sir, I hardly know the difference between a duplex and a bungalow. What do you want me to do in housing?’ I went to my mentor, Professor Ladipo Akinkugbe, who told me not to worry and sent someone to Professor Mabogunje. The following day, he (Mabogunje) called me,” he added.

Mimiko described Mabogunje as a source of knowledge and inspiration, saying, “He taught me that any government policy that does not take into account people’s impact is not worth any policy. I learned so much from him.”

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The keynote speaker, Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert of the University of Ibadan, described Mabogunje as Africa’s first professor of Geography and a pioneer in shaping Nigeria’s real estate and urban development sectors.

Delivering his lecture titled “Akin Mabogunje’s Intellectual Leadership in Multidisciplinary Urban Studies,” Albert said, “His intellectual leadership was a testament to the power of integrative thinking and a lifelong commitment to addressing the challenges of urbanisation.”

Albert highlighted Mabogunje’s role in conceptualising Abuja and his advocacy for sustainable, inclusive city planning.

“His approach challenges policymakers to foster equitable, sustainable cities that work for all citizens, addressing informality, housing shortages and urban poverty in a holistic manner,” he noted.

Born on October 18, 1931, Mabogunje became Africa’s first Professor of Geography at 34 and went on to serve as President of the International Geographical Union.

He was also the first African elected as an International Member of the United States National Academy of Sciences.