Tinubu Square, Nigeria

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The Tinubu Square is one of the most popular places in Nigeria. The Tinubu square is located in the middle of the commercial centre of Lagos Island, Nigeria. The square is a high tourist attraction for Lagos State, and it also goes by the name of Independence Square, a name given to the landmark by the leaders of the First Republic. The square is two thousand square meters. The name Tinubu derives from the woman, Madam Efuntoroye Tinubu. Madam Efuntoroye Tinubu was a very wealthy woman, and some regard her as a Rockefeller of Nigeria. She started with trading tree bark, which made her a wealthy aristocrat. She then married a Nigerian king. As Madam Efuntoroye Tinubu stayed out of politics, she made a fortune in the slave trade business. She owned over three hundred slaves herself. As England outlawed slavery, Tinubu still supplied a large flow of slaves to the Americas. Eventually England sent a force to arrest Tinubu and shut down the trade of slaves out of Nigeria. Tinubu fought back the English forces in the mid 1850’s and up until her death in 1887. After the English ban of the slave trade, Madam Tinubu moved her wealth into the salt and arms trade. Madam Efuntoroye Tinubu is a symbol of the fight against colonial power of Nigerians. In the Tinubu Square there is a monument of Madam Efuntorotye Tinubu. It is believed the Madam Tinubu donated the two thousand meter piece of land that is now the Tinubu square. The square has a multitude of purposes. Tourists can relax, or they can engage in recreational activities. The first structure that was built in the square was the Court of Assizes. Eventually the court was taken down and a large water fountain was out in place. The fountain commemorates the Independence of Nigeria. The “Wings of Liberty” is a statue also dedicated to the independence of Nigeria, more specifically the state of Lagos in 1960. There is a cenotaph for Madam Efuntorotye Tinubu in the Tinubu park. It celebrates Tinubu’s impressive work of wealth and her fight against the British Empire. There is also a statue of Madam Tinubu in the square. It stands tall and is a beautiful piece of artwork that represents leadership and entrepreneurship, the two qualities that made Madam Tinubu historic in Nigeria. Another statue is of a man laying down reading a book. The title of the statue reads, “Knowledge is Power”. The statue represents how important education is. Next is a statute of a blind drummer and a dancing woman. Kokoro was a popular Saka drum player and singer. He was well known in the 1970’s by going from place to place providing entertainment for the people of Lagos Island. The Tinubu Square is a very beautiful and safe place to visit. There is a twenty four hour power supply that illuminates many lights during the night. Many police officers occupy in and around the park, along with regulating commercial activity around the square, as it is in the heart of the commercial district. Governor Ambode stated that “Lagos State government will continue to use artistic facilities such as the Tinubu Square and others to be constructed across the state to showcase our positive attractions and create a must-visit appetite for both domestic and foreign tourists”. The Lagos state officials want to preserve the rich culture for the future generations. This was a major reason as to why Tinubu Square was created. Madam Tinubu has been credited for putting Lagos on the commerce map of the world. Many tourists arrive in Lagos every year to see the Tinubu Square due to its rich connection with the culture of Nigerian History.