What do you know about Herbert Samuel Heelas ?
Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay, the Wizard of Kirsten Hall, was a man of many parts. He was an engineer, an architect; a surveyor, journalist, lawyer and musician. Better known as a nationalist, he was in the forefront of the Independence struggle. A true Lagosian, a lecture was held in his honour as part of activities to celebrate Lagos @ 50. The maiden Herbert Macaulay Gold Lecture was held at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja. It was coordinated by a member of The Nation Editorial Board, Femi Macaulay and supported by the Lagos State Government. EVELYN OSAGIE was there.
THOugh he studied in England, he became a thorn in the flesh of the British colonialists on his return home. Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay fought for political and economic emancipation of his people. He was born in Lagos and he lived and died in Lagos. His love for the city was reciprocated by residents. The city stood by him during his political travails in the hands of the colonialists. The late Macaulay, the Wizard of Kirsten Hall, was the father of Nigerian Nationalism. He was born on November 14, 1864 and he died on May 7, 1946.
He was the focus of the “Herbert Macaulay Gold Lecture”, delivered by seasoned diplomat Ambassador Dapo Fafowora at the Lagos Country Club in Ikeja.
The event was attended by members of the Macaulay family, prominent Lagosians and well-wishers. Some of them recounted the life and times of the late nationalist, urging present leaders and politicians to borrow a leaf from him.
“I was only five when Herbert Macaulay died and never met him,” began Fafowora in what became a rich journey into the life and times of the late nationalist. The theme was Herbert Macaulay and his relevance to the excellence of Lagos. The Ambassador did not mince words. To him, “Lagos was about Macaulay and Macaulay was about Lagos”. It was a symbiotic relationship. The two were inseparable”, and he passionately emphasised it.
He said:”Every major political agitation in our country for the realisation of these liberal values has emanated from Lagos. Like a colossus, he dominated and bestrode the city completely, leaving an indelible mark on its future. He wanted Lagos to be the leading centre of excellence, of liberal traditions and progress in Nigeria. These liberal political traditions and values are even more relevant today in our country.”
While Fafowora was touching on Macaulay’s background, values, ideals, struggles and political relevance to Lagos and the nation at large, one could feel the tint of pride in his voice as he recounted: “It was as a school boy in Lagos that my late father, who was a civil servant himself in the colonial civil service, and a great admirer of Herbert Macaulay, first told me about him and his relentless struggle against colonial rule in Nigeria. Later, when I was 12, he took me to see Herbert Macaulay’s house, named ‘Kirsten Hall’, at 8, Balbina Street, Lagos, near the water front (the Lagoon)…Long after Herbert Macaulay’s death, the house remained a tourist attraction and a sort of political Mecca for his admirers and political associates.”
While urging that the lecture be made an annual event to mark Macaulay’s death, the historian wondered why Macaulay’s house was not preserved for posterity, but demolished along with other houses of his friends and political associates, who resided in the city despite the nationalist’s prominence as an outstanding historic and public figure in Lagos.
Describing Macaulay as “outstanding nationalist and patriot”, Fafowora also questioned why successive governments, Lagos in particular, has not done much to immortalise him beyond streets naming in his honour. While hammering on the need for the state with the private sector to urgently set up a foundation in his honour, the seasoned diplomat urged that a “major public educational institution be named after him. He also advocated the renaming of Glover Memorial Hall to Herbert Macaulay Memorial Hall. “What have we done to honour his memory? If we can so generously honour these colonial governors, then I think that Herbert Macaulay and our other national heroes deserve much more,”he said.
Distinguished guests at the event included a great grandson of the late nationalist’s brother Frank Macaulay, Mr Akin Ajayi; great grandson of his late sister who is also a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George; past President of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) and father of The Nation Sports Editor, Jaiye Ojeikere; grandson of the late “veritable titan of the Lagos Press” Thomas Horatio Jackson and past President of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) Mr Olusola MacGregor; Provost, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Gbemiga Ogunleye (who chaired the event); members of The Nation Editorial Board led by its Chairman Sam Omatseye (who anchored the event) and students of Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ).
Mr MacGregor grandfather, the late Jackson ran Lagos Weekly Record, which was Macaulay’s mouth piece at a time, and was Secretary when Macaulay was President. MacGregor observed that besides the government, the Nigerian Society of Engineers and NIS should also immortalise Macaulay. “For instance, in my grandfather’s case, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe set up the School of Journalism in the University of Nsukka (UNN) and called it the Jackson School of Journalism after my grandfather. So something should be also done for Macaulay. So something should be also done for Macaulay,” he said.
Comparing Macaulay’s travails with his political struggles, Chief George condemned the lack of representation by the government at the event. “Where are the people of Lagos State? How could you ride on the history of Lagos without remembering and honouring a man like Macaulay? It is shameful! Let us learn from the legacies of Papa: beyond self-loyalty, be loyal to the system,” he said.
For Mr Omatseye, “Everything we do in Lagos today, whether it is in the pursuit of justice, rule of law, good governance and the self-assertion of Lagos, has a reference point with Macaulay”.
Decked in a bow tie, a trademark of Macaulay, NIJ Provost, lamented that Nigeria seems to have forgotten the late nationalist, saying: “Even the one naira coin, which carried his photograph is no longer in circulation”. He noted: “Were he alive today, he would have told his friends, family and associates: “Keep the flag flying”, I say to you also “Keep the flag flying.”
Speaking metaphorically on the link between the lecture and the Lagos State @ 50 celebrations, Mr Femi Macaulay, who coordinated the event, said death and birth are meeting in a celebration of life to recount the legacy of the great man. Explaining further, he said: “Herbert Macaulay died 21 years before the creation of Lagos State. The 71st anniversary of his death is being commemorated as Lagos State celebrated its 50th anniversary to remind us of the values and ideas that the man Macaulay stood for.”
Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay, the Wizard of Kirsten Hall, was a man of many parts. He was an engineer, an architect; a surveyor, journalist, lawyer and musician. Better known as a nationalist, he was in the forefront of the Independence struggle. A true Lagosian, a lecture was held in his honour as part of activities to celebrate Lagos @ 50. The maiden Herbert Macaulay Gold Lecture was held at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja. It was coordinated by a member of The Nation Editorial Board, Femi Macaulay and supported by the Lagos State Government. EVELYN OSAGIE was there.
THOugh he studied in England, he became a thorn in the flesh of the British colonialists on his return home. Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay fought for political and economic emancipation of his people. He was born in Lagos and he lived and died in Lagos. His love for the city was reciprocated by residents. The city stood by him during his political travails in the hands of the colonialists. The late Macaulay, the Wizard of Kirsten Hall, was the father of Nigerian Nationalism. He was born on November 14, 1864 and he died on May 7, 1946.
He was the focus of the “Herbert Macaulay Gold Lecture”, delivered by seasoned diplomat Ambassador Dapo Fafowora at the Lagos Country Club in Ikeja.
The event was attended by members of the Macaulay family, prominent Lagosians and well-wishers. Some of them recounted the life and times of the late nationalist, urging present leaders and politicians to borrow a leaf from him.
“I was only five when Herbert Macaulay died and never met him,” began Fafowora in what became a rich journey into the life and times of the late nationalist. The theme was Herbert Macaulay and his relevance to the excellence of Lagos. The Ambassador did not mince words. To him, “Lagos was about Macaulay and Macaulay was about Lagos”. It was a symbiotic relationship. The two were inseparable”, and he passionately emphasised it.
He said:”Every major political agitation in our country for the realisation of these liberal values has emanated from Lagos. Like a colossus, he dominated and bestrode the city completely, leaving an indelible mark on its future. He wanted Lagos to be the leading centre of excellence, of liberal traditions and progress in Nigeria. These liberal political traditions and values are even more relevant today in our country.”
While Fafowora was touching on Macaulay’s background, values, ideals, struggles and political relevance to Lagos and the nation at large, one could feel the tint of pride in his voice as he recounted: “It was as a school boy in Lagos that my late father, who was a civil servant himself in the colonial civil service, and a great admirer of Herbert Macaulay, first told me about him and his relentless struggle against colonial rule in Nigeria. Later, when I was 12, he took me to see Herbert Macaulay’s house, named ‘Kirsten Hall’, at 8, Balbina Street, Lagos, near the water front (the Lagoon)…Long after Herbert Macaulay’s death, the house remained a tourist attraction and a sort of political Mecca for his admirers and political associates.”
While urging that the lecture be made an annual event to mark Macaulay’s death, the historian wondered why Macaulay’s house was not preserved for posterity, but demolished along with other houses of his friends and political associates, who resided in the city despite the nationalist’s prominence as an outstanding historic and public figure in Lagos.
Describing Macaulay as “outstanding nationalist and patriot”, Fafowora also questioned why successive governments, Lagos in particular, has not done much to immortalise him beyond streets naming in his honour. While hammering on the need for the state with the private sector to urgently set up a foundation in his honour, the seasoned diplomat urged that a “major public educational institution be named after him. He also advocated the renaming of Glover Memorial Hall to Herbert Macaulay Memorial Hall. “What have we done to honour his memory? If we can so generously honour these colonial governors, then I think that Herbert Macaulay and our other national heroes deserve much more,”he said.
Distinguished guests at the event included a great grandson of the late nationalist’s brother Frank Macaulay, Mr Akin Ajayi; great grandson of his late sister who is also a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George; past President of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) and father of The Nation Sports Editor, Jaiye Ojeikere; grandson of the late “veritable titan of the Lagos Press” Thomas Horatio Jackson and past President of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) Mr Olusola MacGregor; Provost, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Gbemiga Ogunleye (who chaired the event); members of The Nation Editorial Board led by its Chairman Sam Omatseye (who anchored the event) and students of Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ).
Mr MacGregor grandfather, the late Jackson ran Lagos Weekly Record, which was Macaulay’s mouth piece at a time, and was Secretary when Macaulay was President. MacGregor observed that besides the government, the Nigerian Society of Engineers and NIS should also immortalise Macaulay. “For instance, in my grandfather’s case, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe set up the School of Journalism in the University of Nsukka (UNN) and called it the Jackson School of Journalism after my grandfather. So something should be also done for Macaulay. So something should be also done for Macaulay,” he said.
Comparing Macaulay’s travails with his political struggles, Chief George condemned the lack of representation by the government at the event. “Where are the people of Lagos State? How could you ride on the history of Lagos without remembering and honouring a man like Macaulay? It is shameful! Let us learn from the legacies of Papa: beyond self-loyalty, be loyal to the system,” he said.
For Mr Omatseye, “Everything we do in Lagos today, whether it is in the pursuit of justice, rule of law, good governance and the self-assertion of Lagos, has a reference point with Macaulay”.
Decked in a bow tie, a trademark of Macaulay, NIJ Provost, lamented that Nigeria seems to have forgotten the late nationalist, saying: “Even the one naira coin, which carried his photograph is no longer in circulation”. He noted: “Were he alive today, he would have told his friends, family and associates: “Keep the flag flying”, I say to you also “Keep the flag flying.”
Speaking metaphorically on the link between the lecture and the Lagos State @ 50 celebrations, Mr Femi Macaulay, who coordinated the event, said death and birth are meeting in a celebration of life to recount the legacy of the great man. Explaining further, he said: “Herbert Macaulay died 21 years before the creation of Lagos State. The 71st anniversary of his death is being commemorated as Lagos State celebrated its 50th anniversary to remind us of the values and ideas that the man Macaulay stood for.”
Comments
Post a Comment
Kindly comment below and subscribe to receive updates from us