Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan chaired the Herbert Macaulay Memorial Colloquium on Saturday, 14 November 2026, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos. The event, organised by the Macaulay Heritage Foundation, marked the 80th anniversary of the death of Nigeria’s foremost nationalist, Pa Olayinka Herbert Samuel Heelas Badmus Macaulay, and the 162nd anniversary of his birth.
President Bola Tinubu, the Special Guest of Honour, was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Prof. Foluso Ebun Afolabi Lesi of the University of Lagos. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sawnwoolu was represented by the Secretary to the State Government Barr. ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, while White Cap Chiefs represented the Oba of Lagos. Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, the distinguished historian, former Nigerian Ambassador to Germany and Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), delivered the keynote address.
Chief Olabode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and great-grandnephew of Macaulay, led the family delegation. He paid glowing tribute to the late icon’s life, courage and commitment to public service, and appealed to President Tinubu to return the site of the General Post Office in Lagos, built on the land where Macaulay’s residence, Kirsten Hall, once stood to the family so that a permanent memorial hall could be erected in his honour.
Professor Osuntokun gave a detailed account of Macaulay’s journey as engineer, surveyor, journalist, musician and political organiser. He traced Macaulay’s founding of the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) in 1923, the first political party in Nigeria, his campaigns against colonial injustices, and his later collaboration with Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and other nationalists that helped lay the foundation for independence. Osuntokun also recalled a proposal under the Babangida administration for six geopolitical zones, with a president elected from one zone and five vice-presidents from the others, under a single five-year term that would rotate. He said the arrangement was intended to stabilise the political system but did not materialise following the failed 1992 democratic transition.
Among the discussants were Professor Adele Jinadu, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, Director-General of the NIIA and Dr Lanre Arogundade, a veteran journalist.
Political figures in attendance included Prince Adelaja Adeoye, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate for Lagos State in the 2027 election and Group Managing Director of Fendini Group, Dr Charles Oludare Ojumu, APM candidate for the Lagos Central senatorial seat; Mrs Bunmi Adeyemo the chairperson of the Lagos State APM; Dr Amos Fawole the chairman of the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party; Chief Mrs Onikepo Oshodi, BOT member of the PDP, Alhaji Mutaz; and Chief Tunji Adeyemo. Other political heavyweights from across Lagos State were also present.
Awards were presented by the Macaulay family to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief (Prince) Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, MON, OON, Chairman of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council, Baba Adinni of Yorubaland and Atobatele of Ado-Ekiti, and several other distinguished guests.
The colloquium provided an opportunity for scholars, statesmen and political leaders to reflect on Macaulay’s enduring legacy of nationalism, organised political participation and the unfinished task of building a prosperous and just nation.
