The crumbling estate of Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, one of Nigeria’s most influential pre-independence leaders, stands today as a case study in heritage neglect.
Located in Ogbomoso, the once-grand residence of the former Premier of Western Nigeria has been systematically stripped by scavengers, by neglect, and by years of institutional indifference. Window bars, doors, plumbing, books, and fittings have all been removed. Roofs have collapsed. What remains are bare walls and abandoned graves.
Akintola was assassinated during Nigeria’s first military coup in 1966. Nearly six decades later, the physical remnants of his life and legacy remain unprotected.
Multiple residents recount how looters repeatedly accessed the property through an unsecured rear fence, often operating unhindered. Farmers occupying parts of the land admitted they could only offer “informal” security when present. When they were absent, more items disappeared.
Despite the estate’s historical significance, there is no evidence that it was ever designated or protected as a national heritage site. No museum conversion. No preservation framework. No sustained security.
Former caretakers say the house once functioned as a political hub, school, and community centre. That stopped after the commemorative activities ended. What followed was a slow but relentless dismantling of history.
In late 2024, the property was leased to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). University officials confirmed that by the time they inspected the estate, nearly everything of value—including books—had already been carted away.
“We discovered it was just walls,” the Vice-Chancellor said, explaining why renovations were delayed.
While the university now plans to rehabilitate parts of the property, heritage experts warn that restoration without documentation means that irreplaceable historical artefacts have already been lost.
