Long before Surulere became a bustling hub of culture, sports, and commerce, it was regarded as one of the largest urban slums in Nigeria. That narrative changed in 1954 when Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe, popularly remembered as the “Man of Timber and Calibre,” was appointed Minister of Lands, Surveys, and Natural Resources under the colonial Council of Ministers led by Sir John Stuart Macpherson.
At the time, Lagos mainland was overcrowded, chaotic, and plagued with poor housing conditions. Mbadiwe took on the challenge of transforming the city by initiating the Surulere Housing Estate project. Against stiff opposition—particularly from the Action Group (AG), which staged widespread protests—he pressed forward. Within just one year, the slums were cleared and residents were relocated into newly built housing units.
This bold project, comparable in ambition to modern Gwarinpa Estate in Abuja, became the foundation for Surulere’s rapid growth and transformation into one of Lagos’s most vibrant districts. To this day, no minister or governor has replicated such a sweeping urban renewal within such a short period.
But Mbadiwe’s impact went far beyond Surulere. He was a political heavyweight who wore many caps: Minister of Lands, Minister of Trade and Commerce, Minister of Aviation, and adviser on African affairs to the Prime Minister. His diplomatic legacy also stands tall—he remains Nigeria’s first and only Ambassador Extra-Ordinary and Plenipotentiary.
A man of culture and influence, Mbadiwe founded The Daily Telegraph newspaper as a platform for political expression, and built the iconic Palace of the People in Ndianiche Uno, a landmark commissioned by Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa in 1965. His towering presence earned him traditional titles across regions, including the Agadagbachiriuzo of Arondizuogu, the Ononenyi of Orlu, and the Maye of Lagos.
Changing the name of Ozumba Mbadiwe Road cannot erase the legacy of a leader whose vision turned slums into cities and whose voice shaped Nigeria’s political and cultural history. KO Mbadiwe’s legacy endures as a reminder of what visionary leadership can achieve.
By Hon. Ifeanyi Agumba
Assistant Director, Media & Communication
MAGA INC – Nigeria State Chapter
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