Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has once again admitted that he does not know his exact age, saying he can only estimate based on the ages of his surviving classmates.
Obasanjo made the disclosure on Sunday during the Toyin Falola Interview Series, titled “A Conversation with His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.” The session was moderated by Professor Toyin Falola and featured the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Dr. Matthew Kukah, and former presidential candidate, Professor Kingsley Moghalu.
He explained that several of his contemporaries from primary and secondary school are still alive, with none younger than 90 years, making them useful reference points for estimating his age.
“I don’t know my exact age, but I could judge from those who were in school with me… none of them is less than 90 years of age. So I leave it to you to guess what my age could be,” Obasanjo said.
Obasanjo Speaks on Presidential Library
During the interview, Obasanjo also discussed the purpose of establishing his presidential library, describing it as a tool for preserving national records and strengthening institutional memory. He revealed that over 3 million documents have already been digitised, with an equal number still pending.
“The idea is when these materials are digitalised, people can have access to them. That is number one. As document preservation, we preserve the past, take note of the present and we want all these to inspire the future,” he said.
Obasanjo added that the library houses personal and historical records, including his primary and secondary school files, manuscripts, and private correspondence. Notable items include a letter written to former military ruler General Sani Abacha following the death of his son, and another addressed to his wife during his imprisonment.
“My records in primary and secondary school and even the manuscripts of books that I have written, those that I wrote in prison… even crops of maize that I planted when I was in prison, they are there and somehow I was able to keep them,” he said.
Obasanjo emphasised that the library is part of a broader effort to preserve institutional memory in Nigeria, where record-keeping and historical documentation are often neglected.
“I believe one of the things we don’t do too well in our society is that we don’t keep records too well. Institutional memory is not what we do very well,” he added.