Dr. John Randle
The J.Randle Centre for Yorùbá Culture and History stands as a testament to the extraordinary legacy of Dr. John Randle, a visionary Lagosian whose life was dedicated to community empowerment, cultural pride, and progress.
In 1928, Dr. Randle built a public swimming pool in King George V Park (later known as Love Garden) as a bold response to the refusal of the British Colonial Office to provide Lagosians with a pool. This act of generosity was more than a recreational gesture; it symbolised access, opportunity, and empowerment for the indigenous people of Lagos. Upon completion, he handed the facilities over to the Lagos Town Council, accompanied by a maintenance fund to ensure their longevity.
Dr. Randle’s journey began on February 1, 1855, in Regent Town, Sierra Leone, born to Thomas and Sarah Randle. His father, originally from the Ọyọ́ empire, was among those displaced during the 19th-century upheavals caused by intra-tribal wars and the Atlantic slave takings. Dr. Randle attended CMS Grammar School in Sierra Leone before studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated with distinction in 1888.
Arriving in Lagos, he became one of the first African medical practitioners in the colony, advocating tirelessly for equality and the rights of African professionals within the colonial system. He subsequently left the Colonial Service to set up a flourishing medical practice in the Colony of Lagos.
Free from the constraints of colonial service, he had time to indulge his passion in politics and emerged a leader in politics and community service. As a provisional member of the Legislative Council in 1899, he championed native public opinion and fought for justice and representation. He also established a Swimming Trust to encourage swimming as both a sport and a means to reduce drowning in Lagos’s waterways. The J.Randle Centre embodies his enduring vision, offering a space where culture, education, and community converge. The pool, in particular, continues his legacy of promoting swimming as a life skill.
Dr. John Randle passed away on February 27, 1928, at the age of 73. His life is not measured by years but by the profound impact of his actions. Through the J.Randle Centre, his legacy endures as a symbol of resilience, generosity, and the unyielding pursuit of progress for Lagos, Yorùbá culture, and humanity