Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has admitted that he does not know his exact age, saying he can only estimate it by comparing himself with his surviving primary and secondary school classmates.
Speaking on Sunday, during the Toyin Falola Interviews themed ‘A Conversation with His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,’ the former Nigerian leader revealed that at least six of his classmates are still alive, all now older than 90.
The interview featured Professor Toyin Falola, Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Matthew Hassan Kukah, and former presidential candidate Professor Kingsley Moghalu.
Obasanjo explained that although he has preserved countless personal and historical documents over the years, none contain a verifiable record of his true birth date.
“I don’t know my exact age, but I could judge from those who were in school with me. I believe there are six of my classmates in secondary school who are still alive, and none of them is less than 90 years of age. So I leave it to you to guess what my age could be.” He said
The former president used the conversation to highlight the importance of record-keeping and institutional memory, one of the motivations behind establishing the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
According to him, more than three million materials have already been digitised, with another three million awaiting digitisation.
Obasanjo disclosed that the library houses an extensive collection of his personal records, including his primary and secondary school documents, manuscripts of books he wrote, some completed during his imprisonment, and even agricultural samples such as maize crops he planted while in prison.
He added that letters he wrote at various defining moments in his life are also stored there, including one addressed to the late General Sani Abacha after the death of his son, and another to his wife during his incarceration.
