EJIRIN
Historical Background
It is generally agreed that Lofi, a hunter from Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba’s founded Ejinrin about 1619 A.D, we are told that no sooner he settled down, he was joined by other people, who settled in various parts of the land. They co-existed peacefully without rancour. The name Ejinrin came to being as a result of large quantities of an herbal leaf called ‘Ewe Ejinrin’ in the present Ejinrin land.
Ejinrin is an ancient town about 16 kilometres West of Epe. It is bounded on the North and North West by Ketu and Sekungba and the Lagos Lagoon and swamps on the Southern part. The area of the land is approximately 10,000 Acres. Ejinrin was the Former Headquarter of Ejinrin District Council Area which consisted of 25 Towns and Villages. The town became more popular because of its ancient market.
Ejinrin is a multi-tribal community where people from various cultural backgrounds had lived together in peace and harmony for several decades. The people are mainly Yoruba’s from Southwest Nigeria. They also accommodate other Nigerians like Edos, Hausas, Ijaws, Urhobos, Igbos and many other ethnic groups in Nigeria.
The people are mostly subsistence farmers, fishermen, palm wine tappers, timber merchants and petty traders. Ejinrin people are highly industrious, accommodating and loving people. Respect for elders is a way of life in Ejinrin and the people inculcate virtues of humility and service in their children. There is several socio-religious cultural festival in Ejinrin; these include Okosi Festival (Boat Regatta) Kilajolu, Eebi and Alapo Masquerade etc. These festivals are widely celebrated by the worshippers in the community at various months throughout the year.
EJINRIN AS A COMMERCIAL NERVE CENTRE IN THE COLONY AND PROVINCE
The market started during the reign of Oba Idowu Ojulari of Lagos (1819 – 1821) who wanted a new slave market for Lagos people. After satisfying themselves about suitability of the new place, the war Chiefs and Fetish Priests returned to Lagos with their report. The Ifa Oracle was consulted and necessary sacrifices were made for the establishment of the market, which later became ‘Ejinrin Market’. This was about 1820.
Later, Ejinrin now became one of the major commercial centres for slave trading in the coastal part of Nigeria in the olden days; slaves were transported from the market at Ejinrin to Lagos and Badagry sea port for shipment to Western Europe, Northern Americas etc. With the abolition of slave trade, commodities like Timber, Farm Produce, Textiles, building materials etc surfaced and many companies established warehouses and offices in Ejinrin, from 1920s. The companies included John Holt, Lever Brothers, UAC, PZ, GB Ollivant, Round Tree, CFAO and many others.
The Ejinrin market was rebuilt in the 1950s with the help of World Bank as the biggest and largest market in the then Western region with over 1,628 open and lock up shops. The General Post Office was commissioned in 1927 as the First Post Office in Nigeria. The population of Ejinrin is approximately 10,000.
Economic Activities
Farming, fishing, timber merchandising, trading and palm wine tapping etc.
Economic Potentials
- Water front for Tourism
- Ejinrin has been found within the bitumen belt.
- Availability of large market for Seafood
HRM Oba Rafiu Ishola Babatunde Balogun (Oba Of Ejerin)
Here are few towns in Ejirin:
IDENA
Economic Activities
Farming, Fishing and Petty Trading
Economic Potentials
- Availability of Vast Rice Plantation Farm
- Availability of Large Land for Industrialization
- Availability of Land for farm settlement
ITOIKIN
Economic Activities
Farming, Petty trading and fishing
Economic Potentials
- Availability of Rice Plantation
- Large body of water
- Presence of Julius Berger plc
- Availability of sharp and soft sand
Chief Isiaka Ogunsanya (Baale Itoikin)
MUSEJU/MUTAKUN
Economic Activities
Farming, Trading, Fishing
Economic Potentials
- This community has the largest land scale in Epe constituency II.
- Availability of large Kolanut farm land.
Chief Agbon of Mutakun is the Baale of Mutakun
EGANSEYINDO
Economic Activities
Farming, Trading and Fishing
Economic potentials
- There is large land for farming purposes and industrialization.
- Large Kolanut plantation.
- Conducive seashore.
Chief Omoseyin A. O. (Baale of Egan)
LOGBERE
Economic Activities
Farming, Fishing and Petty Trading
Economic Potentials
- Vast availability of land for farming & industrialization
ERERUFU
Economic Activities
Farming, Fishing and Petty Trading
Economic Potentials
- Availability of large land for farming & industrialization
Chief Ogunlana (Baale of Ererufu)
ELUJU/IMOWO
Economic Activities
Farming, Fishing and Petty Trading
Economic Potentials
- Large mass of land for industrialization
- Large scale mechanised farming
SEKUNGBA
Economic Activities
Farming, Trading, Fishing
Economic Potential
- Land for Industrial Purpose and Mechanized farming
- Availability of water front for tourism
Chief S. A. Omotayo (Baale of Sekungba)
MOLAJOYE
Economic Activities
Farming, Petty Trading and Fishing
Economic Potentials
Land for Industrial Purpose and housing
Baale and Community Leaders
Chief A. O. Ogunyemi (Baale of Molajoye)
IGBODU/ESEMBOKE
Economic Activities
Farming, Petty Trading and Fishing
Economic Potentials
- Availability of vast acres of land
SALA
Economic Activities
Farming, Trading and Fishing
Economic Potentials
Vast acres of land for industrial and agricultural purposes
OKE-OSHO
Economic Activities
Farming, fishing etc
Economic Potentials
Water front for tourism
TEMU
Economic Activities
Farming, Trading and Fishing
Economic Potentials
Availability of land for farming and industrial purposes
Chief Razaq Olatunji Okunowo (BaaleOf Temu)
IJAKO
Economic Activities
Farming and Hunting
Economic Potentials
Availability of land for other purposes
