Epe
About
Epe is a city and Local Government Area (LGA) in Lagos State, Nigeria, located on the north side of the Lekki Lagoon and about 90 km from Ibadan. The 2006 Census recorded a population of approximately 181,409 for Epe. The area has two major communities with their own monarchs, Eko Epe and Ijebu Epe, and the paramount ruler is the Oloja of Epeland. Fishing is the major occupation, and the town is known for its fish market and for festivals such as Kayo-kayo, Ebi day, Ojude-Oba and Epe day. Several higher institutions, including Lagos State University, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State University of Education and St. Augustine University, have campuses in the Epe area.
History
Before it came to be called Epe, the settlement was known as Igbo Obo (Forest of Monkeys). A hunter named Uraka, who had come from Ijebu, settled in the area in the 15th century, and the town took its name from Oko-Eepe, a forest of black ants. An Ijebu prince, Obaloja, settled in Epe and took the name Oloja, and by 1790 Shagbafara was installed as Oloja. In 1851 King Kosoko of Lagos was given refuge in Epe after being ousted by the British, and his followers introduced Islam to the town. Epe was the embarkation point for a British military expedition against Ijebu-Ode in 1892.
Source: Wikipedia: Epe, Lagos State
Key Facts
State
Lagos State
Headquarters
Itamarun, Epe
Chairman
Princess Surah Olayemi (APC)
Established
15th century
Area
1315 km²
Population
269 000 (2022)