Epe, Lagos State

Town and LGA in Lagos state

Epe is a town and Local Government Area (LGA)
in Lagos State, Nigeria located on the north side of the Lekki Lagoon and about 90 km from Ibadan. During the 2006 Census, the population of Epe was approximately 181,409. A road junction at the entrance into Epe from the Lekki Epe Expressway features a sculpture of two giant fish, erected by the Lagos State Government. Notable higher institutions like Lagos State University(LASU), Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State University of Education(LASUED) (Formerly known as Michael Otedola College of Primary Education MOCPED)., Pan Atlantic University(PAU), St. Augustine university, all have campuses in Epe area of Lagos, Nigeria.

In years past, before this settlement came to be called Epe, the town had earlier been known as Igbo Obo (Forest of Monkeys). Some group of hunters from Ijebu, were led by one Urankaloye or Uraka had visited this part of the world during a hunting expedition in search for animals. Though it later served as the refuge for the forces of Kosoko, the Yoruba king ousted from Lagos by the British in 1851. In 1892, Epe was the embarkation point for the military expedition sent by Sir Gilbert Carter, the then Governor of Lagos, to defeat the awujale (the Ijebu political and spiritual ruler) at Ijebu Ode. Uraka and Aramope which were both hunters then left Ile Ife on a hunting expedition arriving in Ijebu Ode, Uraka never knew that he was on a threshold of history. When Uraka got to Ijebu Ode, he got a message through an Ifa divination. He was told to move southwards towards the sea and should settle anywhere between his crossing of the sixth and seventh river. After crossing the fifth river called "OTERIN" (Cold Water), he got to a place later identified as ‘Poka’ where he used his popoka stick to strike the ground. Poka town was derived from his name called Uraka's popoka stick. At Poka, the Ifa oracle was further consulted for direction which led Uraka to proceed and after crossing the sixth river, he finally settled in a place called "ETITA". Kosoko was denied entry into Epe town but after a long plea, he was directed to Ijebu Ode to obtain clearance and permission from Awujale Anikilaya. The Awujale consequently considered him as a mark of royalty and sent "Oja Ikale" as symbol of permission and caring to Oloja Olumade, asking him to grant Kosoko and his lieutenants’ asylum in Epe. Kosoko's stay in Epe was a subject of controversy. Some claimed that in his 11 years in Epe, he never had a house of his own, while others think otherwise. But whatever the case might have been, Kosoko's years in Epe changed the socio cultural atmosphere of Epe town, because some of his followers to Epe town were Muslims. Epe is home to the Oluwo Fish Market, the largest of its kind in Lagos State

Epe to this day is a predominantly Muslim town.

Agricultural Training Institute, Araga, Epe. Centre for Rural Development's [CERUD] Complex and Botanical Garden, Igbodu, Epe. Eko Tourist Beach Resort, Akodo, Ibeju Lekki. Lagos State University [LASU], Epe Campus. Lekki Free Trade Zone Complex. Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Epe Campus. Lekki Rest House: Confinement Home of Nigeria's first Opposition Leader. Murtala Mohammed Botanical Garden, Epe. Recreation Centre, Epe, Marina. Relics of Brazilian Architecture and Atlantic Slave Trade, Lekki Town. Youth Rehabilitation and Development Centre, Ita Oko Island, Epe.