IBEJU-LEKKI, The People and Culture

The people of Ibeju Lekki pride themselves as being from “Igi-Meta” This can be gleened from their “Oriki” part of which reads thus:
‘……Omo onigi meta ijebu, ikan n so owo, ikan n so iyun, ikan n so alaari baba aso…..’

Ibeju Lekki indigenes are friendly and accommodating as can be seen in their peaceful co-existence with various other Yoruba and non-Yoruba speaking Nigerians and foreigners. Indigenes of Ibeju Lekki are mainly fishermen, who traverse the length and breadth of both Lagos Lagoon and Atlantic Ocean for different species of fishes, cray fish, prawn, lobsters and crabs. The resultant effect of this is that the woman smoke/grill the catches from their husbands net. Smoked fish is a local delicacy which has been exported and is popularly eaten with sour garri, a local derivative of cassava, usually produced by Ijebu woman. Indigenes of Ibeju Lekki also produce brooms, coconut oil and palm oil from the abundant coconut and palm trees that grow along the coastline.

The traditional institution of Authority which is still highly revered by the indigenes, is male dominated and patriarchal in nature. Leadership is vested in the Council of Obas and Chiefs, headed by the Onibeju, who is the chairman.

Historically, the Onibeju had been the administrative head of all communities that make up of the old Ibeju district, long before the incursion of the colonial masters. He has therefore maintained his chairmanship of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Ibeju Lekki to date.

Ibeju Lekki is perhaps the fastest growing Local Government in Lagos State, because of the recent citing of the Export Free Trade Zone, which include both air and sea ports along its corridor by the Lagos State Government.