Badagry division is a zone of culture mix between the Ogu and Awori as well as an international border region.
The original name of Badagry, Gbagi, a contraction of the word ‘Ogbagleme’ means a ‘farmland near the swamp’ in Ogu language. The word, ‘Ogbagleme’ was later coined to Agbadarigi by Yoruba settlers and later corrupted to Badagry by the Europeans.
It consists of four Local Governments, including: Ojo, Amuwo-Odofin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and Badagry as well as six Local Council Development Areas namely: Iba, Ifelodun, Olorunda, Oriade, Badagry West and Oto-Awori. Badagry serves as the divisional headquarters.
Being a coastal town on the western littoral, Badagry was a major slave outpost and market during the pre-colonial era.
Badagry was the entry point of Christianity in Nigeria being the place where the Bible was first preached in 1842, under the Agia Tree.①
Major settlements in the Division include: Badagry, Ajara [a collection of villages], Iworo, Ajido, Akarakunmo, Gbaji, Aseri, Egan, Agonrin, Ahanve, Epe, Pota, Mowo, Itoga, Shibiri, Ekunpa, Aradagun, Kankon, Mosafejo, Gayingbo-Topa, Apa, Moba, Ropoji, Oranyan, Tafi-Awori, Yeketome, Pota, Seme, Iyagbe, Ajegunle, Aiyetoro, Festac Town and Satellite Towns, Iba, Kirikiri, Agboju-Amuwo, Okokomaiko, Ojo, Amukoko, Alaba-Oro, Ijofin, Igbanko, Imore, Ijegun, Ibeshe, Oto, Ijanikin, Ilogbo Eremi, Ilado, Abule-Ado and Odan Group of Villages [Soba, Onireke, etc].
