Lasun Alagbe
Located in a high-density sub-urban district of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, Ayobo’s origin was traced to the historical movement of a great hunter and fisherman, Olalore from Ile-Ife, the ancestral home of Yorubas.
History indicates that Prince Olalore, said to be a grandson of Oduduwa, migrated with his immediate family and followers, moving from one settlement to other, establishing hunting steads and fishing points.
The immigrants had a stop-over at Oke-Ara, from where they moved to Tigbo, Ota, Orile Agege (Gbagi) and finally settled at Iga-Aperi.
According to history, Iga-Aperi was a jungle full of cats (ologbo) and hunters there daily hunted the animals, which they brought to the settlement (Iga-Aperi). They, therefore, christened the settlement (Iga-Aperi) as Igbo-Ologbo (Forest of Cats).
It was not until 1941 after a judgement in favour of Baale of Igbo-Ologbo, on the right of ownership of the land, that a change of name came about. As recorded in Phenomenal Lagos: 50 Monuments in the Centre of Excellence, written by Akeem Lasisi and Kabir Garba, the indigenes, while returning from the court in Lagos jubilated and sang , “A-yo-bo-lowo ota Igbo-Ologbo” (We are liberated from the enemies of Igbo-Ologbo).
That was how the Baale, in consultation with the chiefs and kingmakers, eventually changed the name to Ayobo land.
Among other iconic places, the Anchor University is located in Ayobo.
Concerning Idi Araba, the area the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH) is located, the book has this story to tell:
“This settlement initially fell within Obele Odan Komolafe territory owned by a certain Alago Asalu. It was initially occupied by a group of migrants led by a man called Bada about 400 years ago. Bada encouraged the settlement of Hausa Muslims in the area, hence he was fondly referred to as Aboki Bada.
“There was a huge fetish tree in the area that was worshipped. The name of the tree in Yoruba language is Araba. That was what led to the name, Idi Araba. Oral sources indicated that the tree was fallen about 60 years ago.”
