Ilawe Ekiti
| Ilawe Ekiti | |
|---|---|
  Location in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates: 7°36′0″N 5°6′0″E / 7.60000°N 5.10000°ECoordinates: 7°36′0″N 5°6′0″E / 7.60000°N 5.10000°E | |
| Country |
 Nigeria |
| State | Ekiti State |
Ilawe Ekiti (also Ilawe) is a town in Ekiti State, Nigeria. In 1995, the population was around 179,900.[1] Its geographic coordinates are 7° 35' 60 N and 5° 5' 60 E.
Locality
Ilawe Ekiti is divided into 8 different Quarters; Okebedo, Okeemo, Adin, Aaye, Okepa, Okeloye, Iro and Irorin.
Emergence of Christanity in Ilawe
As far back as 1890, Missionaries has been founding their way into Yoruba Land which was the Western Part then. Back then, Ilawe people believed strongly in their Traditional gods. Sacrifices and obeisance were made to Ikereje, Ogun, Orunmila, Orinlase & other deities. The First contact with Christian Missionaries in Ilawe came through one Mr. Samuel Dada & Mr. Ajila both from Okebedo Quarter in early 1903. Dada and Ajila, an Ilawean per excellence, came in contact with one Mr. Asefon who was then a Christian. Both Ilawe men was said to have been fascinated by Asefon's translation of some portions of the bible and they (Dada and Ajila) made a decision to learn how to write and how to read the bible (Remember, there is no school in Ilawe as at this time)
A Catechist of Church Missionary Society (CMS) at Ado Ekiti then (Rev. Sowumi) got wind of the interest of some people in Ilawe to know about Christianity, he then immediately sent another missionary to go and teach Auru & Ajila the scripture. Soon, there were more adherents, some of the pioneer adherents of the Church Missionary Society (Now Known as Anglican Communion) were from various quarters of the town. From Oke Emo were Ajakaye, Oguntoye and John Afolalu, From Adin were Emmanuel Adegbolata, Afelumo came from Aaye and Apata came from Iro. Samuel Dada and Kolapo came from Okebedo Quarter.
The then Alawe, Oba Afinbiokin Ademileka granted and leased out a parcel of land in Okeloye Quarters to the Church Missionary Society (CMS) to build a church which is the present location of Holy Trinity Anglican Church.
For twelve years, the CMS (Anglican Communion) was the only Christian Church in Ilawe. By 1913, the church had been well established and between 1913 and 1915, a Catechist (Rev. Aladekomo) was resident in Ilawe while Dada become the First Lay Leader (Baba Ẹgbẹ) of the Church and remained so between 1915 and 1953.
Dada, who influenced Christianity to Ilawe, was later very influential with the Colonial Missionaries & Administrator. He ensured that Christianity became a free and legal religion in Ilawe in 1904. He was very popular with the White Missionaries who controlled the CMS in Ekiti. In fact, he later became the Lay President of the whole Ekiti State.
Years Later, Catholic Church also found their way to Ilawe Ekiti championed by Jacob Bello, Christ Apostolic Church followed suit and it was also championed by Joseph Ojo Ajofoyinbo. With time and couple with acceptance of Christianity in Ilawe, many other Pentecostal Churches started coming to Ilawe and they were all accepted and embraced joyfully.
The Advent of Christianity in Ilawe bring many Social Amenities to the town.
Ilawe Ekiti Personalities
- ↑ "Ilawe Ekiti". Encarta. Microsoft. Retrieved 2007-01-11.
The people of Ilawe Ekiti are predominately Yoruba ethnic group. Ilawe Ekiti is proud to be origin of many important personalities in Nigeria among who are Late B O Olusola,(Former Minister in the Western State) Late Chief R.A Agbajeola (Former Chairman Ekiti south west local government) Chief Bode Olowoporoku ( Former Minister and Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria) Retd Wing Commander Adeyemi Awe (Former Nigerian Air force Accountant) Retd Navy Commodore Olofinmoyin (Former Ogun State Military Administrator, Renown Human Right Activist Femi Falana SAN, Legal Luminary Barrister Adesina SAN, former Ekiti State Chief of Staff to the former Governor Kayode Fayemi, Chief Yemi Adaramodu, Current catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rt Rev Felix Ajakaye, Emeritus Bishop of Ife Anglican Diocese, Rt Rev Babalola Oloniyo, the world renown Late Evangelist, Prophet John Ajayi Agbona the founder of CAMC worldwide and also the worldwide renown Flying Doctor Dr Ore Orekunrin.