There are different interpretations of the meaning of IKEA. A historical account suggests that IKEJA mean “Joint Ikorodu and Epe Administration” – a term coined by the colonial masters for administrative convenience.
Another oral historical account from the Awori community states:
Ikeja, officially called “Akeja”, is named after the deity of the Awori people of Ota. It was originally settled by the Awori people and until the mid-19th century the area was plundered by slaves.
In the early 20th century, it became the agricultural hinterland of Lagos. The opening of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway in 1901 and the development of Lagos as a port transformed Ikeja into a residential and industrial area of the city. An industrial zone was established in the mid-1960s and in 1976 Ikeja became the capital of Lagos State.
