Reverend Henry Townsend of the Church Missionary Society (C.M.S.) laid the cornerstone for Nigeria’s first story building in 1842. M. S) in Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria, on the waterfront of the Marina.
Other missionaries completed the construction of what is now regarded as a significant artifact of Nigerian history three years later, in 1845. Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the first African C, later occupied the structure after it had served as a vicarage for Saint Thomas Anglican Church. M. S. Bishop was responsible for translating the Holy Bible into Yoruba.
Ajayi Crowther’s translations of the Bible into English and Yoruba were housed in a glass case in one of the two rooms on the upper floor of the building. It was claimed that the Yoruba version of the bible is 175 years old, whereas the English translation is 178 years old.
The first teacher in Nigeria, Mr. Claudius Philips, had a room on the first floor of the building. Between 1845 and 1868, a portrait of Philips who was depicted in a black shirt, suit, and white pants on the wall depicts him residing in the space.
The image of Herbert Macaulay, Ajayi Crowther’s grandson, hung on the wall of a different room. A well that was excavated in 1842 is also present in the complex. For some community members, the well provided a reliable source of clean water.
The first story building in Nigeria was constructed over a 1,144 square foot area using bamboo and coconut fibers. The monument recently received a minor facelift in order to preserve it for future generations.
Directions to Nigeria’s first storey building.
If you are traveling from the Lagos Island, the mainland, or outside of Lagos, you must first find the Badagry roundabout and turn left. After making the left turn towards Joseph Dosu, drive to the end of the road where you will see another roundabout, the fisherman’s statue. Take another left turn and locate Mobee Street. Off Mobee street is Marina Road, Badagry.
By 8 am and 6 pm, the building is open.
