Ilawe Ekiti

Locality

Ilawe Ekiti is divided into 8 different Quarters: Okebedo, Okeemo, Adin, Aaye, Okepa, Okeloye, Iro, and Irorin.

Emergence of Christianity 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 of the Yoruba religion. 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 and Mr. Ajila both from the 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 was 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 Quarter 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, the Catholic Church also found its way to Ilawe Ekiti championed by Jacob Bello. Christ Apostolic Church followed suit, championed by Joseph Ojo Ajofoyinbo. With time and coupled 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.

Education

Ilawe-Ekiti is the location of Corpus Christi College secondary school. Along with 100 other secondary schools in Ekiti State, the college was scheduled for renovation in 2012.

Ilawe Ekiti Personalities

The people of Ilawe Ekiti are predominantly of the Yoruba ethnic group. Ilawe Ekiti is proud to be the origin of many important personalities of Nigeria among whom are the late B O Olusola (Former Minister in the Western State); the 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); renowned Human Rights activist Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (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-renowned late Evangelist, Prophet John Ajayi Agbona the founder of CAMC worldwide; and also the worldwide renowned Flying Doctor Dr Ore Orekunrin.