ABOUT LAGOS: The city of Lagos was originally formed by three islands: Lagos, Victoria, and Ikoyi. Before the arrival of the Portuguese on the coast of Lagos, the city was and it is still known as Eko by the natives. The city was founded by a man known as Olofin, who was the ancestor of today’s white cap chiefs. The origin of the word Eko could be traced to either the Yoruba word Oko (farm) or the Benin word Eko (Camp). The duality meaning of Eko could be attributed to the fact that, the city is a Yoruba town that was ruled by the Benin people. Even though Lagos is a Yoruba city, Benin influence is very pervasive in the culture of the People of Eko.

The city became a trading center with center and slave depot when the Portuguese were invited to the island by Oba Akinsemoyin in 1704. The British who initially came on commercial expeditions were invited by Oba Akintoye to help subdue the rebellious prince, and later Oba Kosoko.

The British used the opportunity to establish themselves in Lagos and eventually in Nigeria. On August 6, 1861, the small Yoruba Kingdom of Lagos was ceded to Britain by Oba Dosumu. Thus, Lagos became the first town experience British rule in present day Nigeria.

In 1914, Lagos was proclaimed the capital of Nigeria, and remained so until recently when the capital was moved to Abuja.

By 1851 after the abolition of the slave trade, there was a great attraction to Eko by the repatriates. First, were the Saro, mainly freed Yoruba captives, and their descendants who, having been set ashore in Sierra Leone, responded to the pull of their homeland, and returned in successive waves to Eko. Having had the privilege of Western education and Christianity, they made remarkable contributions to education and the rapid modernization of Lagos. They were granted land to settle in the Olowogbowo and Breadfruit areas of the island.

The Brazilian returnees, the Aguda, also started arriving in Lagos in the mid-19th century and brought with them the skills they had acquired in Brazil. Most of them were master-builders, carpenters and masons, and gave the distinct characteristics of Brazilian architecture to their residential buildings at Bamgbose and Campos Square areas, which form a large proportion of architectural richness of the city.

Eko Club Atlanta is the club for all Lagosians (migrated from Lagos, Nigeria) in the metro Atlanta area, which is one of 13 Chapters of Eko Club International around the world, and registered in the State of Georgia as a nonprofit organization.
Eko Club Atlanta seeks to provide humanitarian assistance to the poor, the needy, and the underprivileged in our communities here in Atlanta and in Lagos, Nigeria.  Part of our mission is also to impact our institutions of higher learning and our health care sectors in our community here and Lagos through our commitments and donations.