Badagry, a coastal community located in Lagos State, is widely known as the birthplace of civilization in Nigeria. The town, believed to have been established in 1425 A.D., derived its name from the amalgamation of the name of its founder – a renowned farmer called Agbedeh – and the word “Greme,” which means farm in the Ogu (Egun) language.

Originally known as Agbedegreme, the town’s name evolved over time to Agbedagari and eventually to the present name, Badagry, due to influences from Yoruba settlers and European slave traders.

Badagry is a monarchy led by the Wheno Aholuship, headed by the Akran of Badagry and his seven white cap high chiefs. The white cap chiefs oversee the town’s eight quarters, including Aho­vikoh, Boekoh, Jegba, Posukoh, Awhanjigo, Asago, Whalako, and Ganho. These quarters and their ruling families played crucial roles in the slave trade business with the Europeans and Brazilians.

In the 1600s, Badagry thrived as a hub for salt trade. However, this legitimate business soon gave way to the horrific slave trade, which dominated the town’s commercial interests for over 400 years. Badagry became a hub for European slave traders, led by George Freemingo, a Portuguese slave merchant who arrived in the town in the 1660s. By 1740, Badagry had become a thriving center for slave trade, exporting slaves through creeks and lagoons.

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Efforts to end the slave trade received a boost in 1852 when the treaty for the abolition of slave trade was signed between England and Badagry chiefs, who were given war cannons to defend against illegal slave trade. The Brazilians later took over as major slave traders, but the trade eventually ceased in 1888 with the last ship to Brazil leaving Badagry.

After the suppression of slave trade, Badagry’s fortunes declined, and it became a significant site for Christian missionary work. The town saw the first preaching of Christianity in Nigeria by Reverend Thomas Birch Freeman in 1842, who celebrated the first Christmas in Nigeria in Badagry the following year. Today, the site of the first preaching is marked by the Agiya Tree Monument, which was established after an ancient 160 ft tree, felled by a storm in 1959, used to mark the spot.

The first educational system in Nigeria as a British colony started in Badagry, with the first primary school established by the Wesleyan Mission (Methodist Church) in 1843 and named Nursery of Infant Church. The school later became St. Thomas’ Anglican Nursery and Primary School, founded by Rev. Golmer of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in 1845 and operated inside the first storey building in Badagry.

Many other historical facilities, including educational institutions, also emerged in Badagry until 1955 when the missionaries left the town due to a misunderstanding with the locals. Today, Badagry is part of Nigeria and continues to be a significant cultural and historical landmark.