The story of Ajegunle has always been that of struggle for survival amidst abject poverty.
Literally, the name Ajegunle means “land of commerce”, but it has turned out to be the number one ghetto in Lagoss.
Over the years, the only escape for young people from the vast slum has been their talents and nothing more.
Ajegunle is one of the most popular ghettos in Lagos mostly inhabited by the poor struggling to survive, to overcome poverty and make a good living.
It used to serve as residence for the low cadre workers in the old Nigerian Ports Authority. Now it is mostly inhabited mostly by Ijaws, Ilajes, Itsekiris, Uhrobos and Igbos and Yorubas.
Ajegunle became famous for its notoriety as den for illegalities, the unusual happenings are taken here as the norm.
People do things that are considered in other places as abominable, but here, such things are not considered as anything unusual, but the AJ city way or norm.
Many years ago, people in Ajegunle were seen as those who live in extreme poverty and deprivation, as a result of the circumstances they found themselves, they have developed thick skin to forge ahead despite daunting challenges of life. More so, these challenges with time have turned out as their stepping stone to success. Most of the youths in ‘AJ city’ believed that since they are already down in poverty, that there is no need to fear poverty again but rather to strive to conquer it.
Due to the poor nature of habitation, here you see families of four to six people living in a room apartment with poor level of hygiene.
Due to the availability of a room apartment or two room apartments popular called ‘Face me, I face you’, the number of inhabitants who do not really have genuine means of survival who believe that before the month ends, they can afford to raise the house rent make this place their abode. As a result of this, amenities meant for few people are overstretched, due to the population and as a result of all these, you see people queuing to take their bath, go to toilet and the resultant effect is filthy environment, overflowing refuse and garbage. Due to the high population and the non availability of amenities, tenants resort to self help for their conveniences like shot put. The residents who live around the riverine areas especially the Ijaws and Ilajes do not even have toilets, rather they use the shanties close to the river bank where they defecate and here the smell of urine and feces rend the air.
Here landlords convert every available space to room due to the high demands.
This also comes with its attendant consequences like teenage pregnancy, teenage mothers and fathers, rape, drug addiction, armed robbery, less attention on education among other vices.
Ajegunle’s uniqueness lies in the fact that it is a concentration of many ethnic groups in Nigeria. It is bordered on the west by Apapa Wharf and Tincan, two of Nigeria’s biggest sea ports from where over 70 percent of imported goods come into the country.
Ajegunle falls under the Badagry Division. Major settlements in this Division include: Badagry, Ajara, Iworo-Ajido, Akarakumo, Gbaji, Aseri, Egan, Agarin, Ahanfe, Epe, Posi, Mowo, Itoga, Ebiri, Ekunpa, Aradagun, Berekete, Mosafejo, Gayingbo-Topo, Kankon, Moba, Popoji, Oranyan, Tafi-Awori, Yeketome, Ipota, Seme, Iyagbe, Ajegunle, Aiyetoro, Festac and Satellite Towns, Iba, Kirikiri, Agboju-Amuwo, Okokomaiko, Ojo, Amukoko, Alaba-ore, Ijofin, Igbanko, Imore, Ijegun, Odan Group of villages and part of Agara.
Here, crime rate is always high due to the high population of the area and the struggle for survival which is often characterised by all forms of vices like gangsterism and other forms of social vices.
Ajegunle as a result of the high level of poverty and stereotype associated with the people living in this area, the residents do their utmost best to overcome poverty and earn a decent living and relocate from the area. To this end, the struggle for survival becomes the survival of the fittest. Here there is no shame, boldness is the order of the day, people here are ready to go the extra mile to survive, knowing where they are coming from.
Here, the story of survival in the midst of degrading poverty becomes an inspiration to many young youths who are driven my hard work and commitment to survive.
To say there are raw talents here is an understatement as there are talents in every aspect of human endeavour waiting to be tapped. Because of the abundance of talents and audacity of hope and survival here, people pride themselves as AJ boys or girls, daring others in matters that have to do with guts.
The story of survival of many people here who have made it in life through hard work and perseverance cannot be overemphasised. In the area of music, one cannot forget the likes of Daddy Showkey, KC, Baba Fryo, Daddy Fresh, Black Reverends. the Danfo Drivers and some many others. In football, the likes of Samson Siasia, coach of Nigerian Uder 23 team, former Super Eagles ace defender Taribo West and Emmanuel Amuneke, the current coach of the national under 17 team, the Golden Eaglets and former African footballer of the year among others.
The ‘AJ city’ has become the centre of attraction among Lagosians and Nigerian based on the inspirational stories of survival, raw talents, success achieved over the years in different aspect of human endeavours. In music, talents abound, the youths do things differently with panache, distinguishing them from talents from other areas, their dance steps stand them out in their style of music, there is artistry in everything they do here.
No wonder different types of scouts flock AJ city for music talents, footballers, dancers and others.
Ajegunle generally is not all about poverty, struggle and survival, but about determination to succeed.
Here also, many lives have been ruined in crimes like, armed robbery, prostitution, drug addiction, and other vices associated with a growing slum like Ajegunle.
Today, nothing has really changed in Ajegunle, the bad roads still dot the nooks and crannies of the area, the streets are densely populated, filthy and congested with the people looking rugged and determined to succeed.
If it rains, the city becomes an eyesore, as everywhere is messed up. Most young men and women who never gave up on their dreams are now reaping from their hard work and perseverance. Most of them who have relocated to more decent areas have become sources of hope and inspiration to the young ones in most cases.
To many experts, Ajegunle is not the best place to raise children because of bad influence from the environment on the upbringing of children due to their quick disposition to learn and imbibe vices.
