HISTORY

The Ilajes are sub-group of Yorubas in the Ondo state Nigeria made up of four geo-political groups namely Ugbo, Mahin, Etikan and Aheri respectively.

They were said to have left ILE-IFE their original ancestral home in the 10th century to the present atlantic coastline of Ondo state of Nigeria while the large population of them settled on land in the hinterland. Ilajeland is bounded by the Ijebus to the West, the Ikales to the North, the Itsekiris to the East, the APOI and Arogbo Ijaws to the North East while the Atlantic Ocean is in the South. Despite the harsh terrain the Ilajes were able to build large communities like IGBOKODA, UGBONLA, AIYETORO, ZION PEPE, and ORIOKE IWAMIMO.

Aiyetoro for example in it's hey days had the highest per capital income in the whole of Africa and attracted visitors, tourists and researchers from all over the world especially from Europe, Canada and America. Petroleum is largely found in the area for which Ondo State today is recognized as an oil producing State. Other mineral raw materials that are abundantly available in Ilajeland include Glass Sand, Salt, Tar Sand, Quartz and Clay. In addition, Ilaje is also blessed with agricultural raw materails like fish, poultry, maize, Palm oil vegetables, Timber, Rafia, Poultry Okro, Cocoyam, Banana, Cassava and Piggery. The natural environment of IlajeLand is particularly suitable for the development of large scale Rice plantation and Salt industry.

Traditionally the Ilajes were highly successful traders, merchants, Fishermen, Farming and Boat builder. i.e. Launch. Petroleum was found in large quantities in the area of which Ondo State today is recognised as an oil producing State in South-West Nigeria. Ilaje celebrates annually, Boat Regatta, Ilaje Day, Twins Festival, Olokun Festival, and Christian anniversaries by various churches.