Quote from Guest on July 21, 2023, 9:13 am

   

 

                          HISTORY OF THE FIRST STOREY BUILDING IN NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION:

The first storey building in Nigeria is located in Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria. Badagry, a littoral town in Lagos State, was precisely founded in 1425. The town is naturally endowed with both natural and cultural resources. The First Storey Building in Badagry remains a site of natural interest due to its unique architectural design and historical relevance on the advert of Christianity in Nigeria.

The history of the First Storey Building in Nigeria is tied upon the arrival of Christian Missionaries (Anglicans) who were assigned by the C.M.S to propagate the gospel or Christ.

In November 1839, twenty-three liberated African residents in Freetown, Sierra Leone addressed a petition composed in stilted English, to the Governor of Sierra Leone pleading that Her Majesty, Queen Victoria of England, be graciously disposed to assist them to return to their home country (Nigeria) and establish for them a colony in Badagry.

The governor duly transmitted this petition to Lord John Rusell, the British Secretary of Foreign Affairs. The Secretary of state did minute, “we cannot send them without giving them security and protection which implies expense. But they can go if they wish to go”. So, several of the liberated enslaved Africans in Sierra emigrated back to Nigeria at their own expense. Badagry was the emigrants’ destination back to their native land, though some of them later moved on to Abeokuta and Lagos.

About a year after this emigration process began, the superintendent of the Methodist Mission in Sierra Leone received a letter from James Ferguson, one of the emigrants in Badagry, requesting that missionaries be sent to them urgently. The request was sent to the Methodist Home Committee in London and an energetic missionary, the Rev.Thomas Birch Freeman, was deployed from the station in Cape Coast to proceed to Badagry. He arrived there 24 September 1842, a day since regarded as symbolizing the origin of Christian Missionary in Nigeria. Thomas Birch Freeman was given a lovely reception by James Fergusson and his fellow Sierra Leonian emigrants.

The Anglican team finally settled in Badagry at the marina and the idea of erecting a unique structure as their abode became a reality right from 1845. The erection of the building involved the services of the laborer who relied on imported materials from Sierra-Leone. After completion, Rev Henry Townsend thus revealed “The House is strong and convenient and will prove very comfortable”. He also asserts that “the House is built of sound African wood principally of what we call brimstones. It is Ten feet raised from the ground on Twenty-six stout and durable trees and on nine other smaller trees. It is 44 ft long and 26ft wide. It is estimated to cost 325 pounds.

The structure reveals the introduction of Western architecture design in Nigeria. Ever since its construction, the building had been occupied until 1978 when the Vicar moved into a new Vicarage in the premises of the St. Thomas Church, which is not far from the Akran’s Palace, Jegba Quarters, Badagry.

The building which is currently located at Mission Road, Boekoh Quarters, Badagry, is very close to the District Officier’s Residence. It is among the notable tourist attractions located along the Badagry marina such as the Mobee family Slave Relics Museum, Badagry Heritage Museum, Slave Port and Brazilian Barracoon of Chief Seriki Williams Abass.

The structure is currently a tourist attraction that offers much information on the evolution of western architectural design and the advent of Christianity in Nigeria. The building has an upstairs with a composition of Two (2) sitting rooms, Six (6) bedrooms and Four (4) stores. It is made up of red burnt bricks with a wooden deck that demarcates the floor.it is a wooden window in all the room painted Ash but the entire building is painted White. Moreover, there are evidences of fallen structures within the premises of the First Storey Building which could not withstand the natural and human forces of destruction.

The following serves as attractions within the First Storey Building:

1. The Rooms- As started earlier, the building has an upstairs with a composition of Two (2) sitting rooms, (6) bedrooms and four (4) stores. At a particular point in time, the rooms in the building were being occupied by Mr Claudis Philip from 1845 to 1868, the laborers and Rev Ajayi Crowther where he also translated the Bible from English language to Yoruba language.
2. Photograph and Text label –There are photographs of prominent missionaries in the second sitting room such as Rev Ajayi Crowther, Rev. Golmer, Rev Henry Townsend and Rev.Thomas Birch Freeman. Other photographs within the building includes: Mr. Claudius Philips, the Millers Brother with their staff, Agia Tree and the Early Christian Missionary Cemetery. There are also write-ups on the emergence of Christianity in Nigeria

• Building Material- The building materials include the iron corrugated sheets used in the construction of the building, woods, burnt brick and iron hinges for the doors are exhibits for visitors. These building materials can be located in the Laborer’s room.

1. Bibles- The two bibles that stands as exhibits in Building revealing how Rev.Ajayi Crowther translated the Bible from English language to Yoruba language. The Yoruba bible was printed by Lowe and Brydon in London. These Bible can be found in the interpreter’s room.
2. Safe- There is an inbuilt safe within the store that dates as far as 1856.Moneys that are currently in the safe include both African money (Cowries) and British moneys (6 Fadin, 1 Penny, half Penny, 1 Shilling, 5 Pence and 6 Pence).

Other attractions within the premises include: The Well, which was dug in 1842, the reception which is newly built at the entrance gate, the classrooms formerly a school building and an uncompleted building. Moreover, there are evidence of fallen structures within the premises of the First Storey Building which could not withstand the natural and human forces of destruction.

The First Storey Building still remains Badagry’s finest heritage as it reveals history in unique style with the above stated attributes and antecedents.

In conclusion, it is okay to say when u visit Badagry. U can pay a visit to the site of the First Storey Building in Nigeria to appreciate nature and the uniqueness of the building.