NOT MANY WILL KNOW TE̩JUOSO MARKET WAS NAMED AFTER THIS MAN
LATE CHIEF EMMANUEL AKITOYE TE̩JUOŞO.
A special location in the centre of the Lagos is Tęjuoşo in Yaba. Through several decades, its legacy has persisted. Tęjuosho Market is an ultra-modern market situated in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria, within Ojuęlęgba and Yaba.
Any Lagosian is proud of the expansive complex. The two-phase market (Phase I and Phase II) comprises approximately 2,383 lock-up shops in a sprawling four-storey building and approximately 1,251 K-clamp rooms, banking rooms, 14 food court spaces, eight elevators, two four-storey escalators, 600 parking spaces and critical amenities such as secure electricity and water supply, as well as a highly fitted fire station.
Not many, however can quickly recall who was called after the common market, specifically among the very large Tęjuoso family.
The wealthy Tęjuoso family all hail from Ogun State, particularly their source is in the state’s ancient capital city of Abęokuta. The Tęjuosos currently belong to E̩gbaland’s Oke-O̩na stock. The other areas of E̩gbaland are Ake, Owu, Ibara, and Gbagura.
The traditional ruler, the Osilee̩ of Oke-O̩na E̩gbaland, is a prominent medical practitioner who is an Octogenarian, O̩ba (Dr.) Adedapo̩ Te̩juoso, but the highly esteemed royal father is not the one named after Te̩juoso Sector, nor is it his mother, the late businesswoman and E̩gbaland’s Iyalode, Chief Mrs. Bisoye Te̩juoso.
The man named after the market was the late Chief Emmanuel Akitoye Te̩juoşo, who during the colonial period was well regarded as a leading lawyer and politician in the 1950s and was said to have strongly engaged in nation-building. A staunch member of the Action Group.
In 1954, Chief Te̩juoşo was the Local Government Councilor of Lagos Mainland. He was also the first Western Zone Nigerian Auditor-General.
As he was awarded several traditional names, Lisa of Ago̩-Oko, Abe̩okuta, Lisa E̩gba Oke-O̩na, Lisa of E̩gbaland, and Baba O̩ba E̩gba Oke-O̩na, he also applied his quota to the growth of his homeland in Abe̩okuta.
Chief Te̩juoşo, the first Baba Ijo̩ of St. James African Church Cathedral, Idi Ape̩ Abe̩okuta, was also religious. The chief died on May 31, 1991.
Apart from Te̩juoşo Market Yaba the adjoining street leading to NTA Channel 7 was also named after him.
Te̩juoşo Market was demolished and ravaged by fire in 2007, but the Administration of Governor Babatunde Fasho̩la took a brave move to save the history and beauty by restoring the complex even more beautiful and elegant than its old look often in 2017.
Today, to the joy of everyone, Te̩juoşo Market has emerged from the ashes, regaining its pride of place once again as the symbol of Lagos.
