Long before modern debates about marginalisation and underdevelopment, Badagry operated within a model of growth that placed communities—not government—at the centre of progress. This approach is clearly articulated in Community Development in Western Nigeria, authored by the late Ọba C. D. Akran, a former regional minister and traditional ruler of Badagry.

#Akran defined community development as “the process by which the efforts of the people are united with those of government to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of communities.” In practical terms, this meant that towns took responsibility for identifying needs, mobilising labour and resources, and sustaining projects, while government provided policy backing and technical support.

Across Western Nigeria, this model produced schools, roads, markets and health centres that were locally owned and protected. Badagry, then a major coastal and commercial centre, benefited from this tradition. Its role in regional trade, education and cultural exchange was supported by strong communal institutions and leadership cohesion.

According to Ṣeun Williams, PhD, Akran’s ideas reflect a deeper truth about development in African societies: it is “not first an economic intervention, but a social one. Where trust, unity and participation exist, growth follows.”

The erosion of this communal framework—through political disruption, economic decline and prolonged neglect—marked the beginning of Badagry’s long stagnation. Understanding what was lost is essential to understanding what can still be rebuilt.

#SeunWilliams

To be continued...