Welcome to Lekki FC, Lagos!

Of the new or “emerging” Lagos, and of high-brow constructions and buildings, welcome to Lekki!

Lekki is a naturally formed peninsula located to the south-eastern part of Lagos State. It is approximately 70 to 80 km long, with an average width of 10 km. It has adjoining to tis west side Victoria Island and Ikoyi areas of Lagos, with the Atlantic Ocean to its south; the Lagos lagoon to the north; the Lekki Lagoon to its east. To its south-east which ends around

the western edge of Refuge Island, adjoins the eastern part of Ibeju-Lekki LGA.

‘Lekki’from olden times was the adaptation of the name of a Portuguese sailor called Mr. “Lecqi” Mr. Lecqi arrived in Lagos in the early 1800s. He was known for salt-making and slave trading. This made him so popular that the people of his immediate settlement came to call the area he lived and occupied “Lecqi’s place”. The name later evolved into being spelt as “Lekki.”

Part of the Lekki peninsula was formerly known as Maroko a major slum area, before it was demolished by the then Military government of Lagos State led by Colonel Raji Rasaki, in favour of a residential housing project to be developed along with the rest of Lekki in the now popular Phases I and II.

Lekki city is still largely under construction - as of 2015, only phase 1 of the project had been completed, with phase 2 nearing completion. Lekki currently houses several gated residential developments, agricultural farmlands, areas allocated for a Free Trade Zone, with an airport, and a sea port under construction. The proposed land-use master plan for Lekki envisages the Peninsula as a "Blue-Green Environment City", expected to accommodate well-over a residential population of 3.4 million in addition to a non-residential population of at least 1.9 million.

One of its neighborhoods, Lekki phase 1, has a reputation of having some of the most expensive real estate in Lagos State. In between Phase 1 and 2, there are other privately developed residential estates and sub-local government areas.

The culture of Lekki consists in its major cultural exports to the world - most notable among which is its preservation of wild-life through the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC); and its market and centre for arts and crafts via the Nike-Art Gallery and the Oba Elegushi Market.

The Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) is one of the major Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) conservation sites. It covers a land area of 78 hectares in Lekki. The Conservation Centre was established in the 1990s, before the development of Lekki as a city, for the conservation of wildlife found in southwest coastal environment of Nigeria, in the face of sprawling urban development. The project has promoted environmental protection and worked against poaching by surrounding communities as well as serving as a tourist centre for local and international visitors.

It is reported that overtwo million tourists of more than 100 nationalities have visited Lekki Conservation Centre since its establishment. LCC land area is divided into two sections: the LCC Complex and the nature reserve. The LCC Complex comprises a multi-purpose rotunda surrounded by four office blocks, containing project staff offices, a gift shop, a canteen and the drivers' office. The nature reserve consists of a mosaic of vegetation types, which includes: secondary forest, swamp forest and Savannah grassland and the naturally existing animals therein.

Then there is The Nike Art Gallery! Not to be confused with the sporting goods manufacturer Nike of the same name, this art gallery is owned by Nike Davies-Okundaye and located at Lekki city. The gallery is probably the largest of its kind in West Africa. It is housed in a five-storey building and has a collection of about 8,000 different works of art by various Nigerian artists such as Chief Josephine Oboh Macleod. The gallery is the most popular tourist destination in the city and Lagos State at large.

And there is, last but certainly not least, the Oba Elegushi Market. This is in fact the name ascribed by Lagosians to the perhaps long-winding “The Lekki Arts and Crafts Market” It offers a wide variety of African arts and crafts and is considered the largest art market in Nigeria.

Lekki is known for being one of the most expensive places to live in Lagos. It is one of Nigeria's hottest property hubs.

Lekki has a wide range of shopping opportunities - from malls to open markets.

The Lekki Arts and Crafts Market is well-known for the neatness and variety of the arts and crafts. Being an open market, haggling over prices with its attendant human interactions is itself a culture. Sellers will often regale prospective customers with tales of how-it-came-to-be of their wares.

For shopping malls, Lekki offers Sky Mall - a standard place to go to shop, play, and eat indoors. It boasts a family gaming centre, a mart, and a variety of other activities. Lekki alsooffers Mega Plaza Century 21 Mall and Morphix Plaza as notable options for shopping and entertainment destinations.

From this new, emerging Lagos city, comes the Lekki Football Club.!