In 1925, Ilorin experienced a small yet memorable moment of transformation. Three key locations, the Emir’s Market known as Oja Oba, the Emir’s Palace, and the Native Treasury, received electric lighting under the Native Administration. The installation stood out across the entire Northern Provinces. At that time, no other Native Administration operated its own electric system.
The project was ordered by Captain Lonsdale and formally opened by Lieutenant-Governor C. W. L. Palmer. Each evening, from seven o’clock to eleven o’clock, a trained native mechanic powered the plant that brought the lights to life. Though limited in scope, the installation gave Ilorin a distinctive place within the colonial landscape, showing how new technology reached select centres of administration long before it touched everyday homes.
A Workforce Built on Skill and Craft
As the lights came on each night, Ilorin’s Native Administration relied on a diverse group of workers whose roles shaped the daily functioning of the town. The administration employed carpenters who maintained structures, masons who handled building works, storekeepers who managed supplies, painters who cared for surfaces and official buildings, and drivers who moved people and goods. Mechanics kept engines running, motor-roller operators worked on the roads, and road overseers coordinated maintenance across the town.
One detail recorded at the time notes that the head road overseer owned a motor-bicycle. Motor-bicycles were uncommon in much of the region during the 1920s, making this an unusual asset within a Native Administration workforce. It reflects the level of responsibility placed on technical officers who had to supervise works spread across several districts.
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The administration also operated a number of lorries used for transporting materials such as stone, cement, and sand. These vehicles were stored in a concrete-block garage roofed with tiles produced in Ilorin itself. This connection between imported machinery and local material production showed how administrative work rested on both outside technology and local skill.
Ilorin Tiles on the World Stage
Alongside administrative duties, Ilorin developed a small craft enterprise that gained notice beyond Nigeria. Locally produced roofing tiles were made using steel dies designed by H. B. Hermon-Hodge. These tiles appeared in the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924, a major event meant to showcase the industries and crafts of regions across the empire.
For Ilorin, the inclusion of its tiles offered a unique opportunity. It placed the emirate’s craftsmanship in front of an international audience and connected its artisans to broader networks of imperial display. Though the tile industry remained modest, its recognition demonstrated how local skill could carry a community’s reputation far beyond its borders.
A Town Moving Through Change
Seen together, the electric lighting, the skilled workforce, the small fleet of lorries, and the tile-making craft reveal a town passing through a quiet phase of administrative change. The lights reached only three locations, yet they marked a moment when Ilorin stepped into a new technological era. Skilled workers formed the backbone of the administration. Their carpentry, masonry, mechanical work, and supervision kept the town functioning day by day. Local craftsmanship, embodied in clay tiles, showed creativity alongside practicality.
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These developments did not transform Ilorin overnight. They did not create widespread electrification or large-scale industry. What they did achieve was something more grounded. They marked the early steps of a community adapting to new administrative responsibilities, new tools, and new opportunities. They revealed how technology, labour, and craft wove together to form the texture of Ilorin’s life in the 1920s.
Author’s Note
Ilorin’s 1925 electric installation was small, yet it represented an important symbol of progress within the emirate. It showed how modern tools first touched the administrative heart of the town. Each development, though modest, formed part of Ilorin’s gradual journey into new forms of organisation and technology. Together, they reflect a town moving through its own quiet chapter of change.
References
Hermon-Hodge, H. B. Gazetteer of Ilorin Province. Lagos, Government Printer, 1929.
British Empire Exhibition, Wembley, 1924, Official Catalogue.
Northern Provinces Administration Records, Kaduna Archives.
