One of the iconic examples of colonial-era architecture still standing in Nigeria today is St. George’s Hall, Lagos. It was founded in 1904 and was dedicated on July 1, 1905.
On January 5, 1907, Sir Walter Egerton, Governor of the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, laid the foundation stone for the structure. Sir Egerton was well-known for being a staunch supporter of colonial development.
A two-storey building, the ground floor of St George’s Hall is intended for use as a Banqueting Hall or a place for public entertainment. In contrast, the upper floor was reserved for purely Masonic purposes.
Although St. George’s Lodge owned the building, St. George’s Hall is Nigeria’s center of Freemasonry (English Constitution). However, it is now under the jurisdiction of the District Grand Lodge of Nigeria Eastern Constitution.
In his “West African Masonic Almanac and Handbook”, published in 1920, W.Bro Gibson wrote that “The best Masonic Hall on the coast is St.George’s Lagos.”
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Episode 2: Outstanding women in the construction industry
Project Nigeria Episode 3: The first storey building in Nigeria
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Episode 5: 3 things to know about the Ancient Kano City Walls
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Episode 8: History of the Abuja National Mosque
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