Ilaje is a Local Government Area in Ondo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Igbokoda. The Ilajes are a distinguished, distinct linguistic group of Yoruba peoples made up of four geo-political entities namely Ugbo, Mahin, Etikan and Aheri.
Some Ilajes were said to have left Ile Ife, their original ancestral home in the 10th century. They mainly occupy the Atlantic coastline of Ondo State of Nigeria while a large population of them settles on land in the hinterland. The area they occupy today is Ondo State, an outlet to the sea.
It has an area of 1,318 km² and a population of 290,615 at the 2006 census. Ilajeland is bounded by the Ijebus to the west, the Ikale to the north, the Itsekiri to the east, the Apoi and Arogbo Ijaw to the north east, and the Atlantic ocean on the southern boundary. The Ilajes are one of the most dynamic and enterprising people in Nigeria. Their aquatic skill, coupled with their ability to adapt enabled them to conquer their harsh geographical environment and turn it to their advantage. Consequently, they were able to build large communities like Ugbonla, Aiyetoro, Zion PePe and Orioke. Aiyetoro for example in its hey-days had the highest per capital income in the whole of Africa and attracted visitors, tourists and researchers from all over the world.
Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
Heaven sings and He brings
All these best things to this world
And we pray, and we say
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,