Surulere is that vibrant town in Lagos state, Nigeria, where all your dreams meet in one place.
It’s that place where you find the perfect mix of liveliness and serenity that’ll ease your spirit at all times.
However, navigating this large local government area can be quite difficult, especially if you don’t live or do business there.
But Rent House Surulere has got you covered. In this article, I will provide you with 10 landmarks of Surulere to help you find your way around this wide district. You’ll also discover important details about these landmarks.
Key Takeaways
- Landmarks are distinctive features that help people find their way around a place.
- They could be structures, monuments, or natural features like trees, rivers, and mountains.
- Surulere landmarks include buildings of historical and cultural relevance, modern structures, and areas.
What Are the Landmarks of a Location?
Landmarks are distinctive physical or cultural features that stand out in a location and help people identify or navigate a place.
They could be natural, historical, architectural, or cultural. Examples include monuments, buildings, parks, natural features like rivers or mountains, and iconic public spaces.
Landmarks serve as reference points for directions, tourism, or even local pride. For instance, the landmarks in Surulere like the National Stadium, Shoprite Adeniran Ogunsanya, and the Leisure Mall are well-known and can guide people to specific areas.
10 Landmarks in Surulere
Do you want to easily find your way around Surulere? Here are 10 Landmarks that’d help:
- National Art Theatre
- National Stadium
- Teslim Balogun Stadium
- Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall
- Alh Masha Roundabout
- Amala Shitta
- Tasty Fried Chicken
- Rhema Cooling Towers
- Birch Freeman High School
- Onitire Palace
National Art Theatre
When you hear of the National Art Theatre, what comes to mind? Culture and fun, right? The National Art Theatre is central to all kinds of arts, from theater dramas, film shows, exhibitions, cultural displays, and sports to international events.
The National Art Theatre was built in 1976 to host the 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977.
This edifice is located in Iganmu, Surulere, and is recognized as a cultural landmark. It’s a significant building not only in Surulere but in Nigeria and is also recognized outside the country. Foreigners who visit Lagos usually host events in its halls.
If you’re visiting Surulere, you won’t miss this building if you’re passing through Iganmu. The massive structure stands about 31 meters tall and covers over 23,000 square meters.
It’s bordered by the Costain bus stop and Eko bridge on the left while The Covenant Palace, a Pentecostal church, is on the right.
The National Council for Arts and Culture, Artiste Village stands nearby.
Also, Seven-Up Bottling Company and Lawma (Lagos State Waste Management) HQ are on the south at Ijora Olopa.
In July 2024, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu renamed the National Theatre to the “Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts” to honor the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
National Stadium
The National Stadium is another significant landmark in Surulere Lagos. This building was completed in 1972, with an initial 55,000 capacity. But, it now has a 45,000 capacity for better space management.
This multipurpose stadium was built to house several sports tournaments, including swimming, basketball, football, volleyball, wrestling, and others.
Unfortunately, the stadium has been in a bad state for several years since 2004. And it wasn’t until 2019, that renovations were seen.
Although this structure is still in a sorry state, it remains an important landmark in Surulere. Also, sporting activities are still held there, religious and social activities too.
You can connect to the national stadium through Alhaji Masha Road and Western Avenue. It’s located close to the Stadium bus stop on the Western Avenue. Stadium Brt terminal is on the same Western Avenue a few meters away.
The Teslim Balogun Stadium on Alhaji Masha Road is located adjacent to the National Stadium.
The National Stadium houses the Wellness Martial Art Academy on the opposite entrance, Legacy Stadium, National Stadium Practice Pitch, tennis court, basketball court, Olympic swimming pool, and indoor sports hall.
The F8tballers African Footballers Academy is on the National Stadium Complex on the left.
Teslim Balogun Stadium
Teslim Balogun Stadium is adjacent to the National Stadium. It was built by the Lagos state government in 2007, a construction which began in 1984. It was named after a former renowned and professional footballer, Teslim Balogun.
This building is another important landmark in Surulere. It doesn’t only serve as a feature to help commuters navigate the vibrant area, it also serves as a monument of honor and impact.
The massive structure has a 24,325 capacity and has hosted several football matches, including some matches in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup youth tournament.
It’s bordered by a stadium bus stop and Brt terminal on the left, Akerele Street is on the right, housing the Shitta roundabout, and Ogunmola close is nearby.
The stadium houses the Aptech Computer Education Centre.
The Lagos state government started a redesign between 2023 and 2024.
Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall
Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall is a popular shopping center on Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, the most popular street in Surulere.
Adeniran Ogunsanya Street houses lots of businesses and establishments, including independent and corporate establishments.
It’s one of the best places to live in Surulere. From shopping malls, clothing vendors, banks, telecom communication companies, restaurants, and churches to schools, there’s nothing you won’t find there.
You can link to this street through another popular street like Bode Thomas. Akinhanmi Street and Modupe John Crescent are also close by and linked to Adeniran Ogunsanya.
The Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall is the oldest in Surulere. It’s an ultramodern shopping center built in 1975 by Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson, a former military governor of Lagos state. In 2011, Babatunde Fashola, through his government, redeveloped the establishment.
This mall sits on about 22,000 square meters and houses different popular retail stores, like Ruff n Tumble, US Polo, KFC, and Samsung.
These stores sell different products like clothings, food, beverages, electronics, and many more. It has a car park that can contain over 300 cars, a lift and an escalator.
One of the perks of this shopping center is ShopRite. Many love to buy what they want from this store.
Another attraction to this mall is the Leisure Mall beside the building. Leisure Mall was built in 2012 and has a link to Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall. Customers can easily get to any of the malls to get what they want.
Leisure Mall houses some popular brands like the Filmhouse Cinema, Nike, Barcelos, Bheerhugz Café, and others.
Alhaji Masha Roundabout
The Alhaji Masha Roundabout is popular in Surulere and is recognized as a historical landmark. It’s on the Alhaja Masha road, under the Masha bridge, and is also known as the Masha bus stop.
The roundabout splits into four directions, leading to Ogunlana Drive, Adelabu, and the Masha Road remains on the other two opposite sides. The Masha bus stop taxi stand is at the roundabout.
The Alh Masha Roundabout is usually busy, especially in the evening, as vehicles try to navigate in different directions. However, the LASTMA traffic wardens control the traffic there.
Amala Shitta
Amala Shitta is another popular structure that can help you find your way around Surulere. It’s located at 26 Akerele Street, close to Teslim Balogun Stadium and the Stadium bus stop.
The Amala Shitta is a popular restaurant for eating one of the most-craved local delicacies, Amala. This brand has been in business for over 40 years, so this landmark bears both historical and cultural relevance.
However, the Amala Shitta is no longer functioning on Akerele Street but has moved a little distance to 1 Rabiatu Thompson Crescent, off Akerele Road, Shitta. The Shitta Roundabout park is just right at the corner. It now operates as Amala Shitta Night.
You can get to the location through Alh Masha Road and Adeniran Ogunsanya Street. Stadium bus stop and Teslim Balogun Stadium are close by.
De Tastee Fried Chicken
De Tastee Fried Chicken is another popular place in Surulere and a historical landmark. This restaurant was founded by Mrs. Olayinka Adedayo in 1996 in Surulere and has expanded to other locations.
De Tastee Group is a brand that provides both catering and event management services.
It’s located on the popular Adeniran Ogunsanya street, close to ShopRite behind and the Place Restaurant in front.
You can connect to Adeniran Ogunsanya Street through Bode Thomas on the south; Modupe John Crescent and Bassey Ogamba Street also lead to Adeniran Ogunsanya from the left. Tafawa Balewa Crescent and Gbajumo Crescent lead from the right.
Of course, you can connect to Adeniran Ogunsanya from other streets, but these are closer to Tastee Fried Chicken restaurant.
Rhema Cooling Towers
Rhema Cooling Towers is a construction company located at 66 Modupe Johnson Crescent, Surulere.
This company is another historical landmark that can help you find your way around the neighborhoods of Surulere. They design, manufacture, and install towers. They also reconstruct old towers.
You can connect to Modupe John Crescent through Adeniran Ogunsanya and Ishau Adewale streets. The Gbaja Junior High School, Iola Legal Services, Dazzlberry Jewelry Store, Baptist School, and other schools and businesses are close by, still on Modupe John Crescent.
Birch Freeman High School
Birch Freeman High School is a Methodist secondary school for boys located on Akobi Crescent, Surulere. This landmark is bordered by Alao Adegboyega Street, Mabo Street, and Bishop Street. The G51 Pub Grill is close by.
The school first started at Methodist Primary School, Obele-Lawanson, before the Federal ministry disclosed the intention to build an all-boys secondary school in 1958.
The school was to be located behind the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba.
The Methodist mission took up the project and that birthed the Birch Freeman High School, Surulere. Lectures commenced in 1961 under Chief D.S.O Soremekun after the inauguration in 1960.
The school was named after Thomas Birch Freeman, who established the Methodist church in Cape Coast, Ghana, and expanded to other parts of West Africa.
Onitire Palace
The Onitire Palace is the palace of the Oni of Itire. Itire is a popular area in Surulere, which was formerly under the Mushin local government area.
This building is located on Ayodeji, Lawanson Street, Itire. It’s bordered by Ijesha Road. The Itire Police Station, Itire Ansar Ud-Deen Primary School, and Uche Stone Nigeria Limited are popular establishments close by. Lawason market is also close by.
Many streets around this place lead to popular areas like Ijesha.
Do you Want to Know More About Surulere?
This article has provided you with some of the landmarks in Surulere. It’s a great guide to reference whenever you want to tour this district.
However, if you have further questions, you can contact us on WhatsApp. We are ready to provide answers to your questions about Surulere.
