₦airaland Forum

Let me save someone from what happened to me.

I was planning a birthday dinner for 100 people in Lekki Phase 1 earlier this year. I knew roughly what I wanted a hall, air conditioning, parking, a projector, clean restrooms, generator backup so the lights don't embarrass me in front of my guests. Standard stuff.

What I was not prepared for was the pricing conversation.

The first hotel I called: ₦1,400,000 for the hall alone, plus a mandatory catering minimum of ₦800,000, plus a service charge of 10%, plus VAT. That is before I bought a single plate of food from my own caterer.

The second venue: ₦900,000 for 6 hours. But the generator "adds ₦15,000 per hour." And parking is "not guaranteed."

By the third call I started understanding why people in Lagos just do their birthdays in restaurant side rooms and call it a venue.
Then someone told me about Banex Mall.

What I Found at Banex Mall, Oniru, Lekki Phase 1

Banex Mall on Akiogun Road (opposite Maroko Filling Station) has four dedicated event halls in one building. I am going to list them with the actual prices because the internet is full of "contact for pricing" which is the Nigerian equivalent of "if you need to ask, you cannot afford it."

1. Studio Hall (Hourly) — Cheapest entry point

If you need a space for a few hours:a workshop, a meeting, a rehearsal, a small private event — this hall is ₦35,000 per hour for rehearsals and ₦50,000 per hour for events.

It holds up to 80 persons. 100 square metres. Built-in air conditioning, soundproofed, full-length mirrors (useful if you are doing a dance rehearsal or fitness class), rigging points for decor and lighting, and you have freedom to decorate however you want.

A four-hour event costs ₦200,000. Show me another properly equipped hall in Lekki Phase 1 at that rate.

2. Cinema Hall — Most unique option in Lekki

₦600,000 flat. 100 guests. Pre-installed red cinema seats. High-quality projector and screen. Soundproofed. Popcorn and concession stand available inside.

I have genuinely not seen another event hall in Lekki Phase 1 that has actual cinema-grade seating. Most halls give you plastic chairs and a projector that takes 20 minutes to warm up. This one comes with the cinema infrastructure built in.

Best suited for: private film screenings, corporate presentations, birthday film nights, intimate conferences where the presentation quality needs to be impressive.

Not suitable for: events that need a stage, dancing, or a free-flowing cocktail setup. The seats are fixed.

3. Studio Hall (Full Event) — Best mid-size value

₦650,000. 130 guests. 109 square metres. Television access for presentations, built-in AC, generator backup, clean restrooms, dedicated cleaners after the event, parking for 100+ cars, and chairs available for additional rent if your configuration needs adjusting.

For 130 people at ₦650,000 all-in, this is probably the best value mid-size hall I have found in Lekki Phase 1. That is ₦5,000 per head for the venue. Cheaper than most restaurant buyouts in this area.

4. Church Hall — Best for big events

₦850,000. 170 guests. 203 square metres.

Built-in stage which alone saves you ₦80,000 to ₦200,000 in stage hire from a production company. Soundproofed. TV for projection. Generator backup. Dedicated cleaners. All chairs included.

Additional benefit that caught my attention: Banex Mall will feature your event on their social media channels before, during, and after. If you are hosting a corporate launch or a brand event, free social media coverage is genuine marketing value.

What Every Hall Includes

Just to save the "does it have AC?" questions that are always in the comments:

All four halls have: constant electricity and generator backup, built-in air conditioning, clean restrooms on the floor, dedicated cleaners for post-event clean-up, lift and escalator access, and parking for over 100 vehicles.

If you have attended an event where the generator cut at 9pm and people were fanning themselves with their asoebi for 20 minutes — you know why I am listing this explicitly.

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The Honest Comparison
Hall Capacity Price
Studio (hourly) 80 persons From ₦35K/hr
Cinema Hall 100 guests ₦600,000
Studio Hall 130 guests ₦650,000
Church Hall 170 guests ₦850,000

For context: the cheapest hotel ballroom in Lekki Phase 1 and Oniru that I found with comparable facilities (generator, AC, proper capacity) starts at ₦900,000 before mandatory catering minimums.

The ₦650,000 Studio Hall at Banex beats that on price by ₦250,000 for fewer people, with no mandatory minimum spend attached.

How to Enquire
WhatsApp: 09163775777
Address: Plot 1–10 Akiogun Road, Opposite Maroko Filling Station, Oniru, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

I would recommend going to see the halls in person before booking; the sizes make more sense when you are standing in the room. They allow viewings during the week.

I am sharing this because I spent three weeks making phone calls before someone pointed me here, and I think that information should be easier to find.

If anyone has experience with other affordable event halls in Lekki Phase 1 that I have missed, drop them in the thread — genuinely useful to have a proper comparison for people planning events in this area.

I live and work in Lekki and I noticed that most "things to do in Lekki" guides online are written by travel sites that have clearly never set foot here lots of mentions of "explore the vibrant streets" with nothing specific to actually use.

So I put together a proper one for July.
Things you can actually do, with real addresses and practical notes, not generic tourism copy.

Here's the summary

1. Banex Summer Skills Academy
If you have children between 8 and 16, this is the best July move in Lekki right now.
Three tracks: tech, creative, and culinary running at Banex Mall on Akiogun Road. Children build actual projects, not just sit in a classroom.
The final day is a public showcase.
Registration still open per child.

2. Banex Cinemas
VVIP and VIP cinema inside Banex Mall. Better than most people expect from a mall cinema. July has strong releases book in advance for Friday/Saturday evenings, they fill up during school holidays.

3. Gadget shopping without going to Ikeja
Cybervilla at Banex Mall, Ground Floor, has original phones, laptops, and accessories from Apple, Samsung, HP, Dell, Infinix and more. UK-used and brand new. 48-hour return policy. They also do repairs and trade-ins. I know people are sceptical about mall tech shops but this one is worth checking before making the Ikeja trip.

4. Lekki Conservation Centre
Genuinely underrated by Lekki residents. The canopy walk is the longest in Africa and takes about 45 minutes.
Best on a weekday morning. Two hours minimum to enjoy it properly.

5. Nike Art Gallery
If you have out-of-town guests this July, take them here. 7,000+ pieces of Nigerian art across four floors. Entry is free. Consistently the thing that surprises people most about Lekki.

6. Early back-to-school shopping
Counterintuitive but genuinely useful buying school laptops and supplies in July is easier, cheaper, and less stressful than doing it in September when everyone is doing it simultaneously. Banex Mall covers tech, fashion, and accessories in one stop.


Full guide with more detail, practical tips, and the food/restaurant section is here: https://banexmall.com/article/things-to-do-in-lekki-this-july-2026-your-full-guide

Happy to answer questions about any of these in the thread
I'm on the ground in Lekki so I can give you specific information.