Oyo State

Ọyọ State
State
Nickname(s):  Pace Setter State
Location of Ọyọ State in Nigeria
Country	Nigeria
Date created	3 February 1976
Government
• Governor	Christopher Alao-Akala (PDP)
• Representatives	List
Area
• Total	28,454 km2 (10,986 sq mi)
Population  (2006)
• Total	5,591,589
• Estimate  (2007)	6,617,720
• Density	200/km2 (510/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
• Year	2007
• Total	$16,12 billion
• Per capita	$2,666
Time zone	UTC+01 (WAT)
ISO 3166 code	NG-OY
Website	oyostate.gov.ng

Ọyọ State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria, with its capital at Ibadan. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east by Osun State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west partly by Ogun State and partly by the Republic of Benin.

Geography

Oyo State covers approximately an area of 28,454 square kilometers and is ranked 14th by size. The landscape consists of old hard rocks and dome shaped hills, which rise gently from about 500 meters in the southern part and reaching a height of about 1,219 metre above sea level in the northern part. Some principal rivers such as Ogun river, Oba, Oyan, Otin, Ofiki, Sasa, Oni, Erinle and Osun river take their sources from this highland.

Oyo State contain a number of natural features including the Old Oyo National Park. In this location there was earlier habitat for the endangered African Wild Dog, Lycaon pictus; however, this canid is thought to have been locally extirpated at the present.

The Climate is equatorial, notably with dry and wet seasons with relatively high humidity. The dry season lasts from November to March while the wet season starts from April and ends in October. Average daily temperature ranges between 25 °C (77.0 °F) and 35 °C (95.0 °F), almost throughout the year.

History

It was formed in 1976 from the former Western State, and originally included Ọsun State, which was split off in 1991. Oyoọ State is homogenous, mainly inhabited by the Yoruba ethnic group who are primarily agrarian but have a predilection for living in high density urban centers. The indigenes mainly comprise the Oyos,the Oke-Oguns, the Ibadans and the Ibarapas, all belonging to the Yoruba family and peo ples of Africa|indigenous]] city in Africa, south of the Sahara. Ibadan had been the centre of administration of the old Western Region, Nigeria since the days of the British colonial rule. Other notable cities and towns in Ọyọ State include Ọyọ, Ogbomọsọ, Isẹyin, kishi, Okeho, Saki, Eruwa, Lanlate, Sepeteri, Ilora, Awe, Ilero, Igbeti and Igbo Ọra. The climate in the state favours the cultivation of crops like maize, yam, cassava, millet, rice, plantain, cacao tree, palm tree and cashew. There are a number of government farm settlements in Ipapo, Ilora,Sepeteri, Eruwa, Ogbomosho, Iresaadu, Ijaiye, Akufo and Lalupon. There is abundance of clay, kaolin and aquamarine. There are also vast cattle ranches at Saki, Fasola, Moniya and Ibadan.

Records, Landmarks and 'Firsts'

The first university in Nigeria is the University of Ibadan (established as a college of the University of London when it was founded in 1948, and later converted into an autonomous university in 1962). It has the distinction of being one of the premier educational institutions in West Africa. The other Universities in the state are: Lead City University, Ibadan, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo and the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. The Polytechnic, Ibadan is one of the best polytechnics in Nigeria.

There are 324 secondary schools as well as 1,576 public primary schools in the state. Other noteworthy institutions in the city include the University College Hospital; the first teaching hospital in Nigeria and the internationally acclaimed International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (lITA).

Another prominent landmark in Oyo State is the Cocoa House, the first skyscraper built in Africa .

The state is also home to NTA Ibadan, the first television station in Africa and Liberty Stadium the first stadium built in Africa.

Other major tourist attractions located in the state include: Agodi Botanical Garden, Ado-Awaye Suspended lake, Mapo Hall, University of lbadan Zoological Garden, Ido Cenotaph, Trans-Wonderland Amusement Park, Oke-Ogun National Park in, Old Oyo-Ile, Iyamopo and Agbele Hill in Igbeti, Bowers Tower and the Cultural Centre, Mokola.

Government and politics

Under the Nigerian 1999 constitution the government of Oyo State, and those of the other 35 Nigerian States, is divided into three branches to be in line with the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is also three tier: the executive branch, the legislative branch and the judiciary. The executive branch of Oyo State government is headed by an elected executive governor who presides over the State Executive Council made up of appointed cabinet members. The present governor of Oyo State is Adebayo Alao-Akala with Taofeek Oladejo Arapaja as deputy governor. The legislative branch is headed by an elected Speaker of the House of Assembly. The current Speaker is Moroof Atilola. And lastly, the judiciary is headed by the Chief Judge of Oyo State High Court. The present and acting Chief Judge of the state is Badejoko Olateju Adeniji who replaced Olagoke Ige.

Education

Presently the State has 1,703 public schools, 971 private nursery/primary schools, 335 public secondary schools including 7 schools of Science and 57 private secondary schools. Also in the State, there are five government technical colleges at Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ibadan, Saki and Igbo-Ora with enrolment of 2,829 students in the 2000/2001 academic session.

Historically prominent secondary schools include Loyola College Ibadan, Government College Ibadan, St Patricks Grammar School Ibadan, St Thersa's College Ibadan and St Annes' School Idadan. It's also home to Africa's leading fountain of knowledge, the iconic University of Ibadan (The University was originally instituted as an independent external college of the University of London, then it was called the University College, Ibadan ).

The present administration has established two new technical colleges located at Ado-Awaye, Iseyin Local Government area and Ikija in Oluyole Local Government area which took off in the 2001/2002 academic session. A college of education, Oyo State College of Education, Oyo. There is a Polytechnic, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, with 2 satellite campuses at Eruwa and Saki, and a State-owned University, The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso which is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun State Governments. The federal premier university The University of Ibadan, is also located in State capital.

There are also the Federal College Education (Special), Oyo, the Federal Schools of Surveying, Oyo; Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Agricultural Institute for Research and Training (AIR&T), the Federal School of Forestry and the Nigeria Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER), all in Ibadan.

Similarly, there are 15 Nomadic schools in the State. They are Gaa Jooro and Gaa Baale, both in Kisi (Irepo Local Government); Baochilu Government; Arin-Oye, Abiogun, Okaka and Baba-Ode (Itesiwaju Local Government); Iganna (Iwajowa Local Government); Igangan and Ayete (Ibarapa North Local Government Gaa Kondo and Igbo-Ora, Ibarapa Central Local Government) and Sepeteri (Saki East Local Government). There are 213 continuing education centres spread all over the State.

Also, there are 15 special primary schools and 8 special units in secondary schools catering for handicapped children. There are 11,732 teaching staff in the state public secondary schools and 2,789 non-teaching staff.

There are also the Agency for Adult and Non-formal Education (AANFE) which caters for illiterate adults who had no opportunity of formal education. The Agency has 455 classes in existence in the 33 Local Government areas of the State, while 200,000 illiterate adults and over 80,000 post-illiterate adults have been trained recently.

List of current public officials

Commissioner/Officer	Ministry/Office
Adebayo Alao-Akala	Governor
Taofeek Oladejo Arapaja	Deputy Governor
Layiwola Ayoade Olakojo	Secretary to the State Government
Saka Adegbite Balogun	Chief of Staff
Rasak Gbadegesin Kareem	Deputy Chief of Staff
Alhaja Chief Mrs. Kudirat Iyabode Adeleke	Head of Service
Samson Lekan Latinwo	Commissioner for Lands, Housing & Survey
Michael Folorunso Lana	Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice
Adekunle O. Ishola	Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources & Rural Development
Adebayo Johnson Bankole	Commissioner for Finance, Budget & Planning
[[Dr ADERIBIGBE OYEWUMI 0044-7846627039]	Commissioner for Health
Muhammed Tajudeen Ishola Lawal	Commissioner for Industry, Applied Science & Technology
Prof. Taoheed Adedoja	Commissioner for Education
Deborah Oyelade	Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community Development and Social Welfare
Makanjuola Ayoola	Commissioner for Youth & Sports
Raheem Oyedemi Musliu	Commissioner for Works & Transport
Kola Balogun	Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperatives
Hosea Ayoola Agboola	Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Matters
Risikat Oyebimpe Alabi	Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism
Majekodunmi A. Aborode	Commissioner for Environment & Water Resources
Moshood Kola Oyebamji	Commissioner for Establishment, Training & Poverty Alleviation

Agriculture

Agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Oyo State. The climate in the state favours the cultivation of crops like maize, yam, cassava, millet, rice, plantains, cocoa, palm produce, cashew etc. There are a number of government farm settlements in Ipapo, Ilora, Eruwa, Ogbomosho, Iresaadu, Ijaiye, Akufo and Lalupon. There is abundance of clay, kaolin and aquamarine. There are also vast cattle ranches at Saki, Fasola and Ibadan, a dairy farm at Monatan in Ibadan and the state-wide Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme with headquarters at Saki. A number of international and federal agricultural establishment are located in the state.

Local Government Areas

The state consists of thirty three Local Government Areas: (see also Nigerian LGAs)

• Akinyele
• Afijio
• Egbeda
• Ibadan North
• Ibadan North-East
• Ibadan North-West
• Ibadan South-West
• Ibadan South-East
• Ibarapa Central
• Ibarapa East
• Ido
• Irepo
• Iseyin
• Kajola
• Lagelu
• Ogbomosho North
• Ogbomosho South
• Oyo West
• Atiba
• Atigbo
• Saki West
• Saki East
• Itesiwaju
• Iwajowa
• Ibarapa North
• Olorunsogo
• Oluyole
• Ogo Oluwa
• Surulere
• Orelope
• Ori Ire
• Oyo East
• Ona Ara

Notable Oyo State indigenes

Notable people from Oyo State include:

• Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo
• Oba Abiola Taiwo, Alaawe of Aawe
• Oba Samuel Adegboyega Osunbade Adeyelu II The Olugbon of Orile Igbon.
• Emmanuel Oladipo Alayande, politician
• Augustus Akinloye, politician
• Prof. Arinola Olasumbo Sanya, former Commissioner of Health, Oyo State and first female professor of physiotherapy in Africa
• Prof Aboyade, The University Ibadan.
• Prof Dibu Ojerinde,The Registrar Joint Matriculation Board of Nigeria.
• Oba Kareem Oyesiji,Oba lufon of Sepeteri,Oyo State.
• Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade II, Soun of Ogbomoso Land.
• Mr Ajekigbe ,Former Group Managing Director First Bank of Nigeria PLC.
• Christopher Alao Akala,Governor of Oyo State.(2007–2011).
• Amos Fenwa, Senior Pastor, HolyGhost Christian Center,Lagos Nigeria
• Alh.Arisekola Alao,Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland.
• Chief Joseph Egbetola Aibinu - Chairman Ifedapo Local Government of Oyo State, 1987–1989, One time member of the Oyo state 3SC football Club Management Board
• Mr Anthony Adetunji Adejinle - Prominent Mathematician and renowned pioneering educationist.
• Oyewumi Adetona Aderibigbe.Special Adviser to the Lagos state governor,[Manchester Metropolitan University. England].
• Hon. Justice Stephen Laoye Popoola (RTD) (First High Court Judge from Oke - Ogun Region, Member of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission 1999 - 2004, Presiding Judge Over Kaduna Armed Robbery Tribunal, 1985 )
• Dr .Olufemi Olaifa Former special adviser to the president of Nigeria on parastatals.

External links

• Oyo State Government Homepage
• Oyo State Ministry of Industry Applied Science & Technology