Amazing facts about this Nigerian state will make you proud

Ogun state will ever remain an historical place in Nigeria because it is the genesis of journalism profession which started with the birth of ‘Iwe Iroyin fun awon Egba and Yoruba’ in 1859 in Abeokuta by Henry Townsend

Known as the Gateway state, Ogun was carved out from the former Western state in 1976 with Abeokuta as its state capital.

As its slogan, ‘ Omo Ogun Iseya!’ ( Ogun State indigenes, it’s time to work connotes, the indigenes of the state are industrious and successful in all their chosen businesses and professions.

Sango-Ota can be described as the commercial centre of the state because of its proximity with Lagos State.

The state is named after the Ogun River, which runs right across it from north to south; and is made up of six ethnic groups namely; the Egbas, the Ijebus, the Remos, the Egbados, the Aworis and the Eguns.

In February 1976, Ogun State was carved out from the former Western state and forty years after its creation, the state is now known nationally and internationally as the Gateway of the country and is blessed with 20 local councils.

Today, under the watch of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the executive Governor of the state, it is  bordered by Lagos state in the south, Oyo and Osun states to the north, Ondo state to the east and the Republic of Benin to the west.

The indigenes of Ogun state are industrious and successful in all their chosen businesses and professions and this is evidenced in their success story. Name it, the indigenes of the state are known to be first in all fronts.

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NAIJ.com can exclusively report that there are other popular cities and towns in the state aside Abeokuta, its capital. The towns are Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, Ikenne, Odeogbolu, Ijebu Igbo, Iperu, Ilaro Ayetoro, Ota, Ifo and Sango -Otan. Sango-Otan can be described as the commercial centre of the state because of its proximity with Lagos State.

Historically, the state is named after the Ogun River, which runs right across it from north to south; and is made up of six ethnic groups namely; the Egbas, the Ijebus, the Remos, the Egbados, the Aworis and the Eguns. Generally, the majority of the indigenes of the state speak Yoruba language with different dialects.

Former President Obasanjo

The state’s relationship with journalism

Journalism profession started in the state with the birth of ‘Iweroyin fun awon Egba and Yoruba’ in 1859 in Abeokuta by Reverend Henry Townsend and also the history of electronic broadcasting in Nigeria was traced to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who established the first Television state in Africa in 1958.

Though, the television state was not located in the state, but the man behind it was an indigene of the state. Also, the founding father of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Chief Olu Oyesanya, is an indigene of the state.

Record

In Nigeria’s political history, there is no western state that has been so privileged like Ogun state in terms of having their  indigenes in power. The state is the only one that produced a two-time president in person of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who has ruled the country as a military and civilian president.

NAIJ.com can authoritatively divulge that the only interim Head of State in the history of the country, Chief Earnest Shonekan also hails from Ogun state.

The current Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibajo, SAN, is also  from the state. The man that deputised the late maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha, General Oladipo Diya, hails from the Gateway state.

With the available records, the state stands tall ahead of the other states in the zone in terms of the political and appointment patronage.

Prominent citizens

The state is blessed with sons and daughters, who had made history and whose contributions to the national development can’t be forgotten. Among its notable citizens are; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President;  the former Anglican Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Peter Akinola; the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo; late MKO Abiola; Chief Ernest Shonekan; General Oladipo Diya; late Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti; Prof Ola Rotimi (late); Prof Olikoye Ransome Kuti (late); Fela Anikulapo Kuti (late); Prof. Wole Soyinka;  Dr. Tai Solarin (late); Otunba Subomi Balogun; Chief Oba Otudeko; Chief Mike Adenuga; Chief Ebeniser Fabiyi Obey, a prominent Gospel/ Juju Musician, and a prominent Fuji musician, Alhaji Ayinde Wasiu (K1).

Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka

Akinwande Oluwole “Wole” Babatunde Soyinka was  born on 13 July, 1934 and he is one of the internationally literary icons. He is a playwright and poet and was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature, and the first African to be honoured in that category.

Fela

Known as ‘Abami Eda’ (strange person), he was born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti on 15 October 1938 in Abeokuta into an upper-middle-class family.

Fela, a prominent Nigerian Musician of international repute, like his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti who was the first woman to drive a car in Nigeria, was an activist. His brothers, Beko Ransome-Kuti and Olikoye Ransome-Kuti (both late), who were  medical doctors, are also well known in Nigeria. He died in 1997, and up till today, his songs are joy to many people.

Festivals

Like every Yoruba town and village, Ogun is a typical yoruba state and its people are known and respected for preserving their culture. Each town or village in the state is reputed for one festival or the other.

The Ijebu festivals

There are two significant festivals in Ijebu ode and the first is the ‘AGEMO’ festivals. Agemo is the unity of Ijebus. There are 16 Agemos in various parts of Ijebu and they come out every July and they all meet at Ijebu-Ode before moving to Imodi Mosan, where the Agemo Festival takes place.

Agemo is a fetish mat-dancer in which women are forbidden from seeing the Agemo on their way to Ijebu-Ode.

NAIJ.com gathered that a public announcement is made on radio and television to inform everyone the exact time Agemo will be moving.

The second is the “Ojude Oba” festival. The Ojude Oba festival of Ijebu-Ode is usually held two days after the Ileya festival (Eid-el-Kabir) and it is a festival whose main purpose is for the people of Ijebu to come together as one to honor their king and is regarded as one of the biggest in West Africa.

Agemo festival in Ogun state

All Ijebu people are expected to come home for the festival, kill a ram even if they are no longer Muslims and attend the Ojude Oba to dance with their age grade before the Awujale. Ijebu people are noted for their love of display and this festival allows the various groups to show off their wealth and prosperity.

The thematic structure of the festival gives rein to the solicitation and agitation of topical issues in the state and the community. The festival’s repertoire includes a parade from the Balogun clan and Dodondawas clan, regberegbe (age groups), several societies and groups, accompanied by rapid gunshots, traditional songs, poems and equestrian skill display witnessed by the locals, national and international visitors, as well as Ijebu indigenes in the Diaspora.

Olumo rock

 Egba festivals

 Yearly, the ancient city of Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital comes alive when it hosts the annual celebration of the Lisabi and Olumo festivals.

 Sons and daughters of the town, which comprise four sections, Ake, Owu, Gbagura and Oke Ona Egba, would come from far and near to join in the celebrations.

 Also, neighbouring towns, particularly from the southwest states of Nigeria would not be left out of the razzmatazz of the festivals.

 The two festivals climaxed at the Lisabi forest, where the ancient warrior, Lisabi reportedly buried himself in the early 18th century and at the Olumo Rock, which the deities of Olumo use as an  ancestral ground.

Culture and tradition

The Egbas and Ijebus are reputed for their differences with food delicacies. The Egbas are known for ‘Elubo Lafun’ (Cassava flower) and ‘Ewedu’ soup, while the Ijebus are reputed for Gaari and Ipokore foods. Also, in all the towns and villages across the state, there are adherents of the three religions— Christianity, Islam and the traditional belief.  Also, the people of the state are reputed for making batik known as ‘Adire’.

Tourist centres

There are many places that sightseers can visit in Ogun State and some of them are; Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Birikisu Sugbo Shrine at Oke-Eri, Yemoji Natural Swimming Pool at Ijebu-Ode, Oyan Dam in Abeokuta North, Iwopin Boat Regatta and Ebute-Oni in Ogun Waterside. Others sities are Madam Tinubu Shrine, Abeokuta; Oronna Shrine, Ilaro. Area J4 Forest Reserve; Tongeji Island, Ipokia. Old Manse at Ogbe,Abeokuta; St.James Anglican School, Ota and Ijamido River Shrine,Ota.

A group of worshipers at a Celestial Church of Christ branch.

The state as the country’s spiritual headquarters

The state hosts the headquarters of some of the religious organisations in the country. Some of the religious organisations are; Islamic Mission for Africa, Abeokuta, Ahmadiyya Missionary Training Centre, Ilaro, The Church of the Lord (Aladura), Ogere Remo, Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) world-wide Camp, Imeko, Christ Love Evangelical Ministries (CLEM) Ibadan Road, Ijebu-Ode.

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Diadem Christian Church International, Ijebu Ode and the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, along Lagos-Ibadan Exp. Way, Mowe.

Others are: Faith Tabernacle aka Winners Chapel, Canaanland, Ota, Prayer City of Mountain of Fire & Miracle Ministry, along Lagos-Ibadan Express Way, Deeper Life Conference Center (DLCC), along Lagos-Ibadan Express Way and Faith City (Apostolic Faith Church) along Atan-Agbara road, Igbesa, Ogun State.

Olumo rock, Abeokuta

Development

The state is a very developed one and can compete favourably well with others of its status. The state plays hosts to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro

Covenant University, Ota, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Tai Solarin University of Education,Crawford University, Igbesa, Adetokunbo University, Sagamu, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Mountain Top University, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, McPherson University, Seriki-Sotayo, and Federal College of Education, Osiele.

Others are; the two major government hospitals, the Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta and the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital. It also has several local and international businesses and factories strategically sited within the 2 km government acquisition area of the Lagos – Sagamu expressway. The businesses include Dangote’s cement factory in Ibese, Nestle, DHL and a host of others.

The current governor of Ogun state is Ibikunle Amosun, the 58-year-old has been in office since the year 2011.

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