Oyo State
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| Oyo State State nickname: Pace Setter State |
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| Location | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Statistics | ||
| Governor (List) |
Christopher Alao-Akala (PDP) | |
| Date Created | 3 February 1976 | |
| Capital | Ibadan | |
| Area | 28,454 km² Ranked 14th |
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| Population 1991 Census 2005 estimate |
Ranked N/A 3,488,789 6,617,720 |
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| GDP (PPP) -Total -Per Capita |
2007 (estimate) $16.12 billion[1] $2,811[1] |
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| ISO 3166-2 | NG-OY | |
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.
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[edit] Environmental features
Oyo State cover approximately an area of 28,454 square kilometers and 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;[2] 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 degrees Celsius and 35 degrees Celsius, almost throughout the year.
[edit] History
It was formed in 1976 from the former Western State, and originally included Ọsun State, which was split off in 1991. Ọyọ 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 Ibadans and the Ibarapas, all belonging to the Yoruba family and peoples 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, Kiṣi, Okeho, Saki, Eruwa, Lanlate, Awe,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, 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.
[edit] Landmarks
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 Akintọla University of Technology, Ogbomọsọ. The Polytechnic, Ibadanis 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 (lTTA). 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, Ibadan 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.
[edit] Government and politics
Under the Nigerian 1999 constitution[3] 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.[4]
[edit] 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 |
| Ebenezer Olusola Okebukola | 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 |
| Isaac Babalola Owolabi | 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 |
[edit] 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.
[edit] Local Government Areas
The state consists of thirty three Local Government Areas: (see also Nigerian LGAs)
[edit] Notable Oyo State indigenes
Notable people from Oyo State include:
- Emmanuel Oladipo Alayande, politician
- Augustus Akinloye, politician
- Bode Akindele, Chairman of Modandola Group of Companies
- Michael Sunday Adigun, civil servant
- Adekunle Liadi Haruna Elewi, an industrialist, a former minister of state for communication of Nigeria
- Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, politician
- Theophilus Adeleke Akinyele, retired civil servant
- Kolapo Ishola, Prominent politician and former governor of Oyo State
- Dejo Raimi, thoracic surgeon and former secretary to Oyo State government
- Richard Akinjide, politician
- Victor Omololu Olunloyo, Prominent politician and former governor of Oyo State
- Tajudeen Bioku, writer/director
- Akinlolu Olujinmi, Minister of Justice of Nigeria
- Rasheed Ladoja, prominent politician and former governor of Oyo state
- Jacob Gbadebo Adetoro, politician
- Lam Adesina, politician
- Raji Rasaki, Former Governor of Lagos and Ogun States
- Alade Musiliu Adeleke, Former Wema Bank Plc's Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer
- Moyo Ajekigbe, Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria
- Arinola Olasumbo Sanya, Former Commissioner of Health, and First female professor of physiotherapy in Africa
- Segun Gbadegesin, Chairman of Howard University's Philosophy Department and Former President of Egbe Omo Yoruba in North America
- Sade Adu, singer
- Tunde Nightingale, juju and highlife musician
- Dauda Epo-Akara, musician
- Wande Abimbola, former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University
- Moses Ayorinde Adebimpe, member of the Advisory Committee, Technology & Education, Chicago State University
- Adeagbo Olakunle Temitayo, a very successful businessman in London.
- Joseph Egbetola Aibinu - An Eminent former Local Government Chairman of Ifedapo Local Government, Oyo State: 1987 - 1989; A one-time member of the Oyo state 3SC football Club Management Board
[edit] References
- ^ a b "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Canback Dangel. http://www.cgidd.com. Retrieved on 2008-08-20.
- ^ C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Painted Hunting Dog: Lycaon pictus, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg
- ^ Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (accessed 20 September 2008)
- ^ Case Study A: Oyo State
[edit] External links
- Oyo State Government Homepage
- Directory of Cities and Towns in Oyo State, Nigeria
- Oyo State Ministry of Industry Applied Science & Technology
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