History of Ogbomoso Town in Oyo State, Nigeria

 This articles would reveal to you the rich history of Ogbomoso town, in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Ogbomoso is a town located in Oyo State, South Western Nigeria. It is bordered in the north by Ilorin (Kwara State) and in the South by Oyo town (Oyo State). The Oyo-Ilorin road is the main street of the town.

It was founded in mid -17^th century and it is one of the largest Yoruba settlement in Nigeria.

The history of Ogbomoso was described by Baptist pioneer missionary Rev. S. G. Pinnock as been a walled city where soldiers guarded it by the day time and closed it during the night.

Brief History

Ogbomoso came about as a result of a man named Ogunsola. He was a skilled hunter from Ibarapa. His hunting expedition took him to an area now known as Ogbomoso. While there, he met some other hunters who came together, to form a society known as the Egbe Alongo (Alongo Society). The Primary objectives of the society were:

• To defend the town against Sunmoni (slave prowler) raids
• To group together for hunting of wild animals
• For mutual assistance.

Ogunlola was later jailed by the Alafin of Oyo for an alleged crime. During this time Oyo-Ile the then capital was attacked by soldiers from Ibarapa under the leadership of Elemoso, who caused great famine and suffering among the people of Oyo-Ile.

Ogunlola unhappy about the situation made a special request from the Alaafin of Oyo, stating that he would help kill Elemoso, if was released.

Upon his release, Ogunlola was able to kill Elemoso using his bow and arrow after which he beheaded him. The Alaafin was very happy with Ogunlola’s bravery that he requested him to stay in the capital Oyo-Ile instead of returning to his settlement. Ogunlola refused and returned back to his settlement.

Travelers would often times refer to the settlement as “ido eni ti o gb’Elemoso” meaning him who beheaded Elemoso, which was how the present day ogbomoso derived its name.

Education

Ogbomoso has two main institution of higher learning;

Ladoke Akintola University

This University popularly called LAUTECH was named from the former premier of old Western Nigeria , Samuel Ladoke Akintola. It was formed in April 23, 1990.

Lautech is a degree awarding institution with a focus on Engineering, Technology, Science, Medicine. The university enrolls 25,000 students and employs more than 3,000 people.

The conception of the university started when former Military Governor of Oyo state received a letter from the governing council of the polytechnic of Ibadan to set up a State University in Oyo State.

The university runs three academic programme: pre-degree science programme, undergraduate programmes and post-graduate programmes. The university is jointly owned by two states in Nigeria: Oyo and Osun states.

It was adjudged in 2003 and 2004 as the best State University in Nigeria.

The university has two campuses: Ogbomoso and Osogbo campuses and is currently made up of six faculties and a college.

The Baptist Seminary

This instituion was started by Rev. Charles Edwin Smith, a missionary of United States of America who felt the need for a training class for preachers in Ogbomoso. He trained the Nigeria Baptist Mission Station workers who was later joined by J. S. Compare, and N.D. Oyerinde . The Baptist Seminary offers degree programs in theology, sociology and philosophy.

In 1948, the Seminary was officially affiliated to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary of Louisville, United States of America.

It became a postgraduate school in August 2002, awarding postgraduate degrees. Some important feature in the institutions are;

1. Staff Primary School
2. Smith International Baptist Academy (SIBAO)
3. French Language Resource Centre
4. Computer Training Centre

In 1978 Prof Osadolor Imasogie became the first Nigerian to head the institution.

Media

1. Ajilete FM
2. Parrot FM
3. NTA Ogbomoso

Agriculture

Ogbomoso is well known for growing some crops such as yam , maize, tobacco and cassava.

Royal Fathers Of Ogbomoso City

1. HRM Oba Oladunni OyewunmiAjagungbade III, Soun of Ogbomosoland
2. HRM Oba Samuel Adegboyega OsunmadeAdeyelu II, Olugbon of Orile I
3. HRM Oba S. O. Oyediran Olugbami Oseku III, Onpetu of Ijeru
4. HRM Oba J. O. Oloyede, Aresa of Iresaadu
5. HRM S. O. Ayoola Agunbiade II JP, Alajaawa of Ajaawa
6. HRM Onikoyi of Ikoyi Ile

Quick Factsheet on Ogbomoso

• Ogbomoso one of the major cities in Nigeria is located in Yorubaland, in South-Western Nigeria. The city was founded around the mid 1600s;
• Ogbomoso people predominantly belong to the Yoruba ethnic group;
• In 1991, the population was estimated to be approximately 645,000. By 2005, the population has climbed to more than one million people.
• Farming, agriculture and general commerce form the backbone of the economy. Agricultural products include yams, cassava, maize, and tobacco remain notable agricultural products of the region.

Famous Landmark In Ogbomoso

• American Baptist Church of Nigeria
• The great square tower of the central mosque
• The Baptist Seminary

The Ogbomoso Anthem

Composed by: Late Mr. D. Oladele Ajao
Former Senior Tutor, Baptist College, Iwo
(Harmony done by Rev A. B. Adeleke)

1. Ogbomoso Ajilete

Si ogo re l’a fe korin

Iwo t’a te s’arin odan

Okan ninu ilu Akin

2. A-to-sa-si n’jo t’o buru

Abo f’eniti eru mba

Odi t’ota ko le parun,

Ogun Filani ko ri mi

3. Oluwa olodumare

F’ow’otun re d’ilu wa mu

F’oba at’won ‘gbimo wa

L’emi at’ife ododo.

4. Kede re fun gbogbo eda

Egan ni “he” erin tobi

Ajanaku po, o ju ra

Ilu na l’ola gbangba ni

5. N’ijo ‘re elere ni iwa

B’ise ya, a se kangun ni

Omo Shoun fe ilu won

Ilu nwon ni Orisa nwon.

6. So f’awon  wundia ti ndan

Fawon Okunrin rogbodo

E ho ye, e sape, e fo

Ilu ‘bukun! L’a bi nyin si

7. Awon Odo Ogbomoso

Yarin ‘ta re, ilu ti wa

Koto pelu gegele re

Igbo odan re l’ayo wa

8. Ki lo le mu wa gbagbe re

Ilu ‘Telorun at’ayo

Titi a o fi s’asunji

L’a o ma korin inyin re.

Source: www.ogbomoso.net

Economy of Ogbomoso

Ogbomoso is fast developing as a major commercial zone in Oyo State, Nigeria. It is predominatly dominated by traders, artisan and farmers who grow crops such as cocoa, cotton, maize, yam, cassava, sorghum which they export to other parts of Nigeria.

Tobacco is largely grown in Ogbomoso which is then fed to the British American Tobacco factory in Ibadan. Cotton is also locally grown, which is used for weaving Aso oke, a traditional Yoruba cloth.

Ogbomosho weavers also make sanyan, a cloth woven from silk brought from Ilorin. Ogbomoso town also has a factory for producing shoes and rubber. Local trade is primarily in staple crops, palm oil, kola nuts, beans, fruits, and cotton.

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