Osun State

Osun ( pronounced; "/ˈōSHo͞on/") is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State. The state's current governor is Adegboyega Oyetola, who was declared winner of the September 2018 governorship elections. He was declared winner of the 27 September 2018 rerun elections after the initial 22 September 2018 gubernatorial election was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Osun is home to several of Nigeria's most famous landmarks, including the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, one of Nigeria's pre-eminent institutions of higher learning. The university is also located in the ancient town of Ile-Ifẹ, an important early center of political and religious development for Yoruba culture. Other important cities and towns include the ancient kingdom-capitals of Oke-Ila Orangun, Iragbiji, Ikirun , Ila Orangun, Ijebu-Jesa, Ede, Iwo, Ejigbo, Ibokun, Ode-Omu, Ifetedo, Esa-Oke, Ilesa and Igbajo.

State of Osun
State
Flag
Nickname(s): 
Land of Virtue
Location of State of Osun in Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°30′N 4°30′E
Country Nigeria
Geopolitical ZoneSouth West
Date created27 August 1991
CapitalOsogbo
Government
 • Governor[1]Adegboyega Oyetola (All Progressives Congress (Nigeria))
 • Deputy GovernorBenedict Gboyega Alabi
 • Senators
  • Adelere Oriolowo
  • Adenigba Francis Fadahunsi
  • Surajudeen Ajibola Bashiru
Area
 • Total9,251 km2 (3,572 sq mi)
Area rank28th of 36
Population
 (2006 census)
 • Total3,416,959[2]
 • Rank17th of 36
Demonym(s)Osunian
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2007
 • Total$7.28 billion[3]
 • Per capita$2,076[3]
Time zoneUTC+01 (WAT)
postal code
230001
ISO 3166 codeNG-OS
HDI (2018)0.609[4]
medium · 14th of 37
Websiteosunstate.gov.ng

History

The modern State of Osun was created in August 27, 1991 from part of the old Oyo State. The state's name is derived from the River Osun, the venerated natural spring that is the manifestation of the Yoruba goddess of the same name.[5]

The former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola launched and laid the foundation for the groundbreaking of Osun State University with six campuses (Osogbo, Okuku, Ikire, Ejigbo, Ifetedo, and Ipetu-Ijesha) strategically located across the state. Important cultural events in the state include the Ori Oke and Egungun festival in Iragbiji,[6] Olojo in Ife and the Osun Osogbo festival.

Culture
Osun temple.

Every year, adherents and non-adherents of Osun, one of the Orisa (the traditional deities of the Yoruba people), travel from all over the world to attend the annual Osun-Osogbo festival in August. Visitors include nationals of Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad, Grenada, and other nations in the Americas with a significant Yoruba cultural heritage. Annual traditional festivities and invocations of the Osun goddess are held along the banks of the river bearing her name into which – according to Yoruba Oratory traditions – she transformed.

Ọsun-Ọsogbo Grove, the shrine of the annual rites of the deity and an important artistic center, was declared a World Heritage Site in 2005.

Demographics

The major sub-ethnic groups in Ọsun State are Ife, Ijesha, Oyo, Ibolo and Igbomina of the Yoruba people, although there are also people from other parts of Nigeria. Yoruba and English are the official languages. People of Osun State practice Islam, Christianity and their ancient religion, the traditional faith.

Tourism

State of Osun is home to a lot of tourist attraction based on it rich history and cultural base of the Yoruba. Here are some key places to visit:

Osun-Oshogbo Grove[7]

This is place is a considered a heritage site. it is located along the Osun river and is home to the goddess of fertility, Yemoja.[8]

Erin-Ijesha Waterfall[9]

Erin-Ijesha Waterfalls is located in Erin-Ijesha. It is a tourist attraction located in Oriade local ... The fall features seven floors.[10]

Muslims and Christians in Osun

Osun State was created from the old Oyo State in August 1991, has a large population of both Muslims and Christians.[11] Among the famous religious leaders from Osun State is the London-based Muslim cleric Sheikh Dr. Abu-Abdullah Adelabu, who hailed from the state's capital city, Osogbo and Pastor (Dr.) Johnson Ade Odewale of Christ Apostolic church, Calvary Assembly from Odeomu, who is based in Boston, USA. The popular pastor E.A Adeboye hails from Ifewara in Osun state. Also Pastor David Oyedepo among others. The Osun State government claims to offer services to both Muslims and Christians in the state, especially through Pilgrims Welfare Boards.[12]

The major traditional rulers in Osun State acclaim either the Faith of Islam or Christianity. While, for instance, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) and Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland Oba Gabriel Adekunle (Aromolaran II), Oba Sunday Olatokun (Olotan of Otan-Ile) ascribe to Christianity, Orangun of (Ile) Ila-Orangun Oba Wahab Kayode Adedeji Oyedotun (Arutu-Oluokun Bibiire I), Ataoja of Osogbo Oba Jimoh Olaonipekun Oyetunji (Larooye II), Timi of Ede Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal (Laminisa I), Aragbiji of iragbiji (Oba Abdulrasheed Ayotunde Olabomi)[6] and Oluwo of Iwo Oba Abdul Rasheed Adewale Akanbi (Ilufemiloye Telu Ipractice Islam.

Local Government Areas
See also: List of villages in Osun State

Osun State is divided into three federal senatorial districts, each of which is composed of two administrative zones. The state consists of thirty (30) Local Government Areas and Area offices, the primary (third-tier) unit of government in Nigeria.

Osun State's 30 Local Government Area headquarters:

LGAHeadquarters
AiyedaadeGbongan
AiyedireIle Ogbo
Atakunmosa EastIperindo
Atakunmosa WestOsu
BoluwaduroOtan-Ayegbaju
BoripeIragbiji
Ede NorthOja Timi
Ede SouthEde
EgbedoreAwo
EjigboEjigbo
Ife CentralIle-Ife
Ife EastOke-Ogbo
Ife NorthIpetumodu
Ife SouthIfetedo
IfedayoOke-Ila Orangun
IfelodunIkirun
IlaIla Orangun
Ilesa EastIlesa
Ilesa WestEreja Square
IrepodunIlobu
IrewoleIkire
IsokanApomu
IwoIwo
ObokunIbokun
Odo OtinOkuku
Ola OluwaBode Osi
OlorundaIgbonna, Osogbo
OriadeIjebu-Jesa
OroluIfon-Osun
OsogboOsogbo

List of current Local Government Area Chairmen.[13]

Notable people

General Ipoola Alani Akinrinade (RTD) - Former Chief of Army Staff and the First Chief of Defence Staff in Nigeria.

References
  1. See List of Governors of State of Osun for a list of prior governors
  2. "2006 PHC Priority Tables – NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION". population.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  3. "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Canback Dangel. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  4. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  5. "Osun-Osogbo", Wikipedia, 2020-04-27, retrieved 2020-06-10
  6. "Iragbiji", Wikipedia, 2020-05-26, retrieved 2020-06-10
  7. "Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove - 2020 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)". Tripadvisor. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  8. "Four Places to Visit in Osun State". 2018-05-19.
  9. "Erin-Ijesha Waterfalls", Wikipedia, 2020-05-05, retrieved 2020-06-10
  10. "A sanctuary of purity and beauty". 2018-01-24.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-15. Retrieved 2010-03-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-15. Retrieved 2010-03-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Local Government Areas – The Official Website Of The State Of Osun". Osunstate.gov.ng. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  14. Adelegan, Femi. (2013). Nigeria's Leading Lights of the Gospel: Revolutionaries in Worldwide Christianity. Westbow Press. p. 71. Retrieved 2019-9-7. ISBN 978-1449769543.
  15. Komolafe, Sunday Jide. (2013). The Transformation of African Christianity: Development and Change in the Nigerian Church. Langham Monographs, p. 107. Retrieved 2019-9-7. ISBN 978-1-907713-59-0.
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