| Ogun State | |
|---|---|
| — State — | |
| Nickname(s): Gateway State | |
| Location of Ogun State in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Date created | 3 February 1976 |
| Seat | Abeokuta |
| Government | |
| • Governor (List) |
Ibikunle Amosun (ACN) |
| • Senators | |
| • Representatives | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 16,762 km2 (6,471.8 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 24th of 36 |
| Population (1991 census) | |
| • Total | 2,338,570 |
| • Estimate (2005) | 4,054,272 |
| • Rank | N/A of 36 |
| • Density | 139.5/km2 (361.3/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | |
| • Year | 2007 |
| • Total | $10.47 billion[1] |
| • Per capita | $2,740[1] |
| Time zone | WAT (UTC+01) |
| ISO 3166 code | NG-OG |
Ogun State is a state in South-western Nigeria. It borders Lagos State to the South, Oyo and Osun states to the North, Ondo State to the east and the republic of Benin to the west. Abeokuta is the capital and largest city in the state. Ogun has one federal university; the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta , two state government universities; the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye (formerly known as Ogun State University) and the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) Ijebu Ode. Ogun State thus has the highest number of registered universities in Nigeria (nine in all). Five of the nine universities are private, which include Babcock University - Ilisan-Remo, the first private university in the country. The state has two major government hospitals, the Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta and the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.
Other cities and towns in the Ogun State are Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, Ijebu Igbo, Ilaro Ayetoro and Ota.
Contents |
The state contains the following twenty Local Government Areas:
The state's nickname is "Gateway to Nigeria". It was created in February 1976 from the former Western State. The 1991 census recorded a total population of 2,338,570 residents. The state governor is Senator Ibikunle Amosun
Abeokuta is the birthplace of Laja Famuyiwa, the former president of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo, who also has a large farm in Ota. The immediate past Anglican Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, is also a native of Abeokuta. the MD of jamlabstelcoms plc (Afolabi Olawale)
Ogun State has produced many of the most important Yoruba leaders, politicians and musicians in Nigeria, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief MKO Abiola, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ernest Shonekan, General Oladipo Diya, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Iyalode J A Aromire, Dr. Gbolabo Oyede, Sir G.O Adenuga-Taiwo, Chief Peter Olakeinde Sogbesan, Chief Kuforiji Olubi, Prof Ola Rotimi, Prof Olikoye Ransome Kuti, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof Onabamiro, Dr. Tai Solarin, Dr Efunbo Dosekun, Otunba Subomi Balogun, Chief Oba Otudeko, Chief Mike Adenuga,prof.Ogunlesi [first professor of medicine in Nigeria], Chief Olu Oyesanya, founder of the Nigerian Union of Journalists and Chief Gabriel Yemi Adetayo. Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, an industrialist, corporate lawyer and philanthropist.Chief Bayo Kuku the current Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land,Dr Sonny Kuku OFR, Late Chief Timothy Odutuyo Kuti (Abusi Edumare as he was fondly called) former school principal, industrialist, a businessman, philanthropist the founder of Abusi Edumare Academy Ijebu Igbo(acknowledged to have groomed business, religions and political leaders) Prince Micheal Oyedele an industrialist, chief Adegunle soetan (Aro of Egbaland), Iyalode jojolola soetan (2nd Iyalode of Egbaland). Sunday Adelaja, the founder and pastor of the Embassy of God Charismatic church in Kiev, Ukraine was also born in Ogun State, Prof. Oluyemi Adeola Banjoko, Special Adviser to The American president and the British prime minister on African matters (Manchester, U.K). Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, CFR, Former Executive Secretary of Economic Community for Africa and Founding Executive Director of African Centre for Development and Strategic Studies (ACDESS), Ijebu-Ode, Engr. Babatunde Odufuwa (of Oke-Aye in Ijebu North East Local Government, Off Senbora), Chairman of Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja.
Ikenne Remo, a major town, is home to many prominent sons and daughters of Ogun State and has over the years evolved to become the political and intellectual 'mecca' of the state. With Chief Obafemi Awolowo's home and rich library resources open to the public and history researchers; Dr Tai Solarin's Mayflower School (acknowledged to have groomed business, religious and political leaders) and of course the annual Ereke Day festival attracting tourists from within and without the country.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo is revered as one of the founding fathers of Nigeria, along side Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Sardauna of Sokoto. He was Prime Minister of the Western Region from 1954 - 1959 after which he became the opposition leader in the Federal House of Representatives. He built the educational,political and business infrastructure upon which the Western States have built and thrived.
The State is also reputed to have produced the highest number of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria (a.k.a Queen's Counsels) in the annals of the legal profession since independence to date. The Senior Advocates of Nigeria included Late Chief Sowemimo, Chief Fatai Atanda Williams, Chief Obafemi Awolowo,Prince Bola Ajibola, Kehinde Sofola, Abayomi Sogbesan, Kehinde Onafowokan, Pa Abraham Adesanya. The living ones include Chief GOK Ajayi, Chief Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Idowu Sofola, Mr. Kayode Sofola and a host of others.
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