Iwo, Nigeria
| Iwo Iwo Odidere | |
|---|---|
| LGA and city | |
| Nickname(s): The Reality City | |
| Motto: Iwo Olodo Oba, Iwo Ateni Gbola Ateni Gbore. | |
  Iwo | |
| Coordinates: 7°38′N 4°11′E / 7.633°N 4.183°E | |
| Country |
 Nigeria |
| State | Osun State |
| GovernmentDemocracy, | |
| • Oluwo of Iwo. | HRM Oluwo of Iwoland |
| Area | |
| • Total | 245 km2 (95 sq mi) |
| Population (2006 Census) | |
| • Total | 191,348 (central city/Local Government) most populous Local Government in Osun State. |
| Time zone | WAT (UTC+1) |
| 3-digit postal code prefix | 232 |
| ISO 3166 code | NG.OS.IO |
Iwo is a city in Osun State, Nigeria that is the seat of the Iwo Kingdom, a traditional state. The Iwo people, like all other people of Yoruba stock are said to have belonged to Ile-Ife from where they migrated sometimes in the 14th century. The earliest settlement initiated by Adekola Telu a prince from Ife. Adekola Telu was the son of the 16th Ooni of Ife a female called Luwo Gbagida. The town formerly part of Oyo state was later separated and became one of the major townships in Osun State, Nigeria.
It has an area of 245 km² and a population of 191,348 (central city/Local Government) most populous Local Government in Osun State by the 2006 Nigeria National census figures. The other local governments in Iwo Kingdom, from satellite towns are Aiyedire Local Government, 265.783 km² area and 76,309 by population, as well as Ola-Oluwa Local Government, 332.117 km² area and 76,227 by population. The Headquarters of the Local Governments are Iwo (Central), Iwo; Aiyedire, Ile Ogbo (or Ile Ogo); and Ola-Oluwa, Bode-Osi. The postal code of the area is 232.[1]
People
The people are primarily of Yoruba descent, and were of African Traditional Religion until Islamic missionaries came and converted many to Islam. The Christian missionaries soon followed and with evangelism, both direct and through established secular schools converted many to Christianity. Iwo people are, presently, mixture of the three religions, with a higher population of Muslims than Christians, and still fewer traditionalists, every one living happily and harmoniously with one another, and usually joining the other in celebration of major religious festivities as every extended family has members in each religion. The immediate former King, Oluwo, Oba Abimbola was originally a Christian, and the present, Oba Ashiru Tadese, originally a Muslim, but each a father to all. Immigrants of different tribes employed in different trades also live amicably with one another, and the locals. The towns primary economic activity is agriculture with the primary crops being cocoa, yam, corn, cassava, and palm oil, however textiles are an important economic activity as well. Notable people in this town include Prince Alade Lamuye, OON - Nigeria's first minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He was also a junior minister of Finance and a former chairman of Sterling Bank Plc. The Salinsile family, The Lamuye family, The Aremu Family, Chief Adebayo Aremu, Otunba Of Iwoland, Chief Ogundokun, Alh Moshood Adeoti, Alh. Fatai Akinbade, Alh. Liadi Tella, Barrister Gbadegeshin, The Fajinmi family. Chief Ogunmola of legendary Africa memory and fame was from Ile-Alawe in Feesu region of the central city. This quarter, the Alawes as well as another, the Jagun-Ode quarter, sharing boundary with Feesu, donated land to the first locals established secondary school, Iwo Grammar School. [2]
Education
Iwo is well noted for Arabic/Islamic education. There are several Arabic schools (Modrassah)in the town and many Iwo indigenes usually have a taste of this along with the secular schools. The popular Modrassah include Islahudeen Arabic School, Obatedo, founded by late Sheikh Abdulbaaqi Muhammad in the early 60s.Amin Trining Center, Araromi is another prominent school established by late Sheikh Badrudeen Al-Amin in the 50s.
The source of orthodox Education in Iwo was, initially, primarily Christian Missionary based. This were mostly Baptists as each Baptist Church branch in the central city established a primary school of own correspondingly named after the branch: Aipate Baptist Day School, Olukotu Baptist Day School, Feesu Baptist Day School, Oke-Odo Baptist Day School. The Baptists also established a secondary school, Baptist High school, Iwo, the only institution in Iwo awarding Advanced Level of West African School Certificate in addition to the Ordinary Level certificate. There was also a Baptist Modern school (now obsolete in Nigeria educational system) which now metamorphosed to Baptist Grammar school - awarding ordinary level certificates like other secondary schools. These in addition to the old Baptist Teacher Training College, one of the oldest of such in Africa and main source of teachers to Nigerian and other African countries. The College is now the site of Bowen University, the secular Baptist University, and the only University in Iwo environs. The Baptists were followed by the Methodist who had a Methodist Primary School in the central city, as well a Modern school, now United Methodist High School. The Catholics had a Modern School, now Catholic Grammar School, and a Female Secondary School, St. Mary High School which is now co-educational. The government later joined the Christian missionaries in establishing many primary schools, a Modern School, Local authority Modern School, now Local Authority Commercial Grammar School, a Teacher Training College, LATCO, later changed in 1964 to Iwo Grammar School. Muslim missionaries also joined the efforts later in establishing Ansar-U-deen Primary School, Ansar-U-Deen Modern School which is now Ansa-U-deen Grammar School, and Anwar-ul-Islam Grammar School. Among the major secondary schools are the Iwo Grammar School, the United Methodist High School, the Baptist High School, St. Mary's High School, the L.A. Commercial Grammar School, Islahudeen Grammar School and the Anwar-ul-Islam Grammar School as well as several others. There are many primary schools in the satellite towns established by the former Western Regional Government as well as many secondary schools in satellite towns established during the period of Chief Bola Ige as the governor of the old Oyo state. Higher Institutions: BOWEN University and Wolex Polytechnic Baptist Teachers' Training College was located at Oke Odo in Iwo, but this facility is now used as the campus of Bowen University. Another institution in Iwo is Shariah College of Nigeria, which used to be in Ibadan before it was relocated to its permanent site at Oke-Afo, Iwo. Among the major private secondary schools are Islamic Model College, Muslim International School, Agbaje Memorial Comprehensive College, Aipate Baptist School, Vico-Hope Comprehensive College, A-1 Grammar School, Crowey Schools, Regina Mundi Girls Secondary School, etc.
References
- ↑ "Post Offices- with map of LGA". NIPOST. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ↑ "Encyclopædia Britannica Online Edition". Retrieved 2007-04-06.
Coordinates: 7°38′N 4°11′E / 7.633°N 4.183°E
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