Oyo State

Oyo state is found in the SouthWest  geopolitical zone of Nigeria and is home to the Yoruba tribe. Ibadan is the state’s capital while other popular towns include Ogbomoso, Oje-owode, Igbo-ora and Ilero. Oyo state shares borders with Kwara, Osun, Ogun states and the Republic of Benin.

Oyo state has a population of 5,591,589 inhabitants spead  over 33 local government areas which include Ibarapa East, Afijio, Atisbo, Ibadan north, Ibadan South-east, Ibadan south-west, Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa North, Iddo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Ogbomoso North, Oluyole, Oorelope, Oyo East, Oyo west, Akinyele, Atiba, Egbeda, Ibadan North-west, Ibadan North-east, Irepo, Lagelu, Ogbomoso south, Ogo Oluwa, Olorunsogo, Ona ara, Orire, Saki east, Saki west, and Surulere. Christianity and Islam are the most widely practiced religions in Oyo state while the Yoruba and the English languages are the primary means of communication. Oyo state is also home to Nigeria’s foremost university; the University of Ibadan. Other tertiary institutions found in Oyo state include the Dominican University Ibadan, Emma Alayande College of Education Ibadan, Federal College of Education Ibadan, Lead City University Ibadan, Oyo state College of Agriculture and Technology Igboora, The Poly Ibadan, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Ibarapa Polytechnic Eruwa, Oke Ogun Polytechnic Saki, College of Education Lanlate, School of Nursing and Midwifery Eleyele, and the College of Hygiene amd Health Technology Ibadan.

Popular festivals in Oyo state include the World Sango festival and the Aso-ofi festival. Notable landmarks in Oyo state include the IITA Forest reserve, the Bower memorial tower, Agodi Botanical gardens, University of Ibadan Zoological garden, Agodi Park, Cocoa House, Museum of National Unity, Ado Awaye suspended lake, Mapo hall, Ido Cenotaph, Trans wonderland amusement park, Agbele Rock, and the old Oyo National park. Health facilities found in Oyo state include the Molly specialist Hospital Ibadan, University College Hospital Ibadan, Olives Hospital and Maternity Ibadan, Sholly Specialist hospital, Teju Specialist hospital, Old Catholic hospital Ibadan, Lanark specialist hospital, Adeoyo state hospital Ibadan, Alafia hospital Adamasingba, and the St. Mary's Hospital Eleta.  

OYO STATE GOVERNOR

The Governor of Oyo State is Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi.

OYO STATE SLOGAN

Pace setter State

GEOGRAPHY OF OYO STATE

Oyo state has a total area measuring 5,580,894 km squared with a topography characterized by litters of old igneous rocks and dome shaped hills which measure between 500-1000 metres in height.

The average annual precipitation in Oyo state is 2700 mm while average temperature is 29 degrees centigrade. 

 

ECONOMY OF OYO STATE

Agriculture is the main economic engagement of the people of Oyo state. The state is known for the cultivation of crops such as maize, yam, cocoa, plantain, and oil palm. Animal rearing is also popular in Oyo state with cattle ranches existing in Saki and Faoola.

The Agbeni, Oje and Ojoo markets are important trade centers in Oyo state and add immensely to the economic life of the state. Other popular markets found in Oyo state include the Bodija market, Bola Ige international market, Bembo market Ibadan, Eleeka market, Saasa market Ibadan, Towobowo market Igboora, Sabo marketIbadan, Omi Adio market Ibadan, Obanisunwa market Ayete, Aaraada market Ogbomoso, Odo Oba market Ogo Oluwa, Oja Agbe market Iseyin, Olorunda market Iganna, and the Owode market Igboho.

Mineral resources found in Oyo state include Iron Ore, tantalite, Columbite, Cassiterite, Bismuth, gemstones, gold, marble, red clay, sand, gravel, granite, syenite, kaolin, talc, and sillimanite.

  

HISTORY OF OYO STATE

Oyo state was created in the year 1976 from the old Western state. Ibadan was also the administrative center of the old western region. Ibadan is also home to the Cocoa house which is the first skyscraper built in the whole of Africa. Past governors of Oyo state include

David Jemibewon- 1976-1978

Paul Tarfa- 1978-1979

Bola Ige- 1979-1983

Victor Olunloyo - October 1983- December 1983

Oladayo Popoola- 1984-1985

Adetunji Olurin- 1985- 1988

Sasaenia Oresanya- 1988- 1990

Abdulkareem Adisa- 1990-1992

Kolapo Ishola- 1992- 1993

Adetoye Sode- 1993- 1994

Chinyere Nwosu- 1994-1996

Ahmed Usman- 1996- 1998

Edore Oyakhire- 1998-1999

Lam Adesina- 1999-2003

Rasheed Ladoja- 2003-2007

Chris Alao Akala- 2007-2011

Abiola Ajimobi- 2011 to date.