Nigeria as a sovereign state has 36 states and Oyo is one of it, but, some Nigerians, indigenes and residents of the state do not know that it is called ‘The Pacesetter State’.
Also, some do not know that Oyo state, was coined and named after a prominent town, Oyo Alafin; which is an inland state in the south-western Nigeria with its capital at Ibadan.
The state with about 4.5 million people and predominantly occupied by Yoruba people is bordered in the north by Kwara State, in the east by Osun State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west partly by Ogun State and partly by the Republic of Benin.
Reports that the state has 33 local government areas and prominent sons and daughters, whose contributions to the development of the country could not be easily ignored, was created as a state in 1976 from Western State, and included Osun State, which was split off in 1991.
The indigenes mainly comprise the Oyos, the Oke-Oguns, the Ibadans and the Ibarapas, all belonging to the Yoruba family.
The major towns
Like many other states in the south west, Oyo state is developed as a state in consonant with the status of the first generation state and this is evidenced in some of the prominent towns and cities within the state. The towns and cities are; Ibadan, Oyo, Iseyin, Ogbomoso, Okeho, Saki, Igboho, Kisi, Igbo-Ora, Lalupon, Fiditi, Ilora, Eruwa, Igbeti, Sepeteri, Ilora, Awe, Igbo-Ora and Otu.
The many firsts of the state as its slogan connotes, Oyo State is a pace setter in all fronts as it plays host to the first university in Nigeria, the University of Ibadan known as the premier university of Nigeria.
University of Ibadan
The university was founded in 1948 as College of the University of London until it was converted into an autonomous university in 1962.
First NTA
The first Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ibadan, was established in 1959 by late Obafemi Awolowo as WNTV before it changed to NTA Ibadan. It is the oldest television station in the whole continent of Africa and it serves as a museum in journalism.
Old Oyo National Park
It is one of the premier national parks in Nigeria and it lies in the north-western part of the Oyo State. It is about 160 kilometres from Ibadan and it has an area of about 2,500 square kilometers and harbours a wide variety of wildlife.
Prominent Monarchs
NAIJ.com can reveal that undisputedly, Alafin stool is the Chairman of Oyo state Council of Obas and several attempts to change it were null and void. Till date, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, Alaafin of Oyo, is the leader of all the Obas in the state. Also, the Olubadan and Soun’s stools are of the first class status.
Alaafin
Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, who is the incumbent Alaafin of Oyo ascended the throne in 1970 to succeed Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II.
Olubadan
The current Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, is the 41st monarch to ascend the prestigious stool of Olubadan and succeeded Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, who joined his ancestors on Tuesday 19th January 2016, aged 101.
Soun
His Royal Majesty, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III JP, CON, is the incumbent Soun of Ogbomosho and the monarch ascended the throne of his forefathers in 1973 and today, he is the leader of the Obas and traditional chiefs in Ogbomosho land.
Notable indigenes
The Pacesetter State is blessed with many notable sons and daughters who had paid their dues for the advancement of the country. Some of them are; Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, Alaafin of Oyo; the incumbent Governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi; Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja; Otunba Adebayo Alao- Akala; late Lam Adesina; late Emmanuel Oladipo Alayande; Professor Dibu Ojerinde, immediate past Registrar, The Registrar Joint Matriculation Board of Nigeria; late Arisekola Alao, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland; late Fuji Icon, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and Alhaji Saheed Osupa, a notable Fuji musician.
Others are; late Lamidi Ariyibi Akanbi Adedibu; Chief Richard Akinjide( former Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice); Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, first female Speaker OYHA and first female Senator from the state; Oloye Jumoke Akinjide (former Minister of state for FCT); Chief Lai Balogun; Chief Harry Akande; Mr. Niyi Otunla, former Accountant General of the Federation; Prof James Adelabu, former Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja; Abass Akande Obesere, musician and late Dauda Akanmu Epo Akara.
Festivals
The state is dominated by the Yorubas who see their culture and tradition as their way of life and some of the festivals are:
Sango festival
NAIJ.com reliably learnt that Sango Festival is an annual festival held among the Yoruba people in honour of Sango, a thunder and fire deity who was a warlord and the third king of the Oyo Kingdom after succeeding Ajaka his elder brother. The festival is usually held in August at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo.
Oke Ibadan
Oke Ibadan is an ancient festival that is celebrated annually and it is popular among locals, crowds flock to take part in the festivities. The festival name translates to “hill of Ibadan” and the festival includes legends about the original site of Ibadan, which was located on a hill. Oke Ibadan festival includes fertility rites and honours the founder of Ibadan and the goddess of the hill.
New Yam Festival
The New Yam festival is celebrated annually in August and the festival symbolises the end of a season of work and the beginning of a new season. NAIJ.com can exclusively report that friends and family gather to feast on meals of yams and there are displays of cultural dances. At the beginning of the festival, yams are offered to the gods and ancestors to thank them for a good harvest and to ensure a good harvest the following season.
Tourist centres
Sightseers are welcome to Oyo State because the state is endowed with many tourist sites that will wet their appetite.
Zoological Garden, University of Ibadan
The Zoological Garden is one of the leading zoological gardens in Nigeria. It has a wide variety of wild animals such as gorilla, lion, chimpanzees, crocodiles, baboons, snakes, ostriches, emus, white storks, hooded vulture, mona monkeys, drill monkeys, horses, donkeys etc.
Botanical Garden, University of Ibadan
The garden houses various species of plants which are grown to give a serene environment and it is also used for picnics, retreats, relaxation and research purposes.
The National Museum of Unity, Dugbe
This is a museum which have sample of traditional musical instruments used by different tribes in Nigeria on display and within the vicinity of the museum are a garden and a kitchen restaurant. The car used by the last Premier of Western Region, Late Chief Ladoke Akintola is displayed in the museum.
Cocoa House, Ibadan
NAIJ.com gathered that the Cocoa House was built by the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo in the 60s and this building is the first skyscraper ever to be built in Africa and it was constructed from the proceeds of cocoa sold for export.
Agodi Gardens
The park is located at the centre of Ibadan city and spreads over 13 acres of land. It is a good example of multiple land use for forestry, entertainment and recreation. Its nursery, arboretum, park and Zoo blend into one another to make the garden unique.
Mapo Hall
According to Wikipedia, Mapo Hall is the colonial style city hall, perched on top of Mapo Hill, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and it was commissioned during the colonial era by Captain Ross in 1929. It remains a tourist site to behold in the state.
Development
From all fronts, Oyo state is developed and far ahead of some of the south western states in terms of infrastructure and Federal government presence.
The first university in Nigeria is the University of Ibadan established as a college of the University of London when it was founded in 1948, and later converted into an autonomous university in 1962.
The other universities in the state are: Lead City, Ibadan, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo and the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. The Polytechnic, Ibadan is located in Oyo State.
Other noteworthy institutions in the city include the University College Hospital; the first teaching hospital in Nigeria and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (lITA).
The state is home to NTA Ibadan, the first television station in Africa, and the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, a stadium with a capacity of 35,000.
Also, the state plays host to Oyo state College of Education, Oyo. There is a Polytechnic which is the Polytechnic of Ibadan with 2 satellite campuses at Eruwa and Saki.
There are also the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan; Federal College Education (Special), Oyo, the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo; Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Agricultural Institute for Research and Training (AIR&T), the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), the Federal School of Forestry and the Nigeria Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER), all in Ibadan.
Culture, oldest tortoise and ascension to Olubadan throne
The story of Oyo State will not be complete without mentioning the culture of the people of the state, the oldest tortoise at the palace of the soun of Ogbomosho and the ‘unsual’ ascension tradition to the Olubadan throne
The culture of the people of the state is the same because of all them are purely Yorubas and well rooted in the tradition of the Yoruba race.
In Oyo State, all its indigenes, dress in native attire and prostrate to greet the elders. Also, they eat Amala with various soups of their taste. But Ogbomosho, Ibadan and Oyo towns are reputed for Amala and Gberi (beans soup).
Oldest Tortoise
At the palace of Soun of Ogbomosho, there is a giant male tortoise called ‘Alagba’ because of its years of existence and It is believed to be 330-year-old. The legendary tortoise lumbers about in the palace and it is also believed to be older than any living indigene of the ancient town.
NAIJ.com also exclusively gathered that ‘Alagba’ was allegedly brought to the palace by Soun Ikumoyede Ajao, the third Soun of Ogbomoso, who is believed to have been born sometime in the late 16th century and who reigned in the 17th.
Olubadan ascension tradition
The name Olubadan means Lord of Ibadan or the owner of Ibadan and the town Ibadan is believed to be founded in the 16th century and it was gathered that the usual succession principle of Olubadan started in 1850 and still in force till date.
The succession principle in Ibadan is quite different from other Yorubaland where every prince has the right to aspire to ascend the throne of his forefathers. It usually takes decades to groom an Olubadan for the stool through stages of chieftaincy promotion, thus meaning that just about any male born title-holder of the metropolitan center is a potential king.
There are two ruling lines to the throne of Olubadan, Egbe Agba (civil) and Balogun (military), from where Olubadans are appointed on rotational basis to occupy the stool on the death of a monarch. The next to Olubadan and most senior on both lines are the Otun Olubadan and Balogun, who under the Western Nigeria Law are recognised as second class traditional rulers and who are included on the Nigerian equivalent of a civil list as a result.
Others are the Osi Olubadan, Asipa Olubadan, Ekerin and Ekarun, as well as Otun Balogun, Osi Balogun, Asipa Balogun, Ekerin and Ekarun Balogun, while the Seriki and Iyalode, (“mother of the town”, female chief) are also members of the Olubadan’s privy council.
The 11 high chiefs that formed the Olubadan-in-council, apart from the Seriki and Iyalode, are recognised as the traditional head of each of the 11 LGs in Ibadanland.
The present governor of Oyo state is Senator Abiola Ajimobi, he has been in office since May 2011.
