Country Nigeria Time zone WAT (UTC+1) | State Ogun State 3-digit postal code prefix 120 | |
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Founded by Oba Ojigi Amoyegeso Awujale-1710-1730 | ||
Itele, or Ijebu-Itele, is a town in the Ogun state of Nigeria, about 286 miles (460 km) from Abuja, the country's capital. The community is part of Ijebu-East LGA. It is considered a traditional state because it is headed by a king (Oba) with the royal title of Moyegeso, a part II Oba as stated in the official gazette in 1990 of the Ogun State Government. The incumbent is Oba Mufutau Adesanya Kasali Iboriaran I.
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People
The town produced one of the foremost Chartered Accountants in Nigeria, a former President of ICAN Otunba Adedoyin Olaide Ogunde, who also was a Partner at " KPMG Peat Marwick Ani Ogunde &co.". A former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaji Chief. Rafiu Ogunleye hailed from Agbodu quarters of Itele. Late educationist, Prof. Samuel O. Onakomaiya, a former deputy vice chancellor at former Ogun State University, now Olabisi Onabanjo University was from Itele. In the diaspora, Mrs Opeoluwa Solanke-Ogunbiyi (Nee Obisanya), popular known in the United Kingdom in the 1940s and 50s as Mama WASU is from the town. Also, Ijebu-Itele is the hometown to the popular rap artist Olamide Baddo, he has referred to the town in some of his songs as his father's hometown. Itele people are known to be industrious just like the rest of the Ijebus. Activities in the town varies from farming, fishing to trade. A typical Ijebu man from Itele is expected to own a piece of land for farming. The women also are into trade.
Education
The source of orthodox Education in Itele was primarily Christian Missionary based. The first set of schools were set up by the Anglican and Catholic missions, respectively. Initially, St. John's Anglican Primary School was established by the Anglican mission early in 1898, and St. Francis School was established afterwards. The town has actually evolved in terms of educational institutions as it can now boast of many of them, even now a university. First of its kind in Ogun East Senatorial District. Apart from Itele High School, established in 1978, which is a community school administered by the state government. There is also Louisville Girls High School, which was founded in the late 1990s. However, On March 15, 2015, the Federal Executive Council chaired by the then Vice-President of Nigerian Namadi Sambo of the Federal Government of Nigeria approved the establishment of Hallmark University, Ijebu-Itele.
Culture
The people of Itele are just like the rest of the Ijebus. In fact, Itele is believed to be an important part of the Ijebu Kingdom. History has it that when Obanta arrived Ijebuland from Ile-Ife. He paused in Itele for a while before proceeding to Ijebu-Ode. It was in Itele that he lost his mother, Gborowo near the Osun River in Itele. The river is known today as Osun Gborowo in honour of the mother of Obanta. That is why Awujale usually sends a cow to Itele every year for sacrifice in remembrance of Gborowo. There is a time of the year, in the month of November, to be precise when the sons and daughters of the town gather to celebrate Itele Day. Other festivals celebrated in the town are: Jigbo festival, Agbo masquerade etc.
Structure
The following are the quarters and villages in Itele:
Source: Prince Adegboyega A. Ogunde