Country Nigeria Population 125,645 (1991) University Bowen University Area 245 km2 | State Osun State | |
Iwo is a town 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 old Oyo state was later separated and became one of the major townships in Osun State, Nigeria.
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Map of Iwo, 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.
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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 Ogundapo II was originally a Christian, but the then, Oba Ashiru Tadese a muslim and a teacher were in their individual rights fathers to all in the ancient town.
Immigrants of different tribes who are employed / and engaged in different trades also live amicably with one another with 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 Lateef Olasunkanmi Ogundapo, A Journalist and Politician in the Southern Region, The Lamuye family, Prince Alade Lamuye, OON - Nigerias 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 Aremu Family, Chief Adebayo Aremu, a foremost lawyer and the Otunba Of Iwoland, Alh Kazeem Ademola Adio, Alh Moshood Adeoti, Alh. Fatai Akinbade, Adisa Kabiru Adeniyi Kulukulu - a chartered Accountant, President General of Guildance Community Development Foundation and Consultant, Prince Rasheed Adewale Akanbi - a Defence Contractor/Canadian Industrialist ( Son Of Late Prince Kola Akanbi). Alh. Liadi Tella, Barrister Gbadegeshin Adedeji, Chief Olumoye Ajao the Ekerin of Iwo Land (between 1979 and 2009).
The Fajinmi family starting with the father - Honourable Samuel Ogundijo Fajinmi, who rose to the highest political position in Iwo when he went to the house of Representatives. His first daughter, Mrs. Funmilayo Jabaru was the Secretary to the former Governor of Lagos State- Mobolaji Johnson. She was also the Executive Secretary - Lagos State Scholarship Establishment before moving to the Federal Government where she was made the Executive Secretary of the Federal Housing Authority Board. One of his sons Senator Sunday O. Fajinmi is today the highest Political Office Holder in Iwo today. Senator S. O. Fajinmi was trained in the UK - Teesside University. He started work with Radio Shark in the USA. He came back to serve his NYSC with Nigeria Airways. He worked thereafter with International Computers Limited, from where He established his own Business - Sofaj Group Enterprises with Senil Computers Nigeria Limited and Senil Power Protection Systems Limited were very prominent as the market leaders of their Market Sectors. He established the first Community Bank in Iwo, which he followed in quick succession with IDESE MICOFINANCE BANK LTD, which is still in existence today. He went into politics and was elected first as the Chairman of the youth wing of a former prominent Party. In 1998, he was elected a Senator under the UNCP and in 1999, he re-contested and was elected again into the Senate and sworn in as a Senator of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria. He is the National Publicity Secretary of the SENATORS FORUM a body of all Senators in Nigeria, a Director of Resort Savings & Loans PLC. and Chairman of his companies.
There are also many other notable families in Iwo Kingdom such as Oloba family they are one of the greatest family in Iwo kingdom that is why they own half of the land in the town and their family can be located at gbidigbo area along Aipate baptist church area.Then the reputable journalist, Editor and former National President of Property and Environmetal Writers Association of Nigerian (PEWAN), High Chief Kunle Alabi also hails from Iwo.
Chief Ogunmola, Hunter and Warrior of legendary Africa memory and fame was from Ile-Alawe in Feesu community of the central city. It is the Notable families of this indigenous community, especially the Alawes as well as another family - the Jagun-Ode compound , sharing boundaries with Feesu, that donated land to the first Local Authority established secondary school - Iwo Grammar School.
Education
The source of orthodox Education in Iwo was, initially, primarily Christian Missionary based. These were mostly Baptist as each Baptist Church branch in the central city established a primary school of its own with corresponding name 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 College, a Teacher Training College, and one of the oldest of such in Africa and main source of teachers to the Nigerian and other African countries Education system. The College is now the site of Bowen University, the secular Baptist University, and the only University in Iwo and environment. 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. Marys High School which is now a co-educational school.
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 Ansar-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. Marys High School, the L.A. Commercial Grammar School, Islahudeen Grammar School and the Anwar-ul-Islam Grammar School as well as several others. 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? ?Islamic youth center (morkaz shabaab) which was established by late Islamic scholar named Sheikh Ahmad Muhally Adedimeji Aroworeki, Islahudeen Arabic School, Obatedo, founded by late Sheikh Abdulbaaqi Muhammad in the early 60s.Amin Training Center, Araromi is another prominent school established by late Sheikh Badrudeen Al-Amin in the 50s.
There are many primary schools in the satellite towns established by the former Western Regional Government as well as many secondary schools in Iwo and its satellite towns which were established during the tenure of Chief Bola Ige as the governor of the old Oyo state.
Higher Institutions: BOWEN University and Wolex Polytechnic, Baptist Teachers Training College which 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.