Oyo State

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Ọyọ State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria, with its capital at Ibadan. It is bounded 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.

It was formed in 1976 from the former Western State, and originally included Ọsun State, which was split off in 1991. Ọyọ State is homogenous, mainly inhabited by the Yoruba ethnic group who are primarily agrarian but have a predilection for living in high density urban centers. The indigenes mainly comprise the Oyos, the Ibadans and the Ibarapas, all belonging to the Yoruba family and speaking the same Yoruba language. Other people from within and outside the country trade and settle in the state mostly in the urban areas. The capital, Ibadan is reputed to be the largest indigenous city in Africa, south of the Sahara. Ibadan had been the centre of administration of the old Western Region, Nigeria since the days of the British colonial rule. Other notable cities and towns in Ọyọ State include Ọyọ, Ogbomọsọ, Isẹyin, Kiṣi, Okeho, Saki, Eruwa, Lanlate, Awe, and Igbo Ọra. The climate in the state favours the cultivation of crops like maize, yam, cassava, millet, rice, plantain, cacao tree, palm tree and cashew. There are a number of government farm settlements in Ipapo, Ilora, Eruwa, Ogbomosho, Iresaadu, Ijaiye, Akufo and Lalupon. There is abundance of clay, kaolin and aquamarine. There are also vast cattle ranches at Saki, Fasola, Moniya and Ibadan.

The first university to be set up in Nigeria was 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). It has the distinction of being one of the premier educational institutions in West Africa. The other Universities in the state are; Lead City University, Ibadan, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo and the Ladoke Akintọla University of Technology, Ogbomọsọ. The Polytechnic, Ibadanis one of the best polytechnics in Nigeria, and there are also 324 secondary schools as well as 1,576 public primary schools in the state. Other noteworthy institutions in the city include the University College Hospital; the first teaching hospital in Nigeria and the internationally acclaimed International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (lTTA). Another prominent landmark in Oyo State is Cocoa House, the first skyscraper built in Africa. The state is also home to NTA Ibadan, the first television station in Africa and Liberty Stadium, Ibadan the first stadium built in Africa. Other major tourist attractions located in the state include: Agodi Botanical Garden, Ado-Awaye Suspended lake, Mapo Hall, University of lbadan Zoological Garden, Ido Cenotaph, Trans-Wonderland Amusement Park, Oke-Ogun National Park, Bowers Tower and the Cultural Centre, Mokola.

The state consists of thirty three Local Governments: (see also Nigerian LGAs)