Ijebu-Igbo 二级行政中心

Ijebu Igbo (Yoruba: Ìjẹ̀bú-Igbó) is a town in Ogun State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. It is approximately a 15-minute drive north of Ijebu Ode.

History

The name Ijebu-Igbo (Ijebu + forest) refers to the forested nature of this region within the larger Ijebu area. Ijebu-Igbo comprises five distinct towns: Okesopin, Ojowo, Atikori, Oke-Agbo, and Japara. According to oral tradition, the founder of Ijebu-Igbo was a skilled hunter who frequently hunted in the northern part of Odo-Oluiwa; an area near present day Ijebu Ode, where he was originally a prince. Following the sudden death of his father and the controversial accession of his younger brother, Ofiranoye, to the throne while he was away hunting, the prince identified as Onayelu; chose not to return to Ijebu Ode. Instead, he settled permanently in the area where he had been hunting, which is now known as Ijebu-Igbo.

The Ijebu Igbo forest reserve, known as the Omo forest reserve, is one of the twelve largest forest reserves in Nigeria.

Ijebu Igbo Forest Reserve

Queen Elizabeth forest reserve

J1 forest reserve

J2 forest reserve

J3 forest reserve

J4 forest reserve

Apoje forest reserve and many more.

People

The town's primary economic activities are timber, cocoa, and exploitation of mineral resources and it is home to many sawmills and also a developed quarry.

Like all other Ijebus, the people of Ijebu Igbo are very enterprising, industrious, religious and accommodating. Their entrepreneurial footprints can be seen in businesses and sectors like agriculture, sawmilling, food, and agro-processing, oil palm produce, real estate, education, hospitality, banking, oil and gas, media, fashion, and technology among others. They speak the Ijebu dialect, which is a dialect of the Yoruba language.

Classification

Ijebu Igbo is divided into five clans; Oke-Sopin, Oke-Agbo, Ojowo, Atikori, and Japara.

An Oba (king) is enthroned to govern each of these clans. These Obas are classified as "second-class" and they all submit to the headship of the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo. The Orimolusi is a first-class Oba and he is the supreme head of Ijebu-Igbo.

Traditional Rulers in Ijebu-Igbo and its Environment

The Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo

The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye

The Limeri of Awa

The Alaporu of Ilaporu

The Oloru of Oru-Ijebu

The Sopenlukale of Oke Sopin

The Bejeroku of Oke-Agbo

The Olokine of Ojowo

The Keegbo of Atikori

The Abija Parako of Japara

The Lowa of Asigidi.

Government

The Orimolusi is the traditional ruler of Ijebu-Igbo land and a first-class Oba within the Ogun State traditional system.

The traditional authority of the Orimolusi is associated with multiple communities within the Ijebu-Igbo area and surrounding settlements in Ogun State.

Local Community Development Areas

The local governments and LCDA are all under the authority of the Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo( Oloja Igbo).

The last Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo was late Oba Samuel Adetayo Onasanya (Ikupakude IV), who died in 1994.

Ijebu East Ogbere

Ijebu East Central Ojowo

Ijebu North Ijebu Igbo

Ijebu North Central Oru

Ijebu Igbo West Ojowo

Ago Iwoye Ibipe

Ijebu North East Atan

Yemoji Ilese

Geography

Ijebu Igbo is the second largest town in Ogun State and the largest among Ijebus in terms of land mass, there are arable land for farming.

Also there are hundreds of villages and hamlets under Ijebu Igbo. The town is bordered by Ibadan, Ikire, and Ondo.

High Schools and Colleges

Ijebu Igbo boasts of many secondary schools, amongst which are two of the foremost secondary schools in Nigeria, Molusi College & Abusi Edumare Academy, founded on January 28, 1949 and January 1971 respectively.

Ijebu Igbo is also home to some higher institutions such as Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic (AAPOLY), established in 2004 and owned by Ogun State government, and Nigeria Prison Service Academy, a first of its kind institution in sub-Saharan Africa.

Notable People from Ijebu Igbo

Mike Adenuga (born 1953), businessman

Abraham Adesanya (1922–2008), politician and lawyer

Olabiyi Durojaiye (1933–2021), politician

Buruji Kashamu (1958–2020), politician