Ogbomosho

Ogbomosho (also Ogbomoso and Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́) is a city in Oyo State, south-western Nigeria. It was founded in the mid 17th century. The population was approximately 655,517 in 2024. It is the second largest city in Oyo State and also among the most populated in Nigeria. It is the 3rd most populated city in South Western Nigeria after Lagos and Ibadan. Although the principal inhabitants of the city are the Yoruba people, there are people from other parts of Nigeria and other West African countries who are residents in the city.

History
Ọlábánjọ Ògúnlọlá Ògúndìran was of Ibariba descent. He and his wife, Esuu, built their hut by the side of the Àjàgbọn tree.

According to an early missionary, "Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ in 1891 was a walled city, the gates of which were closely watched by day and securely closed by night. The town, picturesque and well watered was isolated from the rest of the Yoruba towns. Political relations were maintained with the Ibadans, for the country depended on its security on the warriors of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ and Ikirun...The strength of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ lay in the wall and moat surrounding the town, and the warriors made full use of it by sitting close and tight.."

The area that is called Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ today is between Igbọ́n and Ìrẹṣà—Arẹṣà to the west; Oníkòyí to the East; Olúgbọ́n to the north; and Tìmì of Ẹdẹ to its south direction—according to Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ History and Origin Documentary by Israel Ayanwuyi.

Ògúnlọlá (later Ṣọ̀ún) noticed smoke oozing from some nearby locations. He took courage and approached these places and discovered other hunters. There is no more Baálẹ̀ Akandíẹ̀.

Ogunlola, after the discovery of these hunters, took the initiative to invite them to form the Alongo Society. The primary objectives of the society were: defence against Sunmoni (slave prowlers) raids group hunting of wild animals, and mutual assistance. After each day's hunting, they retired to Ogunlola's hut where they were treated to beans and other meals and were served with Sekete wine brewed by Ogunlola's wife from fermented guinea corn. They also engaged in discussing current affairs and planning.

Esuu, the wife of Ogunlola, introduced the worship of Orisapopo to Ogbomosho. The worshippers were distinguished by white beads worn round their necks and wearing of white dresses only. Drinking of palm wine was forbidden to them. The name Orisapopo was probably derived from the fact that Ogunlola's hut was on the northsouthern route, therefore the Orisala being worshipped in the hut was named "Orisapopo" (idol by the highway). The importance and influence of 'Orisapopo' among the citizens of Ogbomoso is immense. It can be described as the patron Òrìṣà of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́.

During the time, the Ibaribas, under the leadership of Elemoso, attacked Oyo-Ile near Ilorin city. Elemoso caused a devastating havoc among the Oyo people, so much that they feared him in battle. Elemoso consequently laid total siege on Oyo, causing famine and untold hardship among the people.

Alaafin was so impressed by Ogunlola's prowess that he, the Alaafin, requested Ogunlola to stay in the capital (Oyo-Ile) instead of returning to his settlement. Ogunlola politely declined saying "Ejeki a ma se ohun" meaning "let me manage the that place." His majesty, the Alaafin, granted Ogunlola's wish to return to his settlement. This was later contracted to Ogbomoso.

Eventually, the authority of Ogunlola became greater and more respected. His compound by the Ajagbon tree then became the Soun's palace and a rallying point for all Ogbomoso citizens.

Ogbomosho, because of her strategic location, quickly grew from a village status to a medium size town. Her people were also renown warriors. During the Fulani wars of the 19th century, many towns and villages (about 147) were deserted while their people took refuge in Ogbomosho. The influx of people further enhanced the size and strength of the town.

Alagba the sacred tortoise
Alagba is believed to have been born in the year 1675 in the old Oyo town, which is now being referred to as Ogbomoso. He was reputedly said to have been brought from the forest by the third Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ikumoyede who ruled from 1770 until 1797. In deference to its age, it is called Alagba, which means "the elderly one" in Yoruba. In Ogbomoso, where the legendary tortoise lumbers about in the palatial grounds of the king, it is almost a sacrilege to refer to Alagba as a mere tortoise. The tortoise played host to many monarchs in Ogbomoso in the past.

The sacred tortoise, which was believed to be the oldest in Africa, was sick for a few days before her demise on 5 October 2019.

The palace household, Ogbomoso community and stakeholders in the tourism sector are reportedly mourning Alagba's passage because of the great impact left behind. Plans are underway to preserve Alagba's body for historical records. ( by Timothy copy )

List of Monarchs
The founder of Ogbomoso, Soun Olabanjo Ogunlola Ogundiran, was the first Soun of Ogbomoso. He had 5 sons, Lakale, Kekere, Esuo, Eiye and Jogioro. He was later succeeded by his youngest son, Erinbaba Alamu Jogioro, who was the second Soun. The five royal houses of Ogbomoso are descended from the five sons of Soun Ikomeyede, the third Soun of Ogbomoso (and son of Jogioro), Toyeje, Oluwusi, Baiyewu, Bolanta Adigun, and Ogunlabi Odunaro. The title of Soun was originally a Baale (minor chief) as Ogbomoso was a small village within the realm of the Oyo Empire. In 1952, the title was changed to Soun and they became recognized as a monarch.


 * Soun Olabanjo Ogunlola Ogundiran (c. 1659)
 * Soun Erinsaba Alamu Jogioro (son of Ogunlola) (c. 1741)
 * Soun Ikumoyede Ajo (son of Jogioro) (c. 1770)
 * Ologolo (a son of Jogioro) and Olukan (grandson of Lakale and great-grandson of Ogunlola) ruled during this period but were deposed by the Alaafin of Oyo
 * Soun Toyeje Akanni Alebiosu, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Oyo (son of Ikumoyede) (c. 1800)
 * Soun Oluwusi Aremu (son of Ikumoyede) (c. 1826)
 * Soun Jayeola Bayewu Kelebe "Are Arolofin Alao" (son of Ikumoyede) (c. 1840)
 * Soun Idowu Bolanta Adigun (son of Ikumoyede) (c. 1842)
 * Soun Ogunlabi Odunaro (son of Ikumoyede) (c. 1845)
 * Soun Ojo Olanipa "Aburumaku," the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Oyo (son of Toyeje) (c. 1860 - September 1869)
 * Soun Gbagungboye Ajamasa Ajagungbade I (son of Oluwusi) (1869 - c. 1871)
 * Soun Laoye Atanda Orumogege (son of Bayewu) (c. 1871)
 * Soun Majengbasan Elepo I (son of Bolanta) (1901 - 1907)
 * Soun Adegoke Atanda Olayode I (son of Odunaro) (1908 - 1914; deposed by the Colonial Government)
 * Soun Itabiyi Olanrewaju Ande (son of Aburumaku, grandson of Toyeje) (1914 - 1916)
 * Soun Bello Afolabi Oyewumi Ajagungbade II (son of Ajagungbade I, grandson of Oluwusi) (1916 - February 18, 1940)
 * Soun Amao Oyetunde (son of Oyekola (never appointed), grandson of Laoye, and great-grandson of Bayewu) (1940 - June 12, 1944; deposed by the Colonial government, removed from some monarch lists); he was succeeded by his uncle
 * Soun Lawani Oke Lanipekun (son of Laoye, grandson of Bayewu) (October 16, 1944 - March 19, 1952)
 * Oba Olatunji Alao Elepo II (son of Elepo I, grandson of Bolanta) (1952 - 1966)
 * Oba Emmanuel Olajide Olayode II (son of Olayode I, grandson of Odunaro) (July 22, 1966 - July 1, 1969; killed during the Agbekoya revolt)
 * Oba Salami Ajiboye Itabiyi II (son of Itabiyi, grandson of Aburumaku, great-grandson of Toyeje) (June 4, 1972 - June 2, 1973)
 * Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi Ajagbungbade III (son of Ajagungbade II, grandson of Ajagungbade I, great-grandson of Oluwusi) (October 24, 1973 - December 12, 2021) HM Jimoh Oyewunmi Ajagbungbade III of the Oluwusi Royal House was the longest reigning Soun in modern history, and died on December 12, 2021, at the age of 95
 * Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III (Olaoye is the paternal great-grandson of Soun Laoye Atanda Orumogege through his son Emmanuel Oladayo Olaoye, who was a brother of Soun Lawani Oke Lanipekun) (September 8, 2023 -)

As at Saturday, 02 of September, 2023, a new Soun-Elect, in the person of Prince Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye was announced by the Oyo State Government. Olaoye is the current reigning monarch of Ogbomosho.

Traditional council
The traditional council in Ogbomosho comprises seven esteemed leaders, with diverse perspectives represented and they are headed by the Areago.

The council include:

Areago, Jagun, Bara, Ikolaba, Abese, Balogun and Iyalode.

Education
Ogbomosho has four degree-awarding institutions of higher learning. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) is named for the Ogbomosho son and Premier of the old Western Nigeria, Samuel Ladoke Akintola (SLA). LAUTECH is ranked at the top of the later generation universities in Nigeria. It awards degrees in science, engineering, technology and medicine. This university has a teaching hospital named Lautech Teaching Hospital.

The Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS), one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Nigeria and the first to offers degree programs in theology, sociology and philosophy in Nigeria. The Seminary serves the Baptist Church in Nigeria, The Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), which also has its headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Bowen University Teaching Hospital Ogbomoso- (BUTH) A Christian Teaching hospital training of doctors and other medical professionals. Originally established in March 1907 as a missionary medical facility and through the years developing into the Baptist Medical Centre and later transformed to a Teaching Hospital in 2009. BUTH now boasts of over 400 Bed Capacity, over 800 Staff and Students, Multidisciplinary Facility, Family Medicine Residency Programme, Nursing and Midwifery Courses, 50,000 Outpatients and 10,000 Inpatients, fully Accredited Training Programmes which includes; B.Sc. Anatomy, B.Sc. Physiology and MB/BS.

The Federal Government of Nigeria recently approved the establishment of Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, a satellite town of Ogbomosho. Learning and research activities will soon commence in this institution.

The federal government-owned Federal Government College, Ogbomosho and Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Ogbomosho are located in the city. There are numerous private secondary schools all over the city, some of which are Pine Valley High School, Victory Model College, Faith Academy, VISTO Group of Schools, Smith International Baptist Academy, Gomal Baptist College, George Green Baptist College, Zoe Schools, Maryland Catholic High School, Lautech International College, Royal International College, Zion Christian Academy, and Command Secondary School, Gambari.

Economy
Ogbomosho has about 257 surrounding villages and emerging towns which amalgamated to the rulership of Soun. The major economy in the land is Agriculture: Cashew plantations are widely distributed across the land, In addition, Mango plantations are widely distributed too. Ogbomosho is one time the largest planter of cassava across the globe. The people of the land also engage in trading, and rearing of domestic animals like goats and sheep. Also, a very prominent veterinary hospital exists in Ogbomosho for the vaccination of livestock. The people are widely traveled.

Other industries include trading, banking, small-scale manufacturing, and construction. There are three radio stations namely Brave FM, Parrot FM, and Ajilete FM, and a television station, NTA Ogbomosho.

Inadequate government investment in infrastructural facilities and policy guidance for local initiatives have undermined the economic growth and development of the town. The location of the town on terrain unattractive to manufacturers and investors, with the road network being poor.

Cityscape
Ogbomosho is connected by roads from major cities such as Ilorin, Osogbo, and Ibadan. One of the prominent landmarks is the central mosque at Oja-Igbo, which towers over the traditional walled compounds of private houses and the parts of the old wall that remain.

Other prominent landmarks are Ogbomosho Recreation Club, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lautech's College of Health Sciences, Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Lautech Teaching Hospital, Heroes Arcade and Soun Stadium.

Ogbomosho has other mosques, several churches, estates, and business complexes littered all over the city. Ogbomosho Recreation Club has meeting halls, an indoor sports hall and a golf course. The headquarters of the American Baptist Church of Nigeria and its theological seminary are located in the city. The closest airport to Ogbomosho is Ilorin Airport which is approximately 52 kilometers away.

Religion
In Ogbomosho, faith takes many forms, with Christians, muslims, and traditionalists living side by side. The city's streets echo with the hymns and call to prayer, a testament to the deep respect and understanding that bind these communities together. This peaceful coexistence is a source of pride for all who call Ogbomoso home.

Notable people

 * Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, a lawyer, politician, aristocrat and former Premier of the old western region. He was murdered during the Nigeria first coup of January 1966.
 * Maj. Gen. Oladayo Popoola OFR. Former Military Governor, Oyo State . Former Military Governor, Ogun State . Chairman/CPO, Daybis Ltd.
 * Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, Former executive governor of Oyo State.
 * Col. Ibrahim Taiwo, former military governor of Kwara State
 * Brig. Benjamin Adesanya Maja Adekunle (a Nigerian Army Brigadier and Civil War commander) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Adekunle)
 * Ogundare Foyanmu (a notable Yoruba Poet and Ijala Singer in Nigeria) (https://nationalinsightnews.com/eight-years-after-ogundare-foyanmu-the-unsung-hero/)
 * Dayo Okeniyi, Hollywood Actor
 * Alexander Abolore, Nigerian Artiste
 * Lt. Col. Shittu Alao, former Air Force's Chief of the Air Staff.