User:Yemmysadiq/Esa-Oke

Geography:

Esa-Oke, situated on geographical Coordinates: 7° 46' 0" North, 4° 54' 0" East, is a town located at the Obokun Local Government Area of the Ijesa North Federal Constituency of Osun State, South-West of Nigeria. It is a native Ijesa(Ijesha)community and shares boundaries with other towns namely: Oke-Imesi, Imesi-Ile, Ijebu-Ijesa, Esa-Odo, Efon-Alaaye(Ektiti State).

Occupation:

The people of Esa-Oke were predominantly farmers who specialised in growing food crops such as Yam, Cassava, Maize, Rice and so on as well as Cash crops such as Cocoa, Kolanut and so on. However, the thrust of commerce is central to their activities and they participate in trading activities mostly across the Western and the Northern part of Nigeria. As generally known of the Ijesas, Esa-Oke people are a very disciplined and Godly ones known for their hardworking nature, entrepreneurial and commercial exploits. This explains the 'Osomalo', a renowned Yoruba commercial title credited to these traditional Financial Engineers who take calculated risks in any monetary or commercial transactions they engage in.

Traditional Institution:

The town has at the head of its traditional governance structure, a kingship that goes with the title of the 'Owamiran of Esa-Oke'. The Ijesa North traditional Council of the Osun state Council of Obas is the umbrella body that oversees its affairs. The incumbent king(Oba)being Adeyemi Adediran - the Atipa Owaji II, who came on the throne in the year 2006. There are four broad divisional heads reporting to the king representing : Oke-Esa, Erinjiyan, Idofin and Odo-Ese, each with a divisional chieftaincy title of: Asaba, Enurin, Odobaja and Asalu respectively. Previous traditional rulers in the order of their currency are hereby listed:

1. Isiah Adeniran - Afinbiokin II - 1948 to 2006

Politics:

The town belongs to the Obokun/Oriade Federal Contituency of Osun State. It commands special respect in the politics of Osun State as a whole due to its strategic positioning. The assasinated Attorney General of the Federation and former governor of the old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige and other notable figures such as Chief Adeyemi-Bero, the first civil servant in Lagos State, are notable citizens of the town. It also boasts of businessmen, past and present Senators and Honourables who are either presently representing or have represented the political constituency to which it belongs. Listed below are just a few:

1. Professor Dapo Adelugba - Theatre and literary icon

2. Engineer Abiola Oni - Former Chairman - Oodua Group of Companies

3. Chief Dele Ige - industrialist and former Chairman - Oodua Group of Companies

4. Chief Dosu Fatokun - Politician and former President, Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers(NIESV)

5. Busayo Oluwole Oke - Businessman and Politician(Federal House of Representatives)

6. Otunba Akin Adaramola - Former MD, Aso Savings and Loans

Education / Social Infrastructure:

The town is the host community to the Osun State College of Technology(OSCOTECH), a tertiary institution of Polytechnic/University status, known nationwide for its technological niche. There are 2 public Secondary schools namely: Esa-Oke Grammar School and Saint Joseph's Catholic High School. On the list also are 8 public primary schools. However, the town has in recent times, year 2000 to date, witnessed the establishment of some private secondary and primary schools. Esa-Oke is very accessible with good road network that connects to neighbouring towns and states, especially the Osun state capital(Osogbo) in just about one and a half hours.

Tourism and Investment Opportunity:

There exists investment opportunities in Agriculture, Culture and Tourism. The mystery 'Ayo Olopon', for those that have seen it, remains mystified till date. Indeed,the economy of the town is in its infancy calling for interested investors.