Offa, Nigeria
Offa is a city in the Kwara State of Nigeria, with a population of about 120,100 inhabitants.[2] The town is noted for its weaving and dyeing trade, using vegetable dyes made from locally grown indigo and other plants.[3] Offa is well known for cultivation of sweet potatoes and maize which also formed part of the favourite staple foods of the indigenes in the town.[4][5] Cattle, goats and sheep are also raised in the environs. The main religions practised in the town are Islam, Christianity and traditional religions.
Offa Olalomi | |
|---|---|
City | |
Offa Location in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates: 8°9′N 4°43′E / 8.150°N 4.717°E | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| State | Kwara State |
| LGA(s) | Offa |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 88,975 [1] |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
The ancient tradition for which the town is known is wrestling.[6][7] Offa's rich history is comprehensively documented in a book written by James Bukoye Olafimihan an educationist and clergyman titled 'Iwe Itan Offa', literally translated The Book of the History of Offa.
Offa is on the railway line from Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria, and Offa served as the railway terminus before the line was extended north to Kano and Nguru. Offa is the second largest town in Kwara state, located in central Nigeria with geographic coordinates o itf 8’9N 4’43E.[8] Offa was founded towards the end of the 14th century by a Yoruba prince from Oyo. The traditional head is the Olofa, who is assisted by prominent knighted chiefs including Essa, Ojomu, Balogun, Shawo and Asalofa. The praise name of Offa is "Ijakadi loro Offa", a Yoruba phrase meaning "wrestling is our game".[7] The city's mascot is the peacock bird which is one of the most prominent exotic avian species in the region and also because the town is a beautiful place.[8] Offa has more recently become well known in Nigeria for being home to Adesoye College, one of the most prominent private schools in Nigeria. Offatedo in Osun state, Iyana Offa in Oyo State, Offa in Côte d'Ivoire were established by the people from Offa.
Offa is centrally located in the midst and middle of many neighboring towns like Erin Ile in the south, Ijagbo in the north, Igosun and Ipee in the east and Ilemona, Irra, Ikotun and Ojoku in the west.
There is a big market located within the city centre, known as " Owode market". The market which is the only major market in the Offa Local Government has existed for nearly 40 years. The market serve both the members of the community and its neighboring towns.[9]
Traditional institutions
The supreme traditional ruler (king) of the town is the Olofa who is assisted by five High Chiefs namely Asalofa, Essa, Ojomu, Sawo, and Balogun. There are two hundred and five thousand traditional households. Since the founding of the town in late 14th century, twenty four Kings, (Olofas) have ruled as follows:
List of Olofas in Order of Succession
1. Olalomi Olafagangan – the founder of Offa who came from Oyo through Ile-Ife (1392–1442)
2. Olutide – 1442 -1491
3. Olugesinde – 1491-1526
4. Oluwole – 1526-1567
5. Okunmolu – 1567-1624
6. Olusanle – 1624-1679
7. Olusanmi – 1679-1726
8. Olugbense – 1726-1786
9. Bamgbola Arojojoye – 1786-1800
10. Amodu Agaka – 1800-1803
11. Olumorin Anilelerin – 1803-1832
12. Alade Alebiosu – 1832-1844
13. Ariyibi Omolaoye – 1844-1850
14. Morounfolu Okunoye – 1850-1882
15. Adegboye Atoloyetele – 1882–1887, and 1901–1906
16. Arokan Otaogbaye – 1887-1901
17. Oyediran Ariwajoye I – 1906-1917
18. Adeyeye Arojojoye – 1917-1920
19. Abioye – 1921-1926
20. Esuwoye I – 1926-1936
21. Wuraola Isioye – 1936-1957
22. Mustapa Keji – 1957-1969
23. Mustapha Olanipekun Ariwajoye II – 1970–2010
24. Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II – 2010–present [10]
Educational institutions
Offa indigenes are well educated and the town has over one hundred professors in varied academic fields. There are several secondary schools,[11][12] three polytechnics, and a university. The first primary school, St. Mark's (Anglican) Primary School was established in 1912 by the Church Missionary Society,[13] and Offa Grammar School which is the first community secondary school in defunct Northern Nigeria was established in 1943.[14] The Kwara State College of Health Technology was also established earlier in 1976[15] The Federal Polytechnic,Offa was established in 1992.[16] Other tertiary institutions include the Navy School of Health Sciences, Pan Africa College of Education[17] Graceland Polytechnic,[18] Lens Polytechnic[19][20] and Summit University, Offa (the University of Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria). Summit University was established in 2015 and commenced academic activities in 2017.[21] In 2020, it obtained full accreditation from the National Universities Commission for all its academic Courses.[22]
Socio-cultural organizations
The umbrella socio-cultural organisation in Offa is Offa Descendants Union which was founded in Lagos, Nigeria by Offa indigenes on 13 October 1935.[23] All other socio-cultural groups in the town are affiliates of ODU. The union has branches in all states of Nigeria and abroad.[24][25] It has been involved in development efforts like the establishment of secondary schools, encouragement of investors, medical outreaches, supporting artisans, and other professional bodies.[26][27][28]
Cultural ceremonies
"Offa" means arrow in the Yoruba language, and the founder of the town was known as Olofagangan-the warrior with a sharp arrow. Offa is the cultural headquarters of the Ibolo[29] people, which was regarded as an integral part of the old Oyo Empire.[30] The Ibolos are also found in the present Osun State.[29][31] The major traditional ceremony is 'Onimoka', which is an annual event to celebrate the memory of Queen Moremi an Offa indigene who saved the Ile-Ife kingdom from invaders.[32] During the ceremony, wrestling contests are held in which the traditional Chiefs including the Olofa will engage in mock wrestling contests (Ijakadi).[32][33] According to the Olofa, during the eight editions of the festival in December 2019, the festival demonstrates Offa people's “love for equity, justice, and fairness as well as the resilience and unity of the community (the Sun news online).[32] Offa is also well known for the Owode market, the foremost market and pivot of economic activities not only for Offa and its environment but also for Kwara and neighbouring states.[34]
Bibliography
- Olafimihan, James Bukoye: Iwe Itan Offa (The Book of the History of Offa).
References
- ^ . population.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- ^ "Kwara (State, Nigeria) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ^ "Offa | Nigeria". Encyclopedia Britannica.
- ^ Fawole, O. P. (1 September 2007). "Constraints to Production, Processing and Marketing of Sweet-Potato in Selected Communities in Offa Local Government Area, Kwara State Nigeria". Journal of Human Ecology. 22 (1): 23–25. doi:10.1080/09709274.2007.11905994. ISSN 0970-9274. S2CID 9795960.
- ^ Ago, E.-Bassin #patato • 2 Years (12 December 2017). "Potato species; Potato In Nigeria". Steemit. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ^ Ahmad, Romoke W.; Ilorin (7 January 2018). "Ijakadi: Offa's big wrestling festival". Daily Trust. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ a b "PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ a b "History of Offa – ODUNA". Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ "Owode Market In Offa Razed | Channels Television". www.channelstv.com. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "Past Rulers of Offa".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Secondary School, Educational Institution in Offa L.G.A, kwara State | Nigeria Directory, A List of Nigerian Businesses, Organisations, Firms and Companies | Nigeria Yellow Pages". www.directory.org.ng. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Offa Town: How mutual seed births over 100 professors, professionals". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "Educational Institutions in Offa". offaindigenes. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Offa Grammar School". www.directory.org.ng. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Pan African College Of Heath Technology". www.finelib.com. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "FPO at a Glance | Federal Polytechnic Offa". www.fpo.edu.ng. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Welcome to Pan Africa". panafricoed.edu.ng. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Graceland Polytechnic Offa Admission Portal 2020/2021". Seviportal. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "LENS polytechnic Offa". www.lenspolytechnic.edu.ng. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "lens polytechnic offa - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "Summit University, Offa". 2015.
- ^ "List of Educational Institutes and Businesses in Offa Kwara State - Finelib.com". www.finelib.com. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Offa Descendants Union". Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Offa Descendants Union United Kingdom". www.oduuk.org.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Offa Descendants Union in North America Archives". FRCN. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Diasporan community commences free medical outreach in Kwara". FRCN. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Offa Descendants Union (ODU) News — NNN". NNN NEWS NIGERIA. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Offa Descendant Union United Kingdom news - latest breaking stories and top headlines". TODAY. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ a b Shillington, Kevin (4 July 2013). Encyclopedia of African History 3-Volume Set. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-45670-2.
- ^ "History of Offa – ODUNA". Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ Banwo, Adeyinka O.; Olafimihan, J. B. (2001). "The African Clergy and Historical Reconstruction: The Very Reverend J.B. Olafimihan's "Iwe Itan Ofa"". History in Africa. 28: 1–13. doi:10.2307/3172204. ISSN 0361-5413. JSTOR 3172204.
- ^ a b c "Glamour, colour as Offa brings back Ijakadi festival". The Sun Nigeria. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Ijakadi Celebrates Offa's Heritage". Vanguard News. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Home | Offa". offakingdom.com.ng. Retrieved 16 June 2020.