Iwo is a city in Osun State, Nigeria that is the seat of the Iwo Kingdom, a traditional state. The Iwo people, like all other people of Yoruba stock are said to have belonged to Ile-Ife from where they migrated sometimes in the 14th century. The earliest settlement initiated by Adekola Telu a prince from Ife. Adekola Telu was the son of the 16th Ooni of Ife a female called Luwo Gbagida. The town formerly part of Oyo state was later separated and became one of the major townships in Osun State, Nigeria.
It has an area of 245 km² and a population of 191,348 (central city/Local Government) most populous Local Government in Osun State by the 2006 Nigeria National census figures. The other local governments in Iwo Kingdom, from satellite towns are Aiyedire Local Government, 265.783 km² area and 76,309 by population, as well as Ola-Oluwa Local Government, 332.117 km² area and 76,227 by population. The Headquarters of the Local Governments are Iwo (Central), Iwo; Aiyedire, Ile Ogbo (or Ile Ogo); and Ola-Oluwa, Bode-Osi. The postal code of the area is 232.[1]
People
The people are primarily of Yoruba descent, and were of African Traditional Religion until Islamic missionaries came and converted many to Islam. The Christian missionaries soon followed and with evangelism, both direct and through established secular schools converted many to Christianity. Iwo people are, presently, mixture of the three religions, with a higher population of Muslims than Christians, and still fewer traditionalists, every one living happily and harmoniously with one another, and usually joining the other in celebration of major religious festivities as every extended family has members in each religion. The immediate former King, Oluwo, Oba Abimbola was originally a Christian, and Oba Ashiru Tadese{late}, originally a Muslim, but each a father to all. Immigrants of different tribes employed in different trades also live amicably with one another, and the locals. The towns primary economic activity is agriculture with the primary crops being cocoa, yams, corn, cassava, and palm oil, however textiles are an important economic activity as well. [2]
Education
Iwo is well noted for Arabic/Islamic education. There are several Arabic schools (Modrassah)in the town and many Iwo indigenes usually have a taste of this along with the secular schools. The popular Modrassah include Islahudeen Arabic School, Obatedo, founded by late Sheikh Abdulbaaqi Muhammad in the early 60s.Amin Trining Center, Araromi is another prominent school established by late Sheikh Badrudeen Al-Amin in the 50s and Ta'awun Arabic School precently
The source of orthodox Education in Iwo was, initially, primarily Christian Missionary based. This were mostly Baptists as each Baptist Church branch in the central city established a primary school of own correspondingly named after the branch: Aipate Baptist Day School, Olukotu Baptist Day School, Feesu Baptist Day School, Oke-Odo Baptist Day School. The Baptists also established a secondary school, Baptist High school, Iwo, the only institution in Iwo awarding Advanced Level of West African School Certificate in addition to the Ordinary Level certificate. There was also a Baptist Modern school (now obsolete in Nigeria educational system) which now metamorphosed to Baptist Grammar school - awarding ordinary level certificates like other secondary schools. These in addition to the old Baptist Teacher Training College, one of the oldest of such in Africa and main source of teachers to Nigerian and other African countries. The College is now the site of Bowen University, the secular Baptist University, and the only University in Iwo environs. The Baptists were followed by the Methodist who had a Methodist Primary School in the central city, as well a Modern school, now United Methodist High School. The Catholics had a Modern School, now Catholic Grammar School, and a Female Secondary School, St. Mary High School which is now co-educational. The government later joined the Christian missionaries in establishing many primary schools, a Modern School, Local authority Modern School, now Local Authority Commercial Grammar School, a Teacher Training College, LATCO, later changed in 1964 to Iwo Grammar School. Muslim missionaries also joined the efforts later in establishing Ansar-U-deen Primary School, Ansar-U-Deen Modern School which is now Ansa-U-deen Grammar School, and Anwar-ul-Islam Grammar School. Among the major secondary schools are the Iwo Grammar School, the United Methodist High School, the Baptist High School, St. Mary's High School, the L.A. Commercial Grammar School, Islahudeen Grammar School and the Anwar-ul-Islam Grammar School as well as several others. There are many primary schools in the satellite towns established by the former Western Regional Government as well as many secondary schools in satellite towns established during the period of Chief Bola Ige as the governor of the old Oyo state. Higher Institutions: BOWEN University and Wolex Polytechnic
Baptist Teachers' Training College was located at Oke Odo in Iwo, but this facility is now used as the campus of Bowen University. Another institution in Iwo is Shariah College of Nigeria, which used to be in Ibadan before it was relocated to its permanent site at Oke-Afo, Iwo, Notable people in this town include Salinsiles, Aremus, and The Bobakeye Of Ola land Chief Yomi Ogunsola and Chief (Mrs) Yemi Ogunsola - Yeye Bobakeye of Ola land, Chief Adebayo Aremu (SAN) Otunba Of Iwoland, Chief Ogundokun, Alh Moshood Adeoti, Alh. Fatai Akinbade,Prince A Adio, Alh. Liadi Tella, Alh Sulaiman Bello, High Chief Kunle Alabi, Barrister Gbadegeshin (SAN), Chief Oloya, The IWILADE family, The Fajinmi's family, Prince Kola Akanbi. Chief Ogunmola of legendary Africa memory and fame was from Ile-Alawe in Feesu region of the central city. This quarter, the Alawes as well as another, the Jagun-Ode quarter, sharing boundary with Feesu, donated land to the first locals established secondary school, Iwo Grammar School. Among the major private secondary schools are Islamic Model College, Muslim International School, Agbaje Memorial Comprehensive College, Aipate Baptist School, Vico-Hope Comprehensive College, A-1 Grammar School, Crowey Schools, Regina Mundi Girls Secondary School, etc.
The list of Oluwo of Iwo
- Oba Adekola Telu
- Oba Adeyemi
- Oba Oganfenumodi
- Oba Ogunlaoye
- Oba Arole Olumade Parin
- Oba Olayilumi I
- Oba Oluogba
- Oba Eboade Olayilumi II
- Oba Adegunodo
- Oba Olufate Gbase
- Oba Alawusa
- Oba Ogunmakinde Ande 1641- 1766
- Oba Muhammadu Ayinla Lamuye 1766-1906
- Oba Sunmonu Osunwo 1906-1909
- Oba Sanni Abimbola I 1909-1929
- Oba Seidu Adubiaran 1929-1930
- Oba Shitu 1930
- Oba Amida Abanikanda 1930-1939
- Oba Kosiru Ayinde 1939-1952
- Oba Rufai Adegoroye 1953-1957
- Oba Samuel Omotoso Abimbola 1958- 1982
- Oba Asiru Olatunbosun Tadese 1992 to 2012.
Oriki Iwo – Eulogy to the people of Iwo
Iwo olodo oba, omo ateni gbola, teni gbore nile odidere
Omo oba to lu gberin afiporo je omo to lu gberin gberin
Iwo ti ko nilekun beni koni kokoro, Eru wewe ni won fi n dele
Eru ko gbodo je m’ogberin, Iwofa ko gbodo je mogbede
Omo bibi inun won ni je m’oderin
Bi wo kola biwo kolowo lowo, eru ti n se mi ni rami ta mi to mi ni temi o jare
Iwo lomo Olola ti n san keke, Iwo lomo oloola ti n bu abaja
Agbere ni wa won ki gbowo Ila lowo awa
Eyin lomo ara eru ke omo, omo ara eru bere eni
Omo araya le ki omo tode. Iwo ilu Alfa
Iwo todidere pepepe tenure te k’oroyin.
Edumare Bawa Da Ilu Iwo Si
Amin, Ase
IWO ANTHEM
- Iwo Olodo Oba
Nile Odidere o
Okan sa ni wa e gba o
Ire Iwo lan fe o/2x - Ewa omo iwo o
Ewa ara ore wa
Eje ka gbe ‘wo goke o
Ire Iwo lanfe o/2x - Nile ni lokolodo
Gbogbo aye e wa o
Eba wa gbe’wo goke o
Ire Iwo lan fe o/2x.
References
1."Post Offices- with map of LGA". NIPOST. Retrieved 2009-10-20
2."Encyclopædia Britannica Online Edition". Retrieved 2007-04-06.
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