Offa, Nigeria

Coordinates: 8°08′49″N 4°43′12″E / 8.147°N 4.720°E / 8.147; 4.720
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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Offa, Kwara
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Offa
Olalomi
City
UTC+1 (WAT)
National languageYorùbá
Map

Offa is a city in

vegetable dyes made from locally grown indigo and other plants.[2] Offa is well known for the cultivation of sweet potatoes and maize which also formed part of the favourite staple foods for the indigenes in the town.[3][4] Cattle, goats and sheep are also raised there. The main religions practiced in the town are Islam, Christianity and traditional religions.

The ancient tradition for which the town is known for is wrestling.[5] Offatedo in Osun state, Iyana Offa in Oyo State, Offa in Côte d'Ivoire were established by the people of Offa.

Offa is centrally located.[6] There is a big market in the city centre, known as "Owode market", which serves both the members of the community and its neighboring towns.[7]

Ido-Osun in the history of Offa

Oba Okunoye reigned for five years before he died in the war. His successor, Oba Adegboye, fought for four years before leaving town. Balogun Agidiako, who was appointed by Okunoye, became an instrument of treachery to the Offa people, leading to the Jalumi War. Oba Okunoye requested assistance from Ibadan, but died in 1882 before the war ended. Oba Adegboye succeeded him and continued the war for another five years.[8]

The return to Offa-Ile

Oba Adegboye of Offa ruled for 25 years, including the years he spent in Offatedo. Emir Monmon and Sule pleaded with him to return home, but the offer was rejected. Captain Bower approached Oba Adegboye and he reconsidered and returned home. When he arrived in Offa, he found Otakogbaiye or Arookan on the throne, so he had to leave and settle in Okoku for a year. but after continuous plead, he reconsidered and returned home, with the promise from Ilorin that Offa people would no longer be disturbed.[9]

Traditional institutions

The supreme traditional ruler (king[10]) of the town is the Olofa who is assisted by five High Chiefs namely Essa, Ojomu, Sawo, Asalofa 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.[11][12]

Socio-cultural organizations

Offa Descendants Union

Image of offa Descendants Union entrance
Image of offa Descendants Union entrance

The umbrella of the socio-cultural organisation in Offa is Offa Descendants Union, which was founded in Lagos, Nigeria by Offa indigenes on 13 October 1935.[13] All other socio-cultural groups in the town are affiliates of ODU. The union has branches in all states of Nigeria and abroad.[14][15] It has been involved in development efforts like the establishment of secondary schools, encouragement of investors, medical outreaches, supporting artisans, and other professional bodies.[16][17][18]

First Baptist Church Offa picture
First Baptist Church Offa

Educational institutions

Lens polytechnic offa
An image showing Federal Polytechnic Offa permanent site
Federal Polytechnic Offa permanent site

Offa

tertiary institutions include The Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa was also established earlier in 1976. The Navy School of Health Sciences, Pan Africa College of Education[28] Graceland Polytechnic,[29] Lens Polytechnic[30] and Summit University, Offa (the University of Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria). The Summit University was established in 2015 and commenced academic activities in 2017.[31] University of Offa, (UNIOFFA) Offa, Kwara State, was founded in 2021, is a Tertiary Institution with some programs accredited by the National Universities Commission, (NUC)[32]
and National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Offa Study Centre.

Commerce

Owode Merket sign board
Owode Merket sign board
Image of owode market entrance
Image of owode market entrance

Owode Market in Offa Kwara State, started over 40 years ago, it is held in every five days. It is a key driver of economic development for the neighborhood as well as the nearby towns and villages of Ijagbo, Erin-ile, Ojoku, Ikotun, Igosun, Ilemona, Irra, Inisha, and others.[33]

On the 5th of April 2018, The Offa robbery, occurred and claimed the lives of 18 people, including nine police officers and eight civilians, Owode Market was also a victim of this robbery.[34][35]

Offa Descendants Union, the community’s leading social and cultural group prior to support from the state government, stepped in to help market customers, opening the way for the construction of the Owode Ultra Modern Market, which cost millions of Naira. This includes the market being rebuilt and renovated with the help of other well-wishers and donors from the neighborhood to match the national standards. The Owode market has changed significantly since then.

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 neighboring states.[36]

Hospitals in Offa

There are different categories of hospital in offa both public owned by the state government and private hospital owned by either Community, Association and individual

Public Hospitals in Offa

Offa Specialist Hospital (General Hospital Offa)

Lamodi Basic Health Center

Abogunugun Basic Health Center

Cultural ceremonies

Queen moremi Statue image
Queen Moremi Statue

"Offa" means arrow in the

Queen Moremi an Offa indigene who saved the Ile-Ife kingdom from invaders.[40] During the ceremony, wrestling contests are held in which the traditional Chiefs including the Olofa will engage in mock wrestling contests (Ijakadi).[40][41] 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.[40][36]

Queen Moremi

Moremi Ajasoro, Princess of the Yoruba, was a figure of high significance in the history of the Yoruba peoples. She was a member-by-marriage of the royal family of Emperor Oduduwa and was the wife of King Oranmiyan of Ife. She was a brave and beautiful woman who offered anything she had to give in sacrifice to the Spirit of the river Esimirin to discover the strength of her nation's enemies. She was taken as booty to the Igbo King and soon won the trust and affection of the King and people in Igbo land. The Igbo people of Ife were freed from the terrors of these previously invincible warriors when Princess Oluorogbo escaped and returned to her first husband, King Oramiyan of Ife.[42]

She sacrificed her only son Oluorogbo to fulfill her promise to Esimirin and was held in the highest esteem of any women in the Kingdom.

The Edi Festival[43] was started to celebrate her sacrifice, and public places are named after her in contemporary Nigeria.[44]

Population

The provincial figure for the population of Offa Local Government Area by the National population Commission (FRN official Gazette no24 of May, 2007 Government Notice) is 46,266 males and 43,428 females, altogether 89,674.[45][46]

Climate

The rainy season in Offa is warm, oppressive, and cloudy, whereas the dry season is warm, muggy, and partially cloudy. The average annual temperature ranges from 63 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit, with lows and highs of 57 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit being extremely rare.[47]

From January 23 to April 4, the hot season, with an average daily high temperature above 90 °F, lasts for 2.4 months. With an average high of 91 °F and low of 72 °F, March is the hottest month of the year in Offa.[48]

The 3.8-month chilly season, which runs from June 19 to October 11, has an average daily maximum temperature of less than 83 °F. With an average low of 69 °F and a high of 81 °F, August is the coldest month of the year in Offa.[49]

Transportation in Offa

Offa’s transportation system allows easy movement of products and services across Offa and its environs, using the roads such as (Okada, Koropé, keke NAPEP and Taxi) and Rail such as train for transit modes.[50]

Brief History Of Railway in Offa

Offa railway station was constructed by the

Oshogbo and Ilorin, both of which are currently state capitals in Nigeria. Offa attracted a lot of experts from around the globe due to its administrative position in control of Osogbo, Insha, Okuku, Erin-Ile, Ijagbo and Ilorin.[52]

Sports

Offa offers a variety of sports, including football, volleyball, boxing, wrestling, taekwondo, basketball and many others.[53]

Football in Offa

The town has numerous football clubs, including Offa football Club, Offa United, Abiola Babes Football Academy, Unity Soccer Football Academy, Asenal Fc, and others, Offa possesses Olofa Township Stadium to hold sporting events and activities within the town and its surroundings.[54]

Volleyball Club

Offa volleyball Club is one of the well-grounded volleyball Clubs in Nigeria it has won several awards and gain national recognition during the last Nigeria Volleyball Premier League 2022.[55]

Boxing

Boxing is one of the most well-known sports in the world, and it has drawn the interest and resources of many people in Offa. There are already boxing clubs, including "Offa Golden Stars Boxing Club," which competes at the municipal and state levels.[56]

Local Wrestling

Wrestling is a sport that is well-known in the sporting world and is significant to the people of Offa since it is a part of their local culture and has been practiced up until this point in Offa and other parts of Nigeria, which the government can encourage[57]

List Of Past Olofa

Bibliography

  • Olafimihan, James Bukoye: Iwe Itan Offa (The Book of the History of Offa).

Notable Sons and Daughters Of Offa

  1. Musbau Olalekan Olaniyi
  2. Saheed Popoola
  3. Funsho Oladipo

References

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  6. ^ Simwa, Adrianna (28 September 2022). "Top 10 largest states in Nigeria by land mass: List with details". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
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  13. ^ "Offa Descendants Union". Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Offa Descendants Union United Kingdom". www.oduuk.org.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Offa Descendants Union in North America Archives". FRCN. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
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  20. ^ Omotayo, Joseph (21 July 2020). "Meet the family with 10 professors who are deans, deputy VCs, senior lecturers". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
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  26. ^ "Pan African College Of Heath Technology". www.finelib.com. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  27. ^ "FPO at a Glance | Federal Polytechnic Offa". www.fpo.edu.ng. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  28. ^ "Welcome to Pan Africa". panafricoed.edu.ng. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  29. ^ "Graceland Polytechnic Offa Admission Portal 2020/2021". Seviportal. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  30. ^ "LENS polytechnic Offa". www.lenspolytechnic.edu.ng. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  31. ^ "Summit University, Offa". 2015.
  32. ^ CampusTimesNG (22 December 2022). "university of offa". CampusTimesNG. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  33. ^ SPROJECTNG, Project Topics and Materials for Final Year Students | Download Free Projects from (18 September 2019). "APPLICATION OF THE MARKETING CONCEPT IN OUR LOCAL MARKET ( A CASE STUDY OF OWODE MARKET OFFA, KWARA STATE - Final Year Research Project Topics and Materials". Retrieved 11 April 2023.
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  54. ^ Olawale, Olatoye. "GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL: Offa Agog As Olofa Cup Kicked Off On Wednesday". Sport Flames. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
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  57. ^ "Amachree advises government to develop traditional wrestling". Tribune Online. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2023.

8°08′49″N 4°43′12″E / 8.147°N 4.720°E / 8.147; 4.720

External links

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