Ilesa Explained

Ilesa
Pushpin Map:Nigeria
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Nigeria
Coordinates:7.6167°N 4.7167°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Nigeria
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Osun State
Leader Title:Owa Obokun Adimula
Leader Name:Aromolaran II
Population Total:384,334
Population As Of:2016
Population Note:(metropolitan area)
Blank Name Sec1:National language
Blank Info Sec1:Yorùbá

Ilesa is a historic city located in Osun State, southwest Nigeria; it is also the name of a historic kingdom (also known as Ijesha) centred on that town.[1] [2] [3] The state is ruled by a monarch bearing the title of the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland.[4] The state of Ilesa consists of Ilesa itself and a number of smaller surrounding cities.[5] [6]

The Ijesa, a term also denoting the people of the state of Ilesa, are part of the present Osun State of Nigeria.[7] Some of the popular towns of the Ijesa are Odo-Ijesa, Ilaje, Igbogi, Ise-Ijesa, Ibokun, Erin Oke, Erin Ijesa, Ijeda-Ijesa, Ipetu Jesa, Ijebu-Jesa, Esa-Oke,Esa Odo, Ipole Ijesa, Ifewara Ijesa, Ipo Arakeji, Iloko Ijesa, Iwara Ijesa, Iperindo Ijesa, Erinmo Ijesa, Iwaraja Ijesa, Oke-Ana Ijesa, Idominasi, Ilase Ijesa, Igangan ijesa, Imo Ijesa, Alakowe Ijesa, Osu Ijesa, Eti Oni, Itaore, Itagunmodi, Iyinta, Itaapa, Epe Ijesa, Omo Ijesa, Eti-oni, Ibokun, Inila, Ijinla, Iloba Ijesa, Odo Ijesa, Imogbara Ijesa, Eseun Ijesa, Iloo, Owena Ijesa, Ido Ijesa, Ido Oko, Ibala Ijesa, Ere Ijesa, Ilahun, Ibodi, Ijaaregbe, Ikinyinwa, Idominasi, Ilowa, and Ibodi.[8]

The state of Ijeshaland was founded c.1300 by Ajibogun Ajaka Owa Obokun Onida Raharaha, a warlike youngest son of Yoruba Projenitor Oduduwa.

Areas in Ilesa

Oral history

According to the historian Samuel Johnson:

Odo - Ile was Oduduwa's Grandchild by Oduduwa's Eldest Daughter (Logun Edu's own son became the First Odole of Ijesaland - [Prime-Minister/Secretary of State of Ijesaland]

Institutions in Ilesa

Ilesa Grammar school

One of the grammar schools in Ilesa is Ilesa Grammar School. Its 90th anniversary was celebrated in 2024.[9]

University of Ilesa

University of Ilesa formerly known as College of Education, Ilesa, was established on March 31st, 2022 by the former governor of Osun State Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola. It was upgraded to a University by Governor Ademola Adeleke[10] [11] who set up a review committee to ascertain the establishment of the institution.[12]

College of Health Technology

Among the schools in Ilesa is the College of Technology, which is located at Imelu in Ilesa.[13] [14]

Hospital in ilesa

There are several Hospitals in ilesa city which are.

Colonial assessment

The village was described by the Rev. William Howard Clark in 1854 in the following manner: "For its cleanliness, regularity in breadth and width, and the straightness of its streets, the ancient village of Ilesa far surpasses any native town I have seen in black Africa."[17]

The Ijesa Monarchs

There are four royal houses amongst which accession to the throne is supposed to be rotated: Biladu, Bilagbayo, Bilaro and Bilayirere. Rulers, under the title of Owa Obokun Adimula, have been as follows:

Owa Ajibogun
1150- 1255
Owa Owaka Okile 1260-1358
Owa Obarabara Olokun Eshin1360-1459
Owa Owari 1466 - 1522
1522 - 1526
Owa Atakumosa 1526- 1546
Owa Obokun Oge-1572-1587
Owa Obokun Bilayi- Arere1588- 1590
Owa Obokun- Yeyeladegba(Female) 1646 - 1652
Owa Obokun -Yeyegunrogbo(Female) 1652-1653
Owa Obokun Biladu I 1653- 1681
Owa Obokun Biladu II -
Owa Obokun Bilaro1681-1690
Owa Obokun Waji(female)1691-1692
Owa Obokun Waiye (female)1692-1693
Owa Obokun Waiyero(female)1698-1712
Owa Obokun Bilagbayo1713-1733
Owa Obokun Ori-Abejoyo(female)1734-1749
Owa Obokun Bilajagodo “Arijelesin"1749-1771
Owa Obokun Bilatutu"Otutu bi Osin"1772-1776
Owa Obokun Bilasa"Asa abodofunfun"1776-1788
Owa Obokun Akesan1789-1795
Owa Obokun Bilajara1796-1803
Owa Obokun Odundun1804-1814
Owa Obokun Obara1814-1832
Owa Obokun Gbega-aje1832-1846
Owa Obokun Ofokutu1846-1858
Owa Obokun Aponlese1858-1867
Owa Obokun Alobe1867-1868
Owa Obokun Agunlejika 11868-1869
Owa Obokun Owewe-niye1869-1874
1875 - 1893
Mar 1893 - Nov 1894
Owa Obokun Alowolodu1894-1895
Owa Obokun Ajimoko 1April 1896- September 1901
Owa Obokun Ataiyero[Atayero]1902-1920
Owa Obokun Aromolaran 11920-1942
Ajimoko "Haastrup" -Regent 1942 - 10 Sep 1942
Owa ObokunAjimoko II "Fidipote"10 Sep 1942 - 18 Oct 1956 1942-1956
J. E. Awodiya -Regent 18 Oct 1956 - 1957
Owa Obokun Biladu III "Fiwajoye" Ogunmokun 1111957-1963
... -Regent Jul 1963 - 1966
Owa Obokun Agunlejika 111966-1981
1982 - ?

Notable people

Nigerian major[21] [22]

Commander of the Order of Niger, CON and President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)[41] [42] [43] [44]

Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (An Odole Gidigbi Faloju Descendant) [45] [46] [47] [48]

Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and a professor of political science[49] [50] [51]

Comedian (also known as Baba Sala)[52] [53] [54] [55]

Nigerian Minister of Health and a former Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan[58] [59] [60]

pastor and general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God[61] [62] [63] [64]

pastor of CAC WOSEM.[65]

pastor and general superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministries[66] [67]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Osun 2014: Ijesa North Traditional Rulers Declare Support for Aregbesola. thisdaylive.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150206140304/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/osun-2014-ijesa-north-traditional-rulers-declare-support-for-aregbesola/179355/. 2015-02-06.
  2. Web site: punchng . 2018-11-11 . Osun begins construction of Ilesa New Town . 2024-04-19 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.
  3. Web site: November 8, 2018 . Ilesa New Town: reviving rural urbanisation . April 19, 2024 . The Nation.
  4. Web site: From Ancient to Modern Cities. thisdaylive.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150206140257/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/from-ancient-to-modern-cities/146608/. 2015-02-06.
  5. Web site: Ajayi Emerges New King of Erinmo-Ijesha. thisdaylive.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150206134311/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/ajayi-emerges-new-king-of-erinmo-ijesha/184630/. 2015-02-06.
  6. Web site: Bamigbola . Bola . 2023-12-03 . Rehabilitate Ibadan–Ife–Ilesha road, ex-Osun commissioner urges FG . 2024-04-26 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.
  7. Web site: Osun 2014: The Battle for Aregbesola's Job. thisdaylive.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150206140301/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/osun-2014-the-battle-for-aregbesola-s-job/152644/. 2015-02-06.
  8. Book: Yoruba Hometowns. 9781555879815. Trager. Lillian. 2001. Lynne Rienner Publishers .
  9. Web site: Ibrahim . Lateef . 2024-02-06 . Osun: Adeboye donates building to Ilesa Grammar School alma mater . 2024-04-26 . Blueprint Newspapers Limited . en-US.
  10. Web site: Nigeria . News Agency Of . 2023-03-11 . Gov Adeleke vows not to stop establishment of Ilesa University . 2024-04-19 . Pulse Nigeria . en.
  11. Web site: Bamigbola . Bola . 2023-03-11 . Adeleke inconsistent over university of Ilesa, APC alleges . 2024-04-19 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.
  12. Web site: University of Ilesa Has Come to Stay, Says Governor Adeleke - THISDAYLIVE . 2024-04-19 . www.thisdaylive.com . en.
  13. Web site: Osun State College of Health . 2024-06-19 . osunhealthtechilesa.edu.ng.
  14. Web site: Fapohunda . Olusegun . 2024-05-01 . Step up your career at #OSCHT Ilesa! Offering fully accredited health courses from Dental to Environmental Health. Enrol for 2024/2025 now! . 2024-06-19 . MySchoolGist . en.
  15. Web site: Egbodo . Joshua . 2022-03-30 . Reps move to upgrade Wesley Hospital, Ilesa to FMC . 2024-06-19 . Blueprint Newspapers Limited . en-US.
  16. Web site: 2022-10-05 . Living Petals Medical Centre - Hospital in Ilesha East, Nigeria . 2024-06-19 . Top Rated Online . en.
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