Igbo-Ora


Igbo-Ora is a town and the headquarters of Ibarapa Central, Oyo State, south-western Nigeria, situated north of Lagos. In 2006 the population of the town was approximately 72,207 people. In 2017 the population is estimated to be around 198,514 people.
The town today is the location of the newly established Oyo State College of Agriculture. The College has contributed significantly to the socio-economic and demographic development of the town. The Oyo state government has just approved a High Court of Justice. The Federal government is also said to have approved the location of a Police Training College in the town.

Twins

The unusually large number of twin births in the region have earned the town the nickname Twin Capital of the World. This phenomenon of a large number of twin births is not unique to Igbo-Ora; it has also been observed in the town of Kodinji in India and Cândido Godói in Brazil. In Igbo-Ora, research has suggested that the multiple births could be related to the eating habits of the women in the region. Though no direct relation between dietary intake and twin births has been proved, a research study carried out at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital has suggested that a chemical found in Igbo-Ora women and the peelings of a widely consumed tuber could be responsible.
There is of course the possible explanation that the large number of twins being born here could simply be a matter of genetics.

A Brief History

Obe Alade, a descendant of Alaafin of Oyo with his family migrated from Oyo town several centuries ago following a chieftaincy tussle and when he and his kinsmen lost the contest,. While coming from Oyo town, Obe Alade and his kinsmen came with idols mainly Egungun and Alaale Which they worshiped.
First Settlement
Obe Alade and his family first settled at a forest name after them, a forest of immigrant. Igbo-Asako, about 3 kilometers away from the present-day Igbo-Ora market.
It was at Igbo-Asako that Obe Alade became the first Baale of Igbo-Ora as usual for a founder, hence the appellation “Omo Igbo-Ora Lasako”. The scarcity of drinking water and mosquitoes’ bites drove out the Igbo-Ora people From Igbo-Asako forest.
Hence the appellation “Bi o ri emo ri, ki o nso ni Igbo-Ora Lasko, abongangan ibr ju esi ode lo, yanmuyanmu ibe ju ikamudu” meaning “If you want trouble, go to Igbo-Ora in Asako where mosquitoes are as big as hunter flies and bigger than other insects”.
Second Settlement
Due to unfavorable conditions, harsh weather and insect bites, they left Igbo-Asako. Igbo-Ora people now found another site called Igbo-Ayin near Ayin river and they settled there. They relied on this Ayin river for drinking water and other domestic purposes. There is a flat rock, and on that rock, they established a big market called “Apata Itaja” Market.
Third Settlement
The Igbo-Ora people left Igbo Ayin to find another forest which was in a marshy and swampy area an unseasonal river called Igbo-Ira and the present site. It is here the town derived its name when people refer to the people of the settlement as Omo Igbo-Ira later it was shortened as Igbo-Ora.
At each of the above settlements people name the town with a prefix of the forest:
  1. Igbo-Asako
  2. Igbo-Ayin
  3. Igbo-Ora
This led to the appellation they gave to the people “Omo Igbo-Ora Lasako” in other to link them with their Original settlement.

Economy

The main economic activity in Igboora is farming. Obasanjo farms is one of the major mechanized farms and engages in poultry, cash crops and fishery. Subsistent agriculture and hunting is pretty predominant also. Service-based industries include two banks, the Owotutu line of businesses and NITEL sub-station. Most salaried jobs revolve around teaching, local government employment and the few private based businesses. The West-North Abeokuta-Sokoto highway, which pass through the town, serves as a potential link to economic prosperity.

Administration

Igboora is the Headquarters of Ibarapa Central Local government, comprising Igboora and Idere. Igboora has seven wards while Idere has three. The community could not benefit from the recent initiative of the Oyo State Government to create additional council administrations, since the community voted no to such initiative during the Local Council Referendum by the Lam Adeshina administration.

Traditional Rulers

Igboora is a collection of autonomous towns each with its traditional heads, but with a very porous land boundaries.
The names of all the Oba & Baales in Igboora:
  1. Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye, Asoro-olu Ayinla V, Olu of Igboora Land.
  2. Jamiu Adedamola Badmus , Ayeleso III, Olu-Aso of Iberekodo, Igbo-Ora
  3. Joshua Olusanjo Ojo, Lagbaaju IV, Baba-Aso of Igbole, Igbo-Ora.
  4. Jinadu Adekunle Fasasi, Baabani IV, Onisagan-un of Sagan-un, Igbo-Ora.
  5. Samuel Adewuyi Adeleye, Olaribigbe IV, Onidofin of Idofin, Igbo-Ora.
  6. Late Lamidi Olayide Akinyemi, Iwolafisagba III, Onipako of Pako, Igbo-Ora.
  7. Oba Mosun Oladokun, The Bansa of Ilusa-ile, Igbo-Ora

    Olu of Igbo-ora Land

RULING HOUSE/ FAMILY IN IGBO-ORA
The Asoro-Olu family and Atanbala family are the only two Family that can produce the Baale of Igbo-ora, they have been in Igbo-Ile, Igbo-Ora as land owners and occupants in the third settlement, before Lajorun an aubiquitous hunter and an Oro worshiper came from Ikole-Ekiti to Abeokuta and from there to Fedegbo which after he settled down at Igbo-Ile,  Igbo-Ora. The Asoro-Olu family and Atanbala family have been ruling before the arrival of Lajorun from Fedegbo.
Olayemi Akano, the son of Oladibu Adio was then on the throne as Baale of Igbo-Ora when Lajorun came from Fedego and settle in Igbo-Ile.
It was at Igbo-Ile that Lajorun married Olupeti, the daughter of Ajade a settler at Igbo-Ile, Igbo-Ora. The marriage produced three children namely:
1.     Omoyele
2.     Oroki
3.     Omoribisiyan
Lajorun was never Baale of Igbo-Ora and its false and misleading to say he founded Igbo-Ora, when Igbo-Ora had already been in existence before his arrival and he only has a tint connection through Bankole Atanbala, his grandson who was mothered by his daughter Omoyele and fathered by Olayemi Akano the  son of Oladibu Adio.
The Asoro-Olu family and Atanbala family are the only Royal family in Igbo-Ora as contained in Justice Adenekan Ademola Chieftaincy review commission Report and the Government Decisions thereon in pages.
Asoro-Olu Ayinla ruling house have produced Six Baales of Igb-Ora to the throne. They are:
1.     Obe Alade – The founder of Igbo-Ora Lasako
2.     Asoro-Olu Ayinla
3.     Erubami Ishola
4.     Oyekannmi Ayinde
5.     Adefemi Akanmu Erubami II
6.     Jimoh Olajide Titiloye.
Atanbala ruling house have produced Seven Baales of Igb-Ora to the throne. They are:
1.     Oladibu Adio
2.     Olayemi Akano
3.     Bankole Otaobala
4.     Ajayi Baale Agba
5.     Ayerina Akande
6.     Adeoye Alamo
7.     Jacob Oyerogba - Gbadewolu I, Olu of Igbo-Ora.
THE ORDER OF THEIR REIGN AS BAALE OF IGBO-ORA ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1.     Obe Alade – The founder of Igbo-Ora Lasako - Baale
2.     Oladibu Adio - Baale
3.     Asoro-Olu Ayinla - Baale
4.     Olayemi Akano - Baale
5.     Bankole Otaobala - Baale
6.     Erubami Ishola - Baale
7.     Oyekannmi Ayinde - Baale
8.     Ajayi Baale Agba - Baale
9.     Ayerina Akande - Baale
10. Adefemi Akanmu Erubami II - Baale
11. Adeoye Alamo - Baale
12. Jacob Oyerogba - Gbadewolu I, Olu of Igbo-Ora
13. Jimoh Olajide Titiloye. Olu of Igbo-Ora.

OBA JIMOH OLAJIDE, TITILOYE (ASOOROLU AYINLA V)

OBA Jimoh Olajide, TITILOYE was born August 4, 1961 to the family
of Pa Titiloye Alliu Bamigbose of Asoro-Olu Ruling house, Oke Iserin, Igbo-Ora
and Late madam Titilayo Ashiawu Agbeke of Olukosi compound of Iberekodo,
Igbo-ora in Ibarapa Central Local government, Oyo State.
OBA Jimoh can be said to have a very humble beginning, he is the first male
child of his parent, enjoyed all the moral support, affection, dedication, spiritual
support and sound up bringing by all family members.
He is happily married and blessed with children; male and female of which Taiwo
and Kehinde Titiloye are twins.
He started elementary education in Igbo-Ora where he attended Nawal-Ud-Deen
Primary School, Igbo-Ora and Methodist Modern School, Igbo-Ora. He later
proceeded to Government Technical College, Ayetoro and The Polytechnic,
Ibadan, Esa-Oke Campus.
He obtained a B.Sc degree in Industrial Technical Education from
University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Master of Business Administration
with specialization in International Business Management from Lagos State University, Ojoo, Lagos.
He is a member of Institute of purchasing and supply management of
Nigeria and a technical consultant trained both locally and abroad.
He was selected among princes that were also heir to the throne in
November 2018.
He is best described as a distinct character dedicated to the peaceful co-existence
of humans. He is God fearing.

Schools

Post Secondary Institution