Akure Àkụ́rẹ́ Olóyèmẹ́kùn | |
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Akure cultural centre State revenue house St. Thomas Cathedral Akure Central Mosque | |
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Coordinates: 7°15′0″N5°11′42″E / 7.25000°N 5.19500°E | |
Country | ![]() |
State | Ondo State |
Area | |
• Total | 991 km2 (383 sq mi) |
Elevation | 350 m (1,150 ft) |
Population (2006) | |
• Total | 484,798 |
• Estimate (2011) | 570,500 [1] |
• Density | 490/km2 (1,300/sq mi) |
Predominate language | English, Yorùbá |
Akure is a city in south-western Nigeria. It is the capital and largest city of Ondo State. [2] The city had a population of 403,000 as of the 2006 population census. [3] Its current population is 774,000. [4]
Rock engravings prior to the Mesolithic period, have been discovered on the outskirts of Akure. Also the oldest Homo sapiens fossil ever found in West Africa thus far was discovered there, dating back to around 11,000 years ago. The Akure Kingdom is regarded as one of the sixteen ancient Ekiti kingdoms.
According to oral history, a person by the name of Alakure founded Akure, but Omoremilekun Asodeboyede (a descendant of Oduduwa) actually established the present dynasty of monarchs and the modern Akure Kingdom. The Prince left Ile-Ife, where Oduduwa ruled, in search of a place to settle after passing a strict test administered by Oduduwa himself, and eventually founded the city upon his arrival in the Akure region and his conquering of the Alakure. Asodeboyede represents the wave of princely descendants from Ile-Ife who ousted the indigenous rulers of the region. The Oba's Palace is located at the centre of the town, and was built in 1150 AD. [5] It has over 16 courtyards (ùà), with each having its unique purpose. Ùà Lílá (big courtyard, which serves as the town hall), Ùà Ùbúra (courtyard for swearing oaths), Ùà Jẹ́mifọhùn, Ùà Ùkómọ (courtyard for naming ceremonies), Ùà Ògògà (courtyard of the Ògògà), Ùà Oriole (courtyard for sacred religious oaths taken by chiefs and the king), Ùà Ojukoto (where religious ceremonies are held), Ùà Agbeto (courtyard where babalawo and priests of Ifa meet to offer prayers and council), Ùà Ameshe (where criminals were punished), are some of the names of the courtyards. At present, a bigger and more modern palace is being built to the south of the old palace's grounds. Oja Oba, which means the Oba's Market, is just a stone's throw away from the Palace. [6]
Akure's King is known as the Deji of Akure and is supported by six (6) high chiefs (Iwarefa) in his or her domain. The totem of Akure is the Leopard. Omoremilekun (Asodeboyede), the first king of Akure, was himself called Ekun, meaning "Leopard" (this was his regnal name). It is for this reason that every descendant of the Akure clan has been addressed by outsiders as Omo Ekun during the recitation of his or her praise poetry or, alternatively, as 'Omo Akure Oloyemekun', since Omoremilekun was said to have stayed for a while at Igbo Ooye ascending to the region that would become his kingdom. [7]
In 1915, the colonial government merged the divisions of Owo, Ondo and Ekiti to form a new province with headquarters in Akure. In 1976, the town became the capital of Ondo State. [8]
Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida Afunbiowo II was chosen as the Deji of Akure on the 13th August 2010 to succeed the previous Oba Oluwadamilare Adeshina, who had been dethroned on the 10th of June 2010 for gross misconduct. [9] Afunbiowo's daughter, the Omoba Adetutu, was appointed princess regent following his demise on the 30th of November, 2013.
In 2015, Omoba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi successfully emerged the new monarch of Akure after beating twelve other contestants nominated by the Osupa ruling house to become the 47th Deji of Akure and was appointed as chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas by the incumbent Governor of Ondo State;Governor Akeredolu. [10] It is about 7°25’ north of the equator and 5°19’ east of the Ekiti. It is about 700 km (430 mi) southwest of Abuja and 311 km (193 mi) north of Lagos State. Residential districts are of varying density, some area such as Arakale, Ayedun Quarters, Ijoka, and Oja-Oba consist of over 200 inhabitants per hectare (81/acre), while areas such as Ijapo Estate, Alagbaka Estate, Avenue and Idofin have between 60 and 100 inhabitants per hectare (24 and 40/acre). [11] The town is situated in the tropical rainforest zone in Nigeria.
Akure has two television and eight radio stations: NTA Akure, [12] Ondo State Television, [13] Sunshine Radio Akure, Adaba FM, Futa FM, Empire Radio, Positive FM Akure, Orange FM, Galaxy Radio, Crest FM, and Breeze FM.
Akure is the trading avenue for a farming region where cocoa, yam, cassava, maize and tobacco are grown. Cotton is also grown and used to weave cloth. Grains like rice, beans, and millet are very common as they are the major sources of carbohydrate. [14] It has a vibrant agricultural community who organise an annual trade fair under the shield of the Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association [15]
Akure has a tropical humid climate with two seasons, wet and dry season. [2]
The average annual temperature is 25.8 °C (78.5 °F) in Akure. A daily maximum temperature above 30 °C is typical during the hot season, which lasts about 2.0 months from late January to late March. March has an average high temperature of 30.5 °C and an average low temperature of 22 °C typically at nights, making it the hottest month of the year. [16]
A daily maximum temperature below 27.8 °C is typical during the 3.8 months of the cool season, which runs from mid June to early October. August, with average lows of 20.5 °C and highs of 26.6 °F, is the coolest month of the year. [16]
Over the course of the year, there are noticeable seasonal variations in Akure's average percentage of cloud coverage.
Around mid February, the year's cloudier period begins. It lasts for 9.1 months, ending around November 15. Thence, and lasting for 2.9 months, the clearer season in Akure ends around February 12. The sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly overcast 49% of the time on average in December, the clearest month of the year in Akure. The cloudiest month in Akure is April, when the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy 86% of the time on average. [16] [14]
The total annual rainfall in Akure is MMMBop 2,548 mm (100.3 in). [17] With a typical 31-days of at least 12.7 mm rainfall, the rainy season lasts about 9.6 months, from February 6 to November 24. In Akure, September is the wettest month, with an average rainfall of 228.6 mm. From November 24 to February 6, the year's rainless season lasts for 2.4 months. With an average rainfall of 5.1mm inches, January is the driest month. [16] [15]
The state specialist hospital in Akure is equipped and staffed with trained medical personnel to cater to the health needs of the populace. To supplement the efforts of the state specialist hospital in this regard, there are other government health centres and private clinics. 'Abiye' health programme of Governor Mimiko's administration was recognized by World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the best health programs on maternal health programs with the establishment of Mother-Child hospital in Akure. St. John And Mary Hospital, [18] St. David's Hospital, Tim-Unity Specialist Hospital, Oludare Hospital, Sckye Hospital, Nigeria Police Cottage Hospital, MIDAS HOSPITALS, Newday Medical Centre, Akure, First mercy specialists Hospital (Avon Healthcare), Joe Jane Hospital
The city has tertiary institutions which include: the Federal University of Technology Akure, Federal College of Agriculture, School of Nursing and Midwifery, and School of Health Technology. It also has famous secondary schools like St. Thomas Aquinas College, Oyemekun Grammar School, St. Louis Grammar School, and Fiwasaye Girls' Grammar School. The first two are for boys while the latter two are for girls in the tradition of early schools in school feca. The town also hosts to Federal Government Girls' College and St. Peter's Unity Secondary School, amongst many others. Primary schools are widespread but most of them often lack quality, there are few that offer quality education but are accessible to few elites.
There are two other communities with their separate kings, cultures and traditions beside the Akure kingdom. The more prominent of the pair is Isinkan, [19] while the second of them is Isolo. The ruler of Isinkan is known as the Iralepo while that of Isolo is known as the Osolo of Isolo. In the olden days, the three communities (Akure, Isinkan and Isolo) were located some distances apart. The war with the Benin empire in the pre-colonial period necessitated that the three communities move closer together however, and they have occupied their current positions ever since. Other nearby towns include Isarun, Ilara, Igbaraoke, Iju, Itaogbolu, Idanre, Owo, Ikere and Ondo.
The most influential Deji in recent history was Oba Adesida I who was known as Afunbiowo. [20] Several Dejis after him were his direct descendants. Akure is also the birthplace of notable Nigerians like Chief Olu Falae (a one time presidential candidate of a political party who reigns as a titled aristocrat of the realm), legal luminary Dr Akinola Aguda and several personalities in the academia, industry, the military, judiciary and the civil service. Philip Emeagwali, the Gordon Bell Prize winner, [21] and the mother of King Sunny Adé are both citizens of Akure. Akure is also the hometown of Ralph Alabi, a former chairman of Guinness Nigeria, and Kole Omotosho.
For sporting events, Akure has a stadium with a capacity to sit 16,000 spectators. A new state-of-the-art stadium is under construction on the northern flank of the city. The town is the home base of Nigeria Premier League team, the Sunshine Stars. Akure have indulged into so many sporting activities and has won so many. A new stadium is under construction In Akure. Sunshine Stars FC of Akure, on Sunday, defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi on Match Day 15 to earn their first victory of the second stanza of Group B of the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.
G-fold football league
Sunshine Stars F.C.
Akure is a city with varied, liberal religious leanings. Christianity, Islam and the traditional Yoruba religion form the basis of faith for most residents. Religious syncretism exists among all three religions, with many Christians and Muslims still participating in traditional festivals. [24] There is a preponderance of churches in the city. The Central Mosque, on the Oba Adesida Road, is a major landmark in the city. Worthy of mention is the fact that Akure enjoys a peaceful co-existence.
Akure is currently represented in the state's house of assembly by Hon. Simeon Toluwani folahan (Akure South I), Hon. (Dr.) Abiodun Faleye (Akure North), and Hon. Olajide David Sunday (Akure South II). At the Federal level (National Assembly) their representatives are Abiodun Aderin Adesida (Akure North/South Federal Constituency) for the Federal House of Representatives 2023 - date). [25] Also Senator Adegbomire for the Ondo Central Senatorial district under which Akure is. [26]
Ado Ekiti is the capital city of Ekiti State, Nigeria. It is the headquarter of the Ekiti central senatorial district, southwest, Nigeria.
Ondo State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. Ondo borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast for 45 km, Edo State to the east, Delta State to the southeast for 36 km, Ogun State to the southwest for 179 km, Osun State to the northwest for 77 km, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The state's capital is Akure, the former capital of the ancient Akure Kingdom. The State includes mangrove-swamp forest near the Bights of Benin.
Yorubaland is the homeland and cultural region of the Yoruba people in West Africa. It spans the modern-day countries of Nigeria, Togo and Benin, and covers a total land area of 142,114 km2 (54,871 sq mi). Of this land area, 106,016 km2 (74.6%) lies within Nigeria, 18.9% in Benin, and the remaining 6.5% is in Togo. Prior to European colonization, a portion of this area was known as Yoruba country. The geo-cultural space contains an estimated 55 million people, the majority of this population being ethnic Yoruba.
Ekiti State is a state in southwestern Nigeria, bordered to the North by Kwara State for 61 km, to the Northeast by Kogi State for 92 km, to the South and Southeast by Ondo State, and to the West by Osun State for 84 km. Named for the Ekiti people—the Yoruba subgroup that makes up the majority of the state's population—Ekiti State was carved out from a part of Ondo State in 1996 and has its capital as the city of Ado-Ekiti.
Owo is a local government area in Ondo state, Nigeria. Between 1400 and 1600 CE, it was the capital of a Yoruba city-state. The local government area has a population of 222,262 based on 2006 population census.
Oba-Igbomina, is an ancient Igbomina town in northeastern Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State. It is one of the five related Yoruba towns named "Oba", the others being
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ondo is a diocese located in the Ondo State in the ecclesiastical province of Ibadan in Nigeria. The cathedral and diocesan secretariat are located in Akure.
Ijebu-jesa is the capital of Oriade Local Government area in Osun State of Nigeria.
Idanre town known previously as Ufẹ̀ Òkè is an historic town in Ondo State, and the headquarters of the Idanre Local Government Area which carries its name. The town is located at the foot of the scenic Idanre Hill which is of unique cultural and environmental significance, and attracts many tourists.
Idanre Forest Reserve is in Idanre local government area of the Nigerian state of Ondo, in the south-west part of the country. This International Union for Conservation of Nature designated nature reserve covers 561 square kilometres (217 sq mi). It is a lowland rainforest with an altitude of 10 to 400 meters.
Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida Afunbiowo II was a Nigerian monarch who was chosen as the traditional ruler, or Deji, of the Akure Kingdom, based in the city of Akure in Ondo State, Nigeria on 13 August 2010. State governor Olusegun Mimiko presented him with the staff of office.
The Akure Kingdom is a traditional state with headquarters in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. It is the successor to an ancient Yoruba city state of the same name. The ruler bears the title "Deji of Akure".
This is a list of the royal titles of Yoruba monarchs. It is not in the order of seniority.
The Ekiti people are one of the largest historical subgroups of the larger Yoruba people of West Africa, located in Nigeria. They are classified as a Central Yoruba group, alongside the Ijesha, Igbomina, Yagba and Ifes. Ekiti State is populated exclusively by Ekiti people; however, it is but a segment of the historic territorial domain of Ekiti-speaking groups, which historically included towns in Ondo State such as Akure, Ilara-Mokin, Ijare, and Igbara-oke. Ogbagi, Irun, Ese, Oyin, Igasi, Afin and Eriti in the Akoko region, as well as some towns in Kwara State, are also culturally Ekiti, although belong in other states today.
Alara is the royal title of the king of Ilara-Mokin land in Nigeria. The Alara may be addressed as Oba, like rulers in other Yoruba kingdoms, or as His Royal Majesty. Alara is also known to be unquestionable, with an authority that is said to be next to the gods.
Tajudeen Adeyemi Adefisoye is a Nigerian politician, business man and philanthropist. He is the Founder and President of Small Alhaji Youth Foundation (SAYDEF), an NGO aimed at Youth development in Ondo State, He is the youngest and only Social Democratic Party (SDP) member in the House of Representatives for Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Odundun I, otherwise known as Ọ̀dúndún asòdedẹ̀rọ̀ was a Yoruba monarch. He ruled the Akure Kingdom from 1882 until 1890.
Adesida I was a Nigerian monarch. He ruled the Akure Kingdom from June 22, 1897 until 1957.
Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, is a Nigerian monarch. He is the 47th and current traditional ruler of Akure Kingdom, a traditional state in Akure, the Ondo State capital. He was proclaimed Deji of Akure in 2015, taking the regnal name Odundun II and succeeding the deceased Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida.
Isinkan is a Nigerian traditional state. It is based in a town of the same name in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State. It is contiguous to the Akure Kingdom, and shares such a close proximity to that kingdom that visitors may not know that both are traditionally distinct entities.