Akoko

Àkókó

Total population
~ 815,360 (2011)
Regions with significant populations
Ondo State - 815,360  · Akoko North East: 208,080  · Akoko North West: 246,150  · Akoko South East: 95,790  · Akoko South West: 265,340
Religion
Christianity · Yoruba religion · Islam

ʻAkoko, with an initial glottal stop, is the Hawaiian term for the plant genus Euphorbia (spurges).

Akoko are a large Yoruba cultural sub-group in the Northeastern part of Yorubaland, the area spans from Ondo state to Edo state in southwest Nigeria. Akoko land takes a large percentage of the local governments in Ondo state. Out of the present 18 Local Government Councils it takes four, Akoko North-East, Akoko North-West, Akoko South-East and Akoko South-West, as well as the Akoko Edo LGA of Edo State. The Adekunle Ajasin University, a state owned university, is located in Akungba-Akoko. A state specialist hospital is at Ikare Akoko, while a general hospital is located in Oka-Akoko.

Geography

Akoko comprises about 40 small towns, predominantly situated in rocky areas of Ondo state. The rocky terrain nevertheless, may have helped the region to become a melting pot of sorts with different cultures coming from the north, eastern and southern Yoruba towns and beyond. Akoko became one of the few Yoruba clans with no distinctive local dialect of their own. Major Akoko settlements include Oka, Ikare, Oba, Ikun, Arigidi, Ogbagi, Okeagbe, Ikaram, Ibaram, Iyani, Akungba, Erusu, Ajowa, Akunu, Gedegede, Isua, Auga, Ikakumo, Supare, Epinmi, Ipe, Ifira, Ise, Iboropa, Irun, Iye Afin, Igashi, Sosan, Ipesi, Etioro, Ayegunle and Oyin. In addition to this group, there are several other autonomous communities.

Akoko is popularly known as the home of education and has the second largest number of professors in the country, with the Ekiti taking the lead.

Oka Akoko is situated in the mountainous terrain of the south west. Oka as it is also called is the headquarters of the Akoko south west local government, it's divided into 14 quarters and provinces with the Olubaka as it's reigning monarch. Oka is home to several great men and women in spheres of politics, academy and business. Ikare Akoko is the biggest city in the Akoko area. It has an I.C.T resource center where its people have the opportunity to connect to and communicate with other individuals across the country and around the world. In addition, the city also has the largest number of cybercafes in the Akoko area. Also another big and well known general Hospital is being located in Ipe Akoko, and a big secondary school Ipe High School.

Oba Akoko is another town in Akoko South West Local Government. Oba is the gateway to Akoko Land, share border with Owo Local Government. Oba was made the Local Government Headquarter when Akoko South East Local Government was newly created before the headquarter was relocated to Isua Akoko but Oba was later compensated with Area Council Authority. Oba has a very large landmass good for agriculture and avail other Akokos the opportunity to farm on her land.

Auga-Akoko is a small town located at the North-East of Ikare with about 3000 population mostly involved in farming activities. They are known for production of Cocoa, Coffea, Yam, Cassava which is locally processed to "Gari" as it is called. Auga is made of two towns: Okemole whose inhabitants are predominantly Muslims and Okegbagbo, about 3 km apart.

Akunnu Akoko is another town in Akoko North East local government Akunnu Akoko is the Ondo state border community to Kogi state. The people are known for passion for education, hard work, diligence, civilazation and prominency especially in area of politics.

Iye Akoko is also a small town surrounded by rocky hills in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Akoko. Iye is located between Arigidi, Ogbagi and Okeagbe having Iye at the middle.

Industry

Predominant traditional occupations of the community include large scale farming and teaching. In contemporary time, military, policing and para-military is the common denominator of all Akoko communities. This is clearly displayed in the fact that every Akoko state constituency produced in the last 20 years at least a commissioner of police or equivalent in the other military and para-military (Customs, Immigration, Prisons, Federal Road Safety Corps etc.). Akoko also produced the most prominent chief executive officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps in the person of Dr. Olu Agunloye and the former Inspector General of Police Gabriel Sunday Ehindero.

Notable people

Notable members of the Akoko clan include:

• Adebayo Adefarati, 1931–2007, former governor of Ondo State
• Bamidele Aturu, 1964–2014, a prominent lawyer and human right activist
• Roy Chicago, d 1989, a highlife musician
• Sunday Ehindero - Inspector General of Police in Ondo State 2005-2007
• T. B. Joshua, b 1963, of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations
• Adetokunbo Kayode, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chairman Gemstones Miners and Marketers Association of Nigeria
• Joseph Oladele Sanusi, former governor, Central Bank of Nigeria
• Moses Orimolade Tunolase, founder of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim.