Oyo, Oyo State
Oyo
Ọyọ Atiba | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Oyo State |
| Government | |
| • Alaafin | Lamidi Adeyemi III |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,427 km2 (937 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 428,798 |
| • Density | 180/km2 (460/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
| Climate | Aw |
Oyo[1] is a city in Oyo State, Nigeria, founded as the capital of the Oyo Kingdom in the 1830s and known to its people as 'New Oyo' (Ọyọ Atiba) to distinguish it from the former capital to the north, 'Old Oyo' (Ọyọ-Ile), which had been deserted as a result of rumors of war. Its inhabitants are mostly of the Yoruba people, and its ruler is the imperial majesty Alaafin of Oyo.
The major market in the city is Akeesan market, also called Oja Oba (King's market) its very close to the Alaafin's Palace, which is opened on a daily basis unlike the other marketplaces, such as Ajegunle market, irepodun market which is opened for a five-day interval, and Sabo market (five days).
'Oyo town', as it is fondly called, is known for the high educational pedigree of the old St Andrew's College, Oyo (SACO), which was one of the first higher institutions in Nigeria. It is home to many secondary schools, including the famous Olivet Baptist High School and Federal Government Girls College, Alaafin high school and a few tertiary institutions such as Federal College of Education (Special), Federal School of Survey, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, and a private owned university by the Anglican Communion of Nigeria, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo (ACU)
The city has three LGAs viz: Atiba LGA, headquartered at Offa-Meta; Oyo East LGA, headquartered at Kosobo; and Oyo West LGA, headquartered at Ojongbodu.
The city is on the A1 highway, north of Ibadan.
The play Death and the King's Horseman is based on an incident that happened in Oyo in 1946.[2]
Notable residents
- Quadri Aruna, (1988 – ) Olympic table tennis player [3]
- Gbenga Oluokun, (1983 – )
- Fela Sowande (1905 – 1987), musician and composer
- Professor Wande Abimbola, (1932-) Former Vice Chancellor of University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, (1982-1990), Senate Majority Leader of Federal Republic of Nigeria
7°51′00″N 3°55′59″E / 7.850°N 3.933°E
References
- ^ "Ifa, wandeabimbola.com Home". www.wandeabimbola.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ^ Author's Note
- ^ "Aruna Quadri: I Feel Great Being Ranked 30 in World Table Tennis, Articles". THISDAY LIVE. 2014-11-22. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
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