Ogun State, Nigeria

Ogun State is a state in South-western Nigeria. It borders Lagos State to the south, Oyo and Osun states to the North, Ondo State to the east and the republic of Benin to the west. Abeokuta is the capital and largest city in the state. Ogun has one federal university ; the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and two state government universities; the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye (formerly known as Ogun State University) and the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) Ijebu Ode. Ogun State thus has the highest number of registered universities in Nigeria (nine in all). Five of the nine universities are private, which include Babcock University, [Ilisan Remo], the first private university in the country. Ogun state has two major government hospitals, the Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta and the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

Other cities and towns in the Ogun State are Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ijebu Igbo, Ayetoro and the most populous and industrious,Ota.

Administrative Divisions

The state contains the following twenty Local Government Areas:

    * Abeokuta North
    * Abeokuta South
    * Ado-Odo/Ota
    * Yewa North
    * Yewa South
    * Ewekoro
    * Ifo    
    * Ijebu East

Ijebu Mussin

    * Ijebu North
    * Ijebu NorthEast
    * Ijebu Ode
    * Ikenne
    * ImekoAfon
    * Ipokia
    * ObafemiOwode
    * Odogbolu
    * Odeda
    * Ogun Waterside
    * Remo North
    * Sagamu

The state's nickname is "Gateway to Nigeria". It was created in February 1976 from the former Western State. The 1991 census recorded a total population of 2,338,570 residents. The state governor is Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Famous native sons and daughters

Abeokuta is the birthplace of the former president of Nigerian Olusegun Obasanjo, who also has a large farm in Ota. The current Anglican Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, is also a native of Abeokuta.

Ogun State has produced many of the most important Yoruba leaders, politicians and musicians in Nigeria, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief MKO Abiola, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ernest Shonekan, General Oladipo Diya, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Iyalode J A Salako Aromire, Dr. Gbolabo Oyede, Sir G.O Adenuga-Taiwo, Chief Peter Olakeinde Sogbesan,Chief Kuforiji Olubi, Prof Ola Rotimi, Prof Olikoye Ransome Kuti, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Pro Onabamiro,Dr Tai Solarin, Otunba Subomi Balogun, Chief Oba Otudeko and Chief Mike Adenuga. The State is also reputed to have produced the highest number of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria (a.k.a Queen's Counsels) in the annals of the legal profession since independence to date. The Senior Advocates of Nigeria included Late Chief Sowemimo, Chief Fatai Atanda Williams, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Kehinde Sofola, Abayomi Sogbesan, Kehinde Onafowokan. The living ones include Pa Abraham Adesanya(died on 27/04/2008), Chief GOK Ajayi, Chief Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Idowu Sofola, Mr. Kayode Sofola and a host of others.

Sunday Adelaja, the founder and pastor of the Embassy of God Charismatic church in Kyiv, Ukraine is also born in Ogun State.

Universities in Ogun state

    * University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
    * Covenant University, Ota
    * Bell University of Technology, Ota
    * Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye
    * Redeemed University for All Nations.
    * Babcock University, Ilisan Remo
    * Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode
    * Crawford University, Igbesa
    * Adetokunbo University, Sagamu
    * Crescent University, Abeokuta

 

 

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