INTRODUCTION

Ogun State is one of the six states that make up Nigeria’s South-West geopolitical zone. It shares an international boundary with the Republic of Benin to the West and has interstate boundaries with Oyo State to the North, Lagos State to the South, and Ondo and Osun States to the East. The state capital is Abeokuta.

LANDMASS, LOCATION, AND POPULATION

Ogun State covers an area of 16,980 square kilometres. It lies at latitude 7°00’ North and longitude 3°35’ East. It has a population of 3,751,140 (2006 census) 5, 217,716 (2016 forecast) and a population density of 221. The state accounts for 1.8% of Nigeria's total population.

HISTORY AND PEOPLE

The Yorubas are the main ethnic group in Ogun. The state capital, Abeokuta, was founded around 1830 by a hunter called Sodeke who was the leader of the Egba refugees that fled when the once-powerful Oyo Empire crumbled under the weight of internecine wars. 
Abeokuta later gained prominence as the capital of the Egbas and faced several threats of invasion by the Kingdom of Dahomey (located where the modern-day Republic of Benin lies). However, with the help of some European missionaries and British officers, the Egbas were able to repel the threat of Dahomey. The exposure with Dahomey resulted in cultural interaction as the Egun, one of the prominent tribes in the state, are said to have migrated from there.
Ogun State was originally part of the Western Region in the three-region structure of 1954. With the creation of twelve federal states by General Yakubu Gowon’s military government in 1967, it became part of Western State. In 1976, Ogun State was carved out of Western State by the military administration of General Murtala Muhammed.
Ogun State indigenes belong to the Yoruba ethnic group, comprising mainly the Egba, the Yewa, the Awori, the Egun, the Ijebu and the Remo. The two main religions in the state are Christianity and Islam. Traditional religion is still practiced, though not by a large proportion of the people.

MAIN TOWNS AND CITIES

Abeokuta (capital), Ijebu-Ode, Shagamu, Ilaro, Ijebu-Igbo, and Aiyetoro.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

ADMINISTRATORS AND GOVERNORS

Saidu Balogun (Governor – Military): March 1976 – July 1978
Harris Eghagha (Governor – Military): July 1978 – October 1979
Olabisi Onabanjo (Governor – Civilian (Unity Party of Nigeria)): October 1979 – December 1983
Oladipo Diya (Governor– Military): January 1984 – August 1985
Oladayo Popoola (Governor – Military): August 1985 – August 1986
Raji Rasaki (Governor – Military): August 1986 – December 1987
Mohammed Lawal (Governor – Military): December 1987 – August 1990
Oladeinde Joseph (Administrator – Military): August 1990 – January 1992
Olusegun Osoba (Governor – Civilian (Social Democratic Party)): January 1992 – November 1993
Daniel Akintonde (Administrator – Military): December 1993 – August 1996
Sam Ewang (Administrator – Military): August 1996 – August 1998
Kayode Olofin-Moyin (Administrator – Military): August 1998 – May 1999
Olusegun Osoba (Governor – Civilian (Alliance for Democracy/Action Congress)): May 1999 – May 2003
Gbenga Daniel (Governor – Civilian (People’s Democratic Party)): May 2003 – May 2011
Ibikunle Amosun (Governor – Civilian (Action Congress of Nigeria/All Progressives Congress)): May 2011 –May 2019
Dapo Abiodun (Governor – Civilian (All Progressives Congress): May 2019 – Present
 

ECONOMY AND EDUCATION

Ogun State lies entirely in the tropics. Its key agricultural resources include cocoa, kola nut, rice, maize, cassava, yam, banana, timber, rubber, livestock and palm oil. Ogun State’s mineral resources include limestone, gypsum, kaolin, gemstone, feldspar, phosphate, mica, glass, clay, granite, and bitumen. Companies located in the state include GlaxoSmithKline, Coca-Cola, Dangote Cement, Lafarge Cement and Consolidated Breweries.
Tertiary institutions in the state are Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta;  Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye;  Babcock University,  Ilisan-Remo; Covenant University, Ota; Redeemers University, Mowe; Crawford University, Igbesa; Crescent University, Abeokuta;  Bells University of Technology, Ota; Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta.

FAMOUS SITES AND CULTURE
Sites
Olomu Rock, Abeokuta
 

The Olumo Rock in heart of Abeokuta was discovered in the 19th century and used as a fortress during the inter-tribal wars of the time. It is an imposing structure standing at a height of 137 metres.  The Rock houses a tree that is said to be more than 200 years old and sheds its leaves throughout the year. There are several carvings on the Rock and there are living areas for the priestesses of the Rock’s deity.

Omo Biosphere Reserve, Ijebu

The Omo Biosphere Reserve is named after the Omo tree that is found in the area. It is a preserved area of tropical rain forest in Ijebu East local government area and covers an area of 130,500 hectares. The Reserve contains 8 fiber plant sources, 287 forest plants used as bio-chemicals for medicines and soap-making, 125 species of bird, chimpanzees, elephants and the white-throated guenon monkey. It has been a UNESCO Biospehere Reserve since 1949.

Bilikisu Sungbo Shrine, Ijebu Ode

The Bilikisu Sungbo Shrine is the grave of Bilikisu Sungbo who was likened to the fabled Queen of Sheba. Muslims and Christians alike visit the shrine every year to pray and honour her memory. The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1995.

Culture

The Ojude Oba Festival is a major cultural event in Ijebu Ode. This annual festival takes place on the third day after the Ileya (Eid al-Kabir) celebration to unite the people of Ijebu Ode both at home and in the diaspora. During the festival, the people gather in the centre of the town to pay homage to the Awujale who is the paramount ruler of the land. It is one most important festivals in the state. Other major cultural events in the state are the African Drums,  Agemo, Egungun, Lisabi and Ogun Festivals.

NOTABLE INDIGENES

Obafemi Awolowo (1909 – 1987)

Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938 – 1997)

DID YOU KNOW

Abeokuta, Ogun State's capital and largest city, gets its name (which means "under the rock") from the spectacular Olumo Rock at whose foot it sits.