Offa, Kwara
The ancient tradition for which the town is known for is wrestling. Offatedo in Osun state, Iyana Offa in Oyo State, Offa in Côte d'Ivoire were established by the people of Offa.
Offa is centrally located. There is a big market in the city centre, known as "Owode market", which serves both the members of the community and its neighboring towns.
Ido-Osun in the history of Offa
Oba Okunoye reigned for five years before he died in the war. His successor, Oba Adegboye, fought for four years before leaving town. Balogun Agidiako, who was appointed by Okunoye, became an instrument of treachery to the Offa people, leading to the Jalumi War. Oba Okunoye requested assistance from Ibadan, but died in 1882 before the war ended. Oba Adegboye succeeded him and continued the war for another five years.
The return to Offa-Ile
Oba Adegboye of Offa ruled for 25 years, including the years he spent in Offatedo. Emir Monmon and Sule pleaded with him to return home, but the offer was rejected. Captain Bower approached Oba Adegboye and he reconsidered and returned home. When he arrived in Offa, he found Otakogbaiye or Arookan on the throne, so he had to leave and settle in Okoku for a year. but after continuous plead, he reconsidered and returned home, with the promise from Ilorin that Offa people would no longer be disturbed.
Traditional institutions
The supreme traditional ruler (king) of the town is the Olofa who is assisted by five High Chiefs namely Essa, Ojomu, Sawo, Asalofa and Balogun.
There are two hundred and five thousand traditional households. Since the founding of the town in late 14th century, twenty four Kings (Olofas) have ruled.
Socio-cultural organizations
Offa Descendants Union
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The umbrella of the socio-cultural organisation in Offa is Offa Descendants Union, which was founded in Lagos, Nigeria by Offa indigenes on 13 October 1935. All other socio-cultural groups in the town are affiliates of ODU. The union has branches in all states of Nigeria and abroad. It has been involved in development efforts like the establishment of secondary schools, encouragement of investors, medical outreaches, supporting artisans, and other professional bodies.
Educational institutions
Offa indigenes are educated and the town has over one hundred professors in varied academic fields with the Ijaiya family having 10 professors. There are Primary Schools, secondary schools, three polytechnics, and three universities. The first primary school is St. Mark's (Anglican) Primary School and was established in the year 1912, by the Church Missionary Society and Offa Grammar School which is the first community secondary school in defunct Northern Nigeria was established in 1943. The Federal Polytechnic, Offa was established in 1992. Other tertiary institutions include The Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa was also established earlier in 1976. The Navy School of Health Sciences, Pan Africa College of Education Graceland Polytechnic, Lens Polytechnic and Summit University, Offa (the University of Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria). The Summit University was established in 2015 and commenced academic activities in 2017. University of Offa, (UNIOFFA) Offa, Kwara State, was founded in 2021, is a Tertiary Institution with some programs accredited by the National Universities Commission, (NUC) and National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Offa Study Centre.
Commerce
Owode Market in Offa Kwara State, started over 40 years ago, it is held in every five days. It is a key driver of economic development for the neighborhood as well as the nearby towns and villages of Ijagbo, Erin-ile, Ojoku, Ikotun, Igosun, Ilemona, Irra, Inisha, and others.
On the 5th of April 2018, The Offa robbery, occurred and claimed the lives of 18 people, including nine police officers and eight civilians, Owode Market was also a victim of this robbery.
Offa Descendants Union, the community's leading social and cultural group prior to support from the state government, stepped in to help market customers, opening the way for the construction of the Owode Ultra Modern Market, which cost millions of Naira. This includes the market being rebuilt and renovated with the help of other well-wishers and donors from the neighborhood to match the national standards. The Owode market has changed significantly since then.
Offa is also well known for the Owode market, the foremost market and pivot of economic activities not only for Offa and its environment but also for Kwara and neighboring states.
Hospitals in Offa
There are different categories of hospital in offa both public owned by the state government and private hospital owned by either Community, Association and individual
Public Hospitals in Offa
Offa Specialist Hospital (General Hospital Offa)
Lamodi Basic Health Center
Abogunugun Basic Health Center
Cultural ceremonies
"Offa" means arrow in the Yoruba language, and the founder of the town was known as "Olofagangan" the warrior with a sharp arrow. Offa is the cultural headquarters of the Ibolo people, which was regarded as an integral part of the old Oyo Empire. The Ibolos are also found in the present Osun State. The major traditional ceremony is 'Onimoka', which is an annual event to celebrate the memory of Queen Moremi an Offa indigene who saved the Ile-Ife kingdom from invaders. During the ceremony, wrestling contests are held in which the traditional Chiefs including the Olofa will engage in mock wrestling contests (Ijakadi). According to the Olofa, during the eight editions of the festival in December 2019, the festival demonstrates Offa people's "love for equity, justice, and fairness as well as the resilience and unity of the community.
Queen Moremi
Moremi Ajasoro, Princess of the Yoruba, was a figure of high significance in the history of the Yoruba peoples. She was a member-by-marriage of the royal family of Emperor Oduduwa and was the wife of King Oranmiyan of Ife. She was a brave and beautiful woman who offered anything she had to give in sacrifice to the Spirit of the river Esimirin to discover the strength of her nation's enemies. She was taken as booty to the Igbo King and soon won the trust and affection of the King and people in Igbo land. The Igbo people of Ife were freed from the terrors of these previously invincible warriors when Princess Oluorogbo escaped and returned to her first husband, King Oramiyan of Ife.
She sacrificed her only son Oluorogbo to fulfill her promise to Esimirin and was held in the highest esteem of any women in the Kingdom.
The Edi Festival was started to celebrate her sacrifice, and public places are named after her in contemporary Nigeria.
Population
The provincial figure for the population of Offa Local Government Area by the National population Commission (FRN official Gazette no24 of May, 2007 Government Notice) is 46,266 males and 43,428 females, altogether 89,674.
Climate
The rainy season in Offa is warm, oppressive, and cloudy, whereas the dry season is warm, muggy, and partially cloudy. The average annual temperature ranges from 63 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit, with lows and highs of 57 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit being extremely rare.
From January 23 to April 4, the hot season, with an average daily high temperature above 90 °F, lasts for 2.4 months. With an average high of 91 °F and low of 72 °F, March is the hottest month of the year in Offa.
The 3.8-month chilly season, which runs from June 19 to October 11, has an average daily maximum temperature of less than 83 °F. With an average low of 69 °F and a high of 81 °F, August is the coldest month of the year in Offa.
Transportation in Offa
Offa's transportation system allows easy movement of products and services across Offa and its environs, using the roads such as (Okada, Koropé, keke NAPEP and Taxi) and Rail such as train for transit modes.
Brief History Of Railway in Offa
Offa railway station was constructed by the British colonial government in 1896 with an interstate train station. Offa serves as the beginning point for train travel to Lagos and other regions of the nation as one of the major stations along the Lagos-Ibadan-Ilorin rail route. In contrast to Ibadan terminus, which the general people referred to as a district, Offa terminus was constructed as the first terminal following Ibadan. Subsequently, Offa served as the administrative center for Oshogbo and Ilorin, both of which are currently state capitals in Nigeria. Offa attracted a lot of experts from around the globe due to its administrative position in control of Osogbo, Insha, Okuku, Erin-Ile, Ijagbo and Ilorin.
Sports
Offa offers a variety of sports, including football, volleyball, boxing, wrestling, taekwondo, basketball and many others.
Football in Offa
The town has numerous football clubs, including Offa football Club, Offa United, Abiola Babes Football Academy, Unity Soccer Football Academy, Asenal Fc, and others, Offa possesses Olofa Township Stadium to hold sporting events and activities within the town and its surroundings.
Volleyball Club
Offa volleyball Club is one of the well-grounded volleyball Clubs in Nigeria it has won several awards and gain national recognition during the last Nigeria Volleyball Premier League 2022.
Boxing
Boxing is one of the most well-known sports in the world, and it has drawn the interest and resources of many people in Offa. There are already boxing clubs, including "Offa Golden Stars Boxing Club," which competes at the municipal and state levels.
Local Wrestling
Wrestling is a sport that is well known in the sporting world and is significant to the people of Offa since it is a part of their local culture and has been practiced up until this point in Offa and other parts of Nigeria, which the government can encourage
List Of Past Olofa
Bibliography
- Olafimihan, James Bukoye: Iwe Itan Offa (The Book of the History of Offa).