STATE ANTHEM: Ọmọ Ògùn IsẹYá.
Isẹ Yá á á
Isẹ Yá á á
Ọmọ Ògùn Isẹ yá á
Olodùmarè Isẹ mà yá o ee
Isẹ yá
Ẹyin Ọmọ Ògùn ẹ se gírí
Isẹ pọ fún wa láti se e e
Ọmọ rere kì Ísá’ sẹ e
Ọmọ Ògùn kì ís’ọlẹ ẹ
Ẹbẹrẹ gb’ẹrù oo
Ọlọrun mbẹ fún wa
Ẹ tẹra mọ’sẹ o
Isẹ yá
Ọmọ Ògùn, Isẹ yá á.
HISTORY
Ogun State was created on the 3rd of February, 1976. It was carved out of the old Western State of Nigeria and named after the Ogun River which runs across it from North to South.
LOCATION
The State is strategically located. Bordered to the East by Ondo State, in the North by Oyo and Osun States, in the South by Lagos State and the Atlantic Ocean and in the West by Republic of Benin. This makes it an access route to the expansive markets of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
STATE CAPITAL
Abeokuta, the capital and largest urban centre in the state, is about 90 kilometres from Lagos and 740 kilometers from Abuja, the Capital of Nigeria.
POPULATION
8.2 million (as projected by the National Population Commission for 2023)
LAND AREA
The State has a land area of 16, 432sq.km
Local Government Areas:
The state is divided into 20 Local Government Areas.
THE PEOPLE
It is peopled predominantly by the Egbas, Ijebus, Yewas, Remos and Aworis; - who belong to the main Yoruba ethnic group. It also has sub-groups, namely, Ketu, Ikale, Ilaje, Ohori, Anago and Egun. There are also significant numbers of Nigerians from other parts of the country as well as foreign nationals resident in the State.
LANGUAGES
The predominant languages spoken are Yoruba and Egun with several dialects, while English is the official language.
CLIMATE
This follows the tropical pattern with a rainy season, starting around March and ending in November followed by the dry season.
FESTIVALS
Some of the well known festivals are:
Egungun, Agemo, Igunnuko, Ogun, Orisa-Oko, Gelede, Eyo, Oro, Ifa, Sango, Obatala, Osun and Akoogun.
TOURISM LOCATIONS
Tourism locations in Ogun State include:
ADMINISTRATION
Those who have had the honour of administering the State as Governors and Chief Executives since creation in 1976, including ten military Officers and four civilians: –
Lt. Col. Seidu Ayodele Balogun (Major – General Rtd) - 1976-1978
Late Brigadier – General Harris Eghagha (Rtd) - 1978-1979
Late Chief Bisi Onabanjo - 1979-1983
Late Brigadier – General Oladipo Diya (Lt – General Rtd) - 1984-1985
Col. Oladayo Popoola (Major – General Rtd) - 1985-1986
Col. Raji Rasaki (Brig. General Rtd) - 1986-1988
Late Navy Captain Mohammed Lawal (Commodore Rtd) - 1988-1990
Navy Captain Oladeinde Joseph (Commodore Rtd) - 1990-1991
Chief Olusegun Osoba - 1992-1993
Lt. Col. Daniel Akintode (Col. Rtd) - 1993-1996
Group Captain Sam Ewang (Rtd) - 1996-1998
Navy Commodore Kayode Olofinmoyin (Rtd) - 1998-1999
Chief Olusegun Osoba - 1999-2003
Otunba Gbenga Daniel - 2003-2011
Senator Ibikunle Amosun - 2011-2019
Prince Dapo Abiodun - 2019 till date
Those who have served as Deputy Governors are:
Late Chief Samuel Olusesan Soluade - 1979-1983
Late Alhaji M. Adeolu Balogun (Late) - 1990-1991
Late Chief Rafiu Ogunleye - 1992-1993
Sen. Adegbenga Kaka - 1999- 2003
Alhaja Salmot Makanjuola Badru - 2003-2011
Prince Segun Adesegun - 2011-2015
Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Onanuga - 2015-2019
Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele - 2019 till date
POLITICAL
The State is sub-divided into three (3) Senatorial districts, nine (9) Federal Constituencies and twenty-six (26) State Constituencies. For local administration, the State has twenty (20) Local Government Areas.