Obafemi Owode Local Government is one of the Local Governments that came into existence through Edict No.9 of 1976, resulting from the 1976 Local Government reforms, prior to this period, the administration of the area was carried out by Oba Provincial Authority, Owode District Council and Obafemi District Council.
Obafemi Owode Local Government has its headquarters at Owode Egba.
Boundaries
Obafemi Owode Local Government shares common boundaries with the following Local and State Governments:
Population: Obafemi-Owode Local Government has an estimated population of 230,000.
Land mass: It is made up of about 1,204 towns and villages with a land mass of 104,787.07 hectares of largely agricultural land.
People
Obafemi Owode Local Government is made up of people residing in Adigbe, Oba, Kobape, Obafemi, Ogunmakin, Ajebo, Owode, Mowe, Ibafo, Iro town and Mokoloki towns and they are mostly Egbas. Therefore the common language being spoken is the Yoruba with the Egba dialect. The traditional institution of the people is predominantly governed by Baales with the exception of a very early settlement called Iro town, Oba Sanusi Ogunrinde Oyero. Eribi IV (Late), followed by other towns like Ibafo, Ofada, Mokoloki, Owode and others during the administration of the former governor of the state Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Culture
An insight into the cultural aspects of the people reveals that they are blessed with rich Yoruba traditional dances such as Ogodo dance, Egungun and Bolojo dances, in some areas of the Local Government.
Infrastructural development
Obafemi Owode Local Government has some motorable (graded) roads which are linked by state and federal road network for inter and intra city connections.
The Federal roads running through the Local Government area include:
Lagos-Ibadan Express way IbafoIbafo 5Ibafo bridge 2
Abeokuta-Sagamu road
Sagamu-Papalanto road
State roads within the area include:
Owode-Siun-Ofada road
Siun-Iperu road
Owode-Obafemi road
Kobape-Oba-Ojere road
Idi-Aba-Ajebo road
Ogunmakin-Ajebo road
Ofada-Mowe road
Health services
Obafemi Owode Local Government has competent staff and facilities. In all, there are 4 medical doctors and 46 para-medical staffers while there are 22 health clinics and 12 health posts. Both human and material resources are evenly spread all over the health districts. Recently commissioned, are two newly completed health clinics to boost the health projection plan of the Local Government.
Apart from the curative aspect of health, this Local Government attends to the preventive aspect particularly in the area of contagious diseases such as guinea-worm eradication and global 2001 programme. The Rotary Club of Ake, Abeokuta has also given support in this respect.
File:Aerial view of ibafo 3.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Economic and investment opportunities
Agriculture
Obafemi Owode Local Government is endowed with vast fertile land suitable for the cultivation of rice, kolanut, sugarcane, maize, cassava, tomatoes and a wide variety of vegetables. The Local Government is generally regarded as the land of OFADA rice. The major food crops of the area includes cassava, rice, cocoyam, plantain, maize and vegetable, while palm produced and cocoa form the major cash crops.
Occupation
The people are predominantly farmers, most of whom engage themselves in farming of arable crops. There are also some who engage in livestock and fishing.
In recent times, however, the people of the area engage themselves in Quarry business, artisan works and handcrafts, such as dye making and pottery. The popular adire fabrics are also produced in some areas of the Local Government.
Major markets
The major markets in the area includes the Siun market, Ogunmakin market, Obafemi market, Mokoloki market, Mowe, Ibafo and Owode markets.
Tourism
Obafemi Owode Local Government has within it privately owned hotels for the relaxation and comfort of residents and visitors. Notable among these, are the Owode motel, based in Owode-Egba and the Don-Emilia Royal hotel based in Mowe-Ibafo.
Tourist attractions of the area include the wildlife forest of the area, grass less mountains found in some area and the Youth centre at Ofada town.
Administrative and political divisions
For administrative convenience, Obafemi Owode Local Government is politically divided into 12 wards:
