Omu-Aran

Omu-Aran is a town in the Nigerian state of Kwara. It originated from Ife and currently the local government headquarters of Irepodun local government. Omu-Aran is about 8 kilometers away from Aran-Orin.[1]

Omu Aran
Omu Aran
Omu-Aran
Coordinates: 8°08′00″N 5°06′00″E
Country Nigeria
StateKwara
LGA(s)Irepodun
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT (UTC+1))

History

Omu-Aran was founded 500 years ago.[2] The community was founded due to the migration of people from Ile-Ife. There was a drought in Ile-Ife. To know the cause of the drought, the oracle was consulted. The oracle said Ife was over-crowded and therefore some people had to leave. Some princes were selected to migrate to other places and were given the symbol of authority. One of the selected princes was Olomu-Aperan, the founder of Omu-Aran.[3] Olomu-Aperan was the adopted child of Omutoto, one of the wives of Oba Olofinaiye of Ile-Ife. Omu-Aran is made up of people from different backgrounds that migrated to the present site of the town.[4] Omu-Aran became the headquarters of Irepodun LGA on 24 August 1976.

Economy

Due to the vegetation of the area, Omu-Aran residents were predominately farmers. They were also famous in handicraft like basket weaving and blacksmith works.

Festival
  • EGÚNGÚN FESTIVAL. This includes egungun àgbà, egungun pàràká, egungun ode (láyèwú), and egungun eléwe. Egungun is usually held once every two years in Omu-Aran and environs in remembrance of the ancestors.[5]
  • ÒGBÓ FESTIVAL (also called "Orugbo Festival") is an openly held annual festival in Omu-Aran city to pay homage to OLOGBOMONA (Olomu Aperan) and to his goddess mother popularly called ÒMÙTÓTÓ (also known as "Ìyá Ògbó" or "Ìyá Àgbà"). This festival is popularly held in Omu-Aran (Igbomina Capital City) on behalf of the entire Igbomina-Yoruba land.
  • EPA and ANGERE FESTIVAL is also held in Omu-Aran within an interval of two years except at special occasions when angere comes out to entertain.
  • ALÁTÀ FESTIVAL is one of the traditional festivals that hold in Omu-Aran within a period of one to two years. Alata is a kind of masquerade made with palm fronds and ashes. Alata runs with a cane called "ÀTÒRÌN" in Yoruba. It pursues after some selected runners that dare it. Beating with canes is part of the festival (in which individuals present at the venue will engage each other in beating with the slash of a cane).
  • CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL is also one of the carnival-like annual festivals and is blissfully held in Omu-Aran. This is usually in the month of December. Likewise, the ILÉYÁ FESTIVAL is lovely to behold in Omu-Aran. While Christians in Omu-Aran do host Christmas Festivals, Muslims in Omu-Aran similarly celebrate Ileya at Salah periods annually.
  • OMU-ARAN DAY is a kind of festival in Omu-Aran usually held within an interval of about four years. The event is used to raise funds for the physical development of the community. From funds raised from such a community fundraising in the past, the community has built some secondary schools (4 to 5 in number) which after completion were all freely handed over by the community to the government to aid good education in the state the community belongs to. Apart from secondary schools built by the community from such a fund, there are some roads in the community such as "RING ROAD" among others that the community commenced its development before government later came to complete. Likewise, the OMU-ARAN CITY COMPLEX was developed from hosting such an event in Omu-Aran.
  • ÌKÓRÈ ÒMÙ-ÀRÁN is held annually in Omu-Aran to generate fund to meet community expenses. From such a fund, government water-works and an electricity powerbase stationed in the community have been assisted financially to function.

Language

Since Omu-Aran is an Igbomina land the language widely spoken in Omu-Aran is Igbomina or Igbona. [6]

Leadership

The system of leadership used is the traditional Oba system. The traditional leader is known as OLOMU. The current Olomu of Omu-Aran, His Royal Majesty, Oba AbdulRaheem Oladele Adeoti Akolade Agboluaje ascended the throne on Saturday 22nd September 2018.[7] The previous Oba was Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye (Adogbajale-bi-ileke II), died on 30 November 2017. Before Oba Ibitoye was Oba Suleiman Durotoye who was on the throne for close to 5 decades. Oba Durotoye was the longest-ruling king Omuaran ever had.

Notable people
  • Late Colonel David Bamigboye - (Born 7 December 1940 till 21 September 2018) - First military commander and politician of Kwara State for nine years.
  • David Oyedepo - (Born 27 September 1954) - Presiding Bishop Living Faith Church Worldwide (a.k.a. Winners Chapel).
  • Engr. Oyinloye Bisi - former Executive Director of the PHCN
  • Most Rev. Dr. Prophet S.A Abidoye - 5th spiritual father of Cherubim and Seraphim movement
  • Lateef Jakande- journalist, former governor of Lagos state
  • Late Alhaji (Chief) Salimonu Ajide-Olaiya Owolewa
  • Late Alhaji Giwa Yusuf Oyinloye
  • Late Alhaji (Chief) Karimu Olawuyi and Alhaji Sunmonu Olawuyi (both brothers)
  • Late Alhaji Salami Aransiola Alabaja
  • Reverend James Jide Ayanda -Renowned Banker and Founder of Mount Horeb Intercontinental Church with headquarters in London.
  • Sir Adeboye O. Ropo - General Coordinator, OMU-ARAN PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT (OPM)
  • Chief Tejumola Alabi
  • Oye Owolewa - Shadow representative to the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington, D.C.

Schools
  • Government Secondary School AKA (GSS).
  • Omu-Aran High School.
  • Ogbo Grammar School Omu-Aran.
  • Aperan Comprehensive College Omu-Aran.
  • Ofe-Aran Commercial College Omu-Aran.
  • Federal Government Girls' College Omu-Aran.
  • ECWA Girls' College Omu-Aran.
  • Christian Government College Omu-Aran.
  • Landmark University Secondary School Omu-Aran.
  • Fortunate Secondary School Omu-Aran.
  • Victory International College Omu-Aran.
  • Landmark University Omu-Aran. [8]
  • Moses Orimolade University Omu-Aran.[9]

References
  1. Team, Maplandia.com. "Omu Aran Map - Nigeria Google Satellite Maps". www.maplandia.com. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  2. 'The chronicles of Omu-Aran' by OSC, published by Upper Standards Ltd., 2002
  3. "Igbominaland in the context of Yoruba history" 2006, pg.223
  4. "ISOKAN OMO YORUBA WEBSITE: HISTORY OF OMU-ARAN-by Sola Adeniken". isokanfpb.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  5. http://www.travelhubnigeria.com/major%20festival.html
  6. "The History of Igbomina People".
  7. Magaji, Oladipo (7 October 2018). "Excitement At Installation Of New Olomu". Leadership. Nigeria. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  8. "University Overview".
  9. "Moses Orimolade University | Educartis".
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