Akure

Official name	Akure
Native name
Settlement type
Imagesize	300px
Dot x	|dot_y =
Pushpin map	Nigeria
Pushpin label position	bottom
Pushpin map caption	Location in Nigeria
Coordinates region	NG
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Nigeria
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	Ondo State
Leader title1
Established title
Established title2
Established title3
Unit pref	Imperial
Area total km2
Area land km2
Population blank1 title	Ethnicities
Population blank2 title	Religions
Elevation footnotes
Postal code type

Akure is a city in the southwestern region of Nigeria, and is the largest city and capital of Ondo State. The city has a population of approximately 387,087. The people are of the Yoruba ethnic group.

History

Rock engravings dating back to the Mesolithic period, have been discovered on the outskirts of Akure, as has the oldest Homo Sapien fossil to have been found in West Africa thus far, dating back to around 11,000 years ago.

Oral tradition states that Akure was founded by Omoremi Omoluabi, a grandson of the royal progenitor of the Yoruba tribe Oduduwa. The Prince left Ile-Ife, his grandfather's kingdom, in search of a place to settle after passing a strict test administered by Oduduwa himself, and eventually founded the city. The Oba's Palace is located at the centre of the town, and was built in 1150 AD. It has over 15 courtyards, with each having its unique purpose. Ua nla, Ua Ibura, Ua jemifohun, Ua Ikomo are some of the names of the courtyards. For example, in the Ua ubura courtyard, oaths are taken, and the ua Ikomo is used for naming ceremonies. At present, a bigger and more modern palace is being built to the south of the old palace's grounds. Oja Oba, which means the Oba's Market, is just a stone's throw away from the Palace.

Akure's King is known as the Deji of Akure and is supported by six (6) high chiefs or Iwarefa in his or her domain. The totem of Akure is the Leopard and the father of Omoremi Omoluabi was himself called Ekun (this was his regnal name). It is for this reason that every descendant of the Akure clan has been addressed by outsiders as Omo Ekun during the recitation of his or her praise poetry or, alternatively, as 'Omo Akure Oloyemekun', since Omoremi was said to have stayed for a while at Igbo Ooye before coming to the Akure region.

Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida Afunbiowo II was chosen as the Deji of Akure on 13 August 2010 to succeed the previous Oba Oluwadamilare Adeshina, who had been dethroned on 10 June 2010 for sacrilegious misdeeds.

Agriculture and commerce

Akure has two television and three radio stations, NTA Akure, Ondo State Television, Sunshine Radio Akure, Adaba FM and Positive FM Akure. Akure is the trade center for a farming region where cocoa, yams, cassava, corn and tobacco are grown. Cotton is also grown and used to weave cloth.

Health and education

The state specialist hospital in Akure is equipped and staffed with trained medical personnel to cater to the health needs of the populace. To supplement the efforts of the state specialist hospital in this regard, there are other government health centres and private clinics.

The City

The city has tertiary institutions which include: the Federal University of Technology Akure, Federal College of Agriculture, School of Nursing and Midwifery and School of Health Technology. It also has famous secondary schools like St. Thomas Aquinas College, Oyemekun Grammar School, St. Louis Grammar School, and Fiwasaye Girls' Grammar School. The first two are for boys while the latter two are for girls in the tradition of early schools in Nigeria. The town is also host to Federal Government Girls' College and St. Peter's Unity Secondary School, amongst many others.

Within the modern Akure kingdom are two other autonomous communities with their separate obas and traditions. The most prominent is Isikan while the second of these is Isolo. The Oba of Isikan is known as Iralepo while the Oba of Isolo is known as the Osolo of Isolo. In the olden days, these were separate towns that were brought together as a result of wars. Nearby towns include Ilara, Igbaraoke, Iju, Itaogbolu, Idanre, Owo, Ikere and Ondo. The most influential Deji in recent history was Oba Adesida I who was known as Afunbiowo. Several Dejis after him were his direct descendants.

It also serves as the birthplace of notable Nigerians like Chief Olu Falae (one time presidential candidate of a mega political party who currently reigns as a titled aristocrat of the realm), Chief Reuben Fasoranti (leader of the pan-Yoruba group: Afenifere) and several personalities in the academia Philip Emeagwali, industry, the military, judiciary and the civil service. Philip Emeagwali the Gordon Bell Prize winner was born in Akure while the mother of King Sunny Ade is a native of Akure. Akure is also the hometown of Engr. Julius Alabi, former Chief Executive Officer of Cadbury, and Kole Omotosho. The notable lawyer, Kayode Ajulo is also one of the city's proud products, he attended St. Thomas Aquinas College.

Sports

For sporting events, Akure has a stadium with a capacity to sit 15,000 spectators. A new state of the art stadium is presently under construction on the northern flank of the city. The town is presently the home base of Globalcom Premier league team, the Sunshine Stars.

Religion

Akure is a city with various and liberal religious leanings. Christianity, Islam and Traditional or Totemistic worship forming the basis of faith for most residents.The preponderance of churches in the city cannot be ignored. There is the Central Mosque on the Oba Adesida Road,forming a major landmark in the city.Worthy of mention is the fact that they all enjoy a peaceful co-existence in the city hub.

References

Category:Nigerian state capitals Category:Populated places in Ondo State