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Osun State (/ˈoʊʃuːn/; Yoruba: Ìpínlẹ̀ Ọ̀ṣun), occasionally known as the State of Osun by the state
government, is a state in southwestern Nigeria; bounded to the east by Ekiti and Ondo states, to the
north by Kwara State, to the south by Ogun State and to the west by Oyo State. Named for the River
Osun—a vital river which flows through the state—the state was formed from the southeast of Oyo
State on 27 August 1991 and has its capital as the city of Osogbo.[4][5]
State of Osun
State
Flag of State of Osun
Flag
Official seal of State of Osun
Seal
Nicknames: Land of Virtue
Location of State of Osun in Nigeria
Location of State of Osun in Nigeria
Coordinates: 07°30′N 4°30′E
Country
Nigeria
Geopolitical Zone
South West
Date created
27 August 1991
Capital
Osogbo
Government
• Body
Government of Osun State
• Governor
Adegboyega Oyetola (APC)
• Deputy Governor
Benedict Gboyega Alabi
• Legislature
Osun State House of Assembly
• Senators
C: Ajibola Basiru (APC)
E: Fadahunsi Francis Adenigba (PDP)
W: Adelere Adeyemi Oriolowo (APC)
• Representatives
List
Area
• Total
9,251 km2 (3,572 sq mi)
• Rank
28th of 36
Population (2006 census)
• Total
3,416,959[1]
• Rank
17th of 36
Demonym
Osunian
GDP (PPP)
• Year
2007
• Total
$7.28 billion[2]
• Per capita
$2,076[2]
Time zone
UTC+01 (WAT)
postal code
230001
ISO 3166 code
NG-OS
HDI (2018)
0.609[3]
medium · 14th of 37
Website
www.osunstate.gov.ng
Of the 36 states of Nigeria, Osun is the ninth smallest in area and nineteenth most populous with an
estimated population of about 4.7 million as of 2016.[6][7] Geographically, the state is divided between
the Nigerian lowland forests in most of the state and the drier Guinean forest–savanna mosaic in the
north. The major geographical features are rivers including the state's namesake, the River Osun which
bisects the state's interior before forming much of the state's southwestern border with Oyo State and
flowing south. Other important rivers are the Erinle and Oba rivers, both Osun tributaries which flow
from the north before meeting the Osun along the southwestern border. Among the state's fauna are
mona monkey, common kestrel, purple heron, and royal antelope, along with some of Nigeria's last
remaining Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee and African forest elephant which inhabit the heavily
threatened forests along the southern borders with Ondo and Ogun states.[8][9][10]
Osun State is primarily inhabited by the Yoruba people, mainly of the Ibolo, Ifẹ, Igbomina, Ijesha, and
Oyo subgroups.
In the pre-colonial period, the area that is now Osun State was split up between various Western Yoruba
states with some states being town-based as others were part of larger empires like the Oyo Empire.
From 1877 to 1893, Western Yoruba states fought the Kiriji War alongside other Eastern Yoruba groups
against Eastern Yoruba groups; the war ended in a British-brokered stalemate before the area was
colonized and incorporated into the British Southern Nigeria Protectorate which later merged into
British Nigeria in 1914. After independence in 1960, the area of now-Osun was a part of the post-
independence Western Region until 1967 when the region was split and the area became part of the
Western State. In 1976, the Western State was split and the state's west became Oyo State. Fifteen
years later, Oyo State's east was broken off to form Osun State.
Economically, Osun State is largely based around agriculture, mainly of cocoa, cassava, millet,
maize,Potato and yam crops. Other key industries are services, especially in urban areas, along with
artisanal mining and livestock herding. Osun is home to several of Nigeria's most famous landmarks,
including the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, one of Nigeria's pre-eminent institutions of
higher learning. The university is located in the ancient town of Ile-Ifẹ, an important early center of
political and religious development for Yoruba culture. Other important cities and towns include the
ancient kingdom-capitals of Ila Orangun, Iragbiji, Ikirun, Oke-Ila Orangun, Ijebu-Jesa, Ipetumodu, Ede,
Iwo, Ejigbo, Ibokun, Ode-Omu, Otan Ayegbaju, Ifetedo, Esa-Oke, Ilesa, Okuku, Otan-Ile and Igbajo. Osun
State is additionally noted for having the second highest literacy rate in the country.[11]
History
Culture
Demographics
Tourism
Mineral Resources in Osun State
Muslims and Christians in Osun
Education
Local Government Areas
Notable people
See also
References
External links
Last edited 8 days ago by Femlon
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