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| GEOLOGY |
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ARTS AND CULTURE |
Some of the main factors that gave Osogbo the popularity it enjoys among the major towns in Nigeria are its Arts and culture. Principal among the latter is the highly celebrated Osun festival.
 The annual celebration of the festival has now gained national and international acclamation, popularity and prestige to the extent that people travel from far and near on cultural pilgrimage to Osogbo to watch the ceremony. Osun festival is unique in the sense that it cuts across religious indignation due to the simple fact that all sons and daughter of Osogbo naturally feel indebted to the goddess of Osun. The festival is normally celebrated once a year and it is a weeklong programme. In addition, beautiful art studios of international standards abound in the town. |
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OSUN FESTIVAL |
It is the general belief among the indigenes of Osogbo that Osun possesses mystical power. Osun is known to be one of the wives of sango who was once an Alaafin of Oyo. She is also regarded as the people, especially women and children. There is the belief that the water from the Osun River, especially the one obtained after the rituals at “Ojubo”, has fantastic curative power. The water is also known for its magical powers in making barren women fertile. This is the background to the common saying, “Osun Olmoyoyo” – “Osun, the one with very many children”.  Osun festival as earlier mentioned is a weeklong celebration involving series of traditional and religious activities. On the festival day, many women and young children would flock to the shrine in order to sip from the flowing river. On this particular day, people come for different reasons ranging from requests for her love and kindness to fertility to be able to bear children. A lot of sacrificial materials such as pounded yam, maize pudding and vegetables are normally presented as gifts to Osun. The rituals are conducted by the priest and priestess. In reverence to osun, fishing and hunting are forbidden around the shrine and cultivation of any kind is not allowed around the adjoining groove. |
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LOCATION, BOUNDARIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES |
Osogbo Local Government shares boundaries with eight (8) other Local Governments in Osun State. In the North by Irepodun and Egbedore; Obokun and Boripe in the East; Atakunmosa West in the South; Ede in the West and Olorunda in the central. The land area of Osogbo local government is about 480 square kilometers. It is predominantly low land area with some rocky subterranean in certain areas like Oke Baale, Oke Ayepe, Oke Osun and Agunbelewo. The popular river Osun has its fountain at Isale osun in Osogbo and could be found at various locations in Osogbo. The vegetation is maily savannah. |
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CLIMATE |
The town with an annual rainfall of about 0.6 meters lies mainly in the deciduous forest area which spreads towards the grassland belt of Ikirun North of Osogbo.
Osogbo is situated on a raised land, which is well over 500metre (800feet) above the sea level and is drained by the Osun River and its tributaries. The climate is less humid although the effect of the Harmattan winds is strongly felt in the dry season. Geologically, the land is made up of pre-Cambrain rocks, the so-called basement complex form which the fertile clayey loam of the surrounding district is derived.
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TOURISM |
Tourism is in existence in Osogbo local government. It has now been acclaimed, as inter-cultural heritage site by UNESCO. Tourism is the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for leisure, business and other purposes.  It involves the temporary movement of people from their usual environment to other area for the purpose of leisure, recreation, holiday, sports, health, education, religions, meetings etc. Tourism has become the world fastest growing industry with no signs of slowing down in the fore-seeable future with its associated impacts and economic benefits, like rural opportunities, Tax Revenue, Employment and infrastructural investment. Osun Shrine in Osogbo usually plays host to worshippers.
Tourist centers in Osogbo local government include:
Osun Osogbo sacred groove and world heritage site.
Onirese calabash and antiquity cenre. Station road, Osogbo.
Artists Kooperative Association, Iwo-Ibadan road, Osogbo.
Ope Olori Meta, Ile Awiye, Oke-Baale, Osogbo.
Genesis Art Gallery, Station road, Osogbo.
Susan Wenger Gallery, Ibokun road, Osogbo.
Buraimoh Art Gallery, Odi-Olowo, Osogbo.
Twin Seven-Seven Art Gallery, Opposite Osogbo Grammar School, Osogbo.
Okonfo Road Kawaea, Jungle communication centre, Gbongan road, Osogbo.
Ancient palace of Ataoja’s palace.
National Museum, Osogbo at Atoja’s palace, Osogbo.
Late Duro Ladipo (Mbari Mbayo), Station road, Osogbo.
late Oyin Adejobi’s off Station Road, Osogbo. |
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| PROVISIONAL FIGURE FOR THE HEADCOUNT OF 1991 OBTAINED FROM THE NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION |
The 1991 official census figure released by the National Population Commission put Osogbo Local Government at 120,000 with the total number of females as 70,000 and 50,000 for the males. This figure was challenged by the local government at the first censes Tribunal Abuja (In Suit No C 1/05/24/LG on 22nd June, 1993). Osogbo Local Government won the legal battle but the National Population Commission has not taken necessary actions to correct the anomaly.
The number of staff of Osogbo Local Government Council is 381. |
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ELECTORAL WARDS |
| There are fifteen (15) electoral wards in Osogb Local Government. They are: |
| One - Ataoja “A”
Two - Ataoja “B”
Three - Ataoja “C”
Four - Ataoja “D”
Five - Ataoja “E”
Six - Otun Jagun “B”
Seven - Alaagba
Eight - Areagbo
Nine - Jaagun “A”
Ten - Jaagun “B”
Eleven - Babakekere “A” & “B”
Twelve - Otun-Jagun “A”
Thirteen - Ekeeta
Fourteen - Otun-Balogun “A” & “B”
Fifteen - Ekeerin “B”
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