Offa (Offa)
Offa is a city in the Kwara State of Nigeria, with a population of about 120,100 inhabitants. The town is noted for its weaving and dyeing trade, using vegetable dyes made from locally grown indigo and other plants. Offa is well known for cultivation of sweet potatoes and maize which also formed part of the favourite staple foods of the indigenes in the town. Cattle, goats and sheep are also raised in the environs. The main religions practised in the town are Islam, Christianity and traditional religions.
The ancient tradition for which the town is known is wrestling. Offa's rich history is comprehensively documented in a book written by James Bukoye Olafimihan an educationist and clergyman titled 'Iwe Itan Offa', literally translated The Book of the History of Offa. Offa is on the railway line from Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria, and Offa served as the railway terminus before the line was extended north to Kano and Nguru. Offa is the second largest town in Kwara state, located in central Nigeria with geographic coordinates o itf 8’9N 4’43E. Offa was founded towards the end of the 14th century by a Yoruba prince from Oyo. The traditional head is the Olofa, who is assisted by prominent knighted chiefs including Essa, Ojomu, Balogun, Shawo and Asalofa. The praise name of Offa is "Ijakadi loro Offa", a Yoruba phrase meaning "wrestling is our game". The city's mascot is the peacock bird which is one of the most prominent exotic avian species in the region and also because the town is a beautiful place. Offa has more recently become well known in Nigeria for being home to Adesoye College, one of the most prominent private schools in Nigeria. Offatedo in Osun state, Iyana Offa in Oyo State, Offa in Côte d'Ivoire were established by the people from Offa.
Offa is centrally located in the midst and middle of many neighboring towns like Erin Ile in the south, Ijagbo in the north, Igosun and Ipee in the east and Ilemona, Irra, Ikotun and Ojoku in the west.
There is a big market located within the city centre, known as " Owode market". The market which is the only major market in the Offa Local Government has existed for nearly 40 years. The market serve both the members of the community and its neighboring towns.
The supreme traditional ruler (king) of the town is the Olofa who is assisted by five High Chiefs namely Asalofa, Essa, Ojomu, Sawo, and Balogun. There are two hundred and five thousand traditional households. Since the founding of the town in late 14th century, twenty four Kings, (Olofas) have ruled as follows:
The ancient tradition for which the town is known is wrestling. Offa's rich history is comprehensively documented in a book written by James Bukoye Olafimihan an educationist and clergyman titled 'Iwe Itan Offa', literally translated The Book of the History of Offa. Offa is on the railway line from Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria, and Offa served as the railway terminus before the line was extended north to Kano and Nguru. Offa is the second largest town in Kwara state, located in central Nigeria with geographic coordinates o itf 8’9N 4’43E. Offa was founded towards the end of the 14th century by a Yoruba prince from Oyo. The traditional head is the Olofa, who is assisted by prominent knighted chiefs including Essa, Ojomu, Balogun, Shawo and Asalofa. The praise name of Offa is "Ijakadi loro Offa", a Yoruba phrase meaning "wrestling is our game". The city's mascot is the peacock bird which is one of the most prominent exotic avian species in the region and also because the town is a beautiful place. Offa has more recently become well known in Nigeria for being home to Adesoye College, one of the most prominent private schools in Nigeria. Offatedo in Osun state, Iyana Offa in Oyo State, Offa in Côte d'Ivoire were established by the people from Offa.
Offa is centrally located in the midst and middle of many neighboring towns like Erin Ile in the south, Ijagbo in the north, Igosun and Ipee in the east and Ilemona, Irra, Ikotun and Ojoku in the west.
There is a big market located within the city centre, known as " Owode market". The market which is the only major market in the Offa Local Government has existed for nearly 40 years. The market serve both the members of the community and its neighboring towns.
The supreme traditional ruler (king) of the town is the Olofa who is assisted by five High Chiefs namely Asalofa, Essa, Ojomu, Sawo, and Balogun. There are two hundred and five thousand traditional households. Since the founding of the town in late 14th century, twenty four Kings, (Olofas) have ruled as follows:
Map - Offa (Offa)
Map
Country - Nigeria
 |
 |
| Flag of Nigeria | |
Nigeria has been home to several indigenous pre-colonial states and kingdoms since the second millennium BC, with the Nok civilization in the 15th century BC, marking the first internal unification in the country. The modern state originated with British colonialization in the 19th century, taking its present territorial shape with the merging of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate in 1914 by Lord Lugard. The British set up administrative and legal structures while practising indirect rule through traditional chiefdoms in the Nigeria region. Nigeria became a formally independent federation on 1 October 1960. It experienced a civil war from 1967 to 1970, followed by a succession of military dictatorships and democratically elected civilian governments until achieving a stable democracy in the 1999 presidential election. The 2015 general election was the first time an incumbent president failed to be re-elected.
Currency / Language
| ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| NGN | Nigerian naira | ₦ | 2 |
| ISO | Language |
|---|---|
| EN | English language |
| HA | Hausa language |
| IG | Igbo language |
| YO | Yoruba language |