OGUN STATE

Posted by Nigeria Direct on 2009/02/15 | Views: 755 |

OGUN STATE

Governor: Gbenga Daniel (PDP)

Deputy Governor: Salimot Makanjuola Badru

Contact:
Office of the Governor OR Deputy Governor,
Pmb 2058
Oke Mosan, Abeokuta
E-mail: info@otunbagbengadaniel.org
Website: www.ogunstate.gov.ng, http://www.otunbagbengadaniel.org/


Date Created: 1976

Capital City: Abeokuta

Main Towns: Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ilaro, Ijebu-Igbo, Ota and Aiyetoro.

Ogun State which covers a land areas of approximately 16,406,226 square kilometres is bounded in the west by the Republic of Benin, on the south by Lagos State and the Atlantic Ocean, on the east by Ondo State and in the north by Oyo State.

Ogun State has a total of 19 local government areas. These are: Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Ogun Water-Side, Ijebu- Ode, Ijebu North, Ijebu East, Odogbolu, Ikenne, Sagamu, Obafemi Owode, Odeda, Iffo, Ado-Odo/Ota, Egbado North, Egbado South, Ilugun Alaro, Imeko-Afon, Idarapo, Ipokia and Ewekoro.

Its natural resources include an extensive fertile soil suitable for agriculture and mineral deposits. The climate and soil of the state are suitable for the cultivation of a wide range of crops. The major food crops include rice, maize, cassava, yam and banana. The main cash crops include cocoa, kolanut, rubber, palm oil and palm kernels. Ogun State is one of the largest producers of kolanut in the country. It also produces timber and rubber on a large scale. About 20% of its total area is constituted of forest reserve suitable for livestock.

Cultural heritage in the state are many. Some leading traditional festivals observed include Olumo, Ogun, Igunnuko, Egungun, Gelede, Obalufon and Oro. The state is famous for its Adire (tie and dye) textile products and also the Aso-Oke materials which are very colourful and eye-catching traditional festivals in the state held at regular intervals are a good source of interest to the tourist. Ogun State has good tourist potentials both natural and artificial. The famous Olumo Rock is an interesting source of attraction .

The State has enormous industrial potentials. Its natural resources, manpower and geographical proximity to Lagos makes it a potential industrial zone to the nation. Its extensive limestone deposit according to scientists can last for some five hundred years. The multi-million naira cement factory in Sagamu is the largest cement factory in West Africa. Both this factory and Ewekoro Cement factory depend on the local lime stone resources for raw materials. Other mineral resources available include chalk, phosphate, high quality stones and gravels for construction works.

There are also other modern industries producing high quality beer, bicycle tyres, ceramic goods, high quality clay bricks, carpet and clothing materials.

There are about 1,371 primary schools, 230 secondary schools and a number of vocational school's and seven technical colleges. Higher institutions include a Teacher Training College of Education at Ijebu Ode, a Polytechnic at Abeokuta and Ogun State University, Ago Iwoye. Other institutions are owned by the Federal Government and they include two Federal Government Colleges, the Federal Polytechnic and Federal University of Agriculture