Iragbiji (also Ira-gba-iji) is a town and headquarter of the Boripe Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria. The town shares border with Ikirun, Osogbo and Ada. The town is inhabited by the Yoruba people. The population of the town is about 164,172. History and Oral Tradition
The name "Iragbiji" came into use over 600 years ago, it was reported that the first settlers made their homes under an IRA tree (Bradilier Thongy). The town was founded by a great hunter from Ejio compound in Moore, Ile Ife called Sunkungbade (Obebe). The man Sunkungbade got his name from a drama he created while he was still an infant. He was said to be in the habit of crying ceaselessly and not even the milk of his mother's breasts could soothe him. As it was the practice in those days, an ifa (oracle) was consulted to determine why he cried so much. The ifa advised his parents to make a miniature crown and place it on his head whenever he cried. The oracle's advice worked, and so Sunkungbade (he who cried to get a crown) was added to his names. The Ifa priest, Oladunjoye, foretold that when Sunkungbade became an adult, he would ask to found his own community and that he should be allowed to do so. As the child matured, he started exhibiting all the traits the priest had foretold. He was courageous, intelligent, strong-willed and especially attached to tradition and culture. He married a woman named Oloyade. He asked his parents to be allow him to leave and found his own settlement. Remembering the oracle's advice, his parents gave their blessing.
Traditional Institutions The Sukungbade's descendants are broken down into four ruling houses: Ajibode, Ogunmolu, Osungbemi, and Arowodoye/Arodoye.
The Sukungbade's descendants have been Aragbijis in unbroken succession since the founding of Iragbiji. The present Aragbiji, Oba Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi, Odundun IV is the fourth on the Ajibode Ruling House Lineage.
Tourist Attractions Iragbiji has a number of natural tourist sites, some of which are as follows: Okanyilule (Double hills), Ile-Ona Museum of Art and Archival materials (collection of M.O.), The Palace museum, Igbodu place/Cave Ori Oke, Ayeye (mythical stream), Alagaso water source, Alagaso cave, Oke Moori, Okuta Odo (Motar) hill, Osun shrine, Obatala shrine, Igbo Igbale, Isikan hill, Ile Nla (Antiquated palace building), Ota Igun hill, Gbanla/Oso Osi site, Ojolukoko shrine, Oba Ogunmolu shrine, Isanpa, Traditional war fence (Earth), Traditional stone wall fence, Sanpona shrine Oke Agbo and Ira Tree site.
Boripe Local Government Chairmen from 1991 The Boripe local government was created in 1991
Prince Gboyega Famoodun Elder Bode Aremu Alhaji Kareem Adegboyega Afolabi Chief Adeniyi Aina Elder Ruben Ajayi Prince Bimbo Oyedele Hon. Kehinde Hassan Moronkeji Hon. Tajudeen Abiodun Ayantoye Hon. (Rev) Oyeyiola Adelani Adebayo Hon. Adeyemi Fatai Taiwo Emaagbadun
Climate The climate of Iragbiji is that of a tropical savanna. Throughout the year, temperatures can go as high as 39 °C (102 °F), with a usual range of 24 °C (75 °F) to 28 °C (82 °F). There are 190 wet days per year with an average of 1482 mm (58.4 inches) of precipitation. There are 11 or 12 hours of daylight.the rainy season ranges from March to September,while the dry season is from the month of October towards the ending of february of the year.
Educational institutions
Iragbiji is experiencing growth in size with number of educational institutions as evident below;
Public primary schools
N. U. D School 1, Isale Oyo, Iragbiji N. U. D. School 2, Isale Oyo, Iragbiji St. Peters Anglican Primary School, Oloti Area, Iragbiji Baptist Primary School, Isale Oyo, Iragbiji C & S Primary School, Ajegunle Area, Iragbiji Oba Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Model Primary School, Orita Odan, Iragbiji C. A. C. Primary School, Idi-Isakaagba, Iragbiji L. A. Primary School, Popo, Iragbiji L. A. Primary School Eesade, Iragbiji Methodist Primary School, Otapete Area, Iragbiji Ajani Okin Memorial Primary School, Adugbo, Iragbiji
C. A. C. Primary School, Idi-Ogungun Community Primary School, Oore Community Primary School, Odebudo Aderibigbe Memorial Primary School, Eleesun Agbeniga Community Primary School, Aro Ayedaade D. C. Primary School, Egbeda Community Primary School, Ayekale
Private Institution Pathfinder College of Health, Iragbiji
Federal institution Federal University of Agriculture, Iragbiji
Public Secondary schools
Oke Iragbiji Grammar School, Iragbiji Baptist Secondary Grammar School, Iragbiji Unity School, Iragbiji Nawar-ud-Deen Grammar School, Isale Oyo, Iragbiji
Private Primary schools
FOMWAN Nursery School, Adugbo, Iragbiji God Supremacy Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji Our Lady of Fatimah Nursery & Primary School, Adikoko, Iragbiji Pace Setter Nursery & Primary School, Egbeda Road, Iragbiji Onward Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji Gods Heritage Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji Prince of Peace Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji Ibad Rahaman Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji Dunit Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji Markaz Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji A2 Group of Schools, Isale Oyo, Iragbiji High Class Group of Schools, Lado Area, Iragbiji
Private Secondary Schools
FOMWAN High School, Iragbiji God supremacy High School, Iragbiji Victory Scientific High School, Iragbiji A2 Comprehensive High School, Iragbiji Muslim Comprehensive High School, Iragbiji Pace Setter Group of Schools, Iragbiji
Tertiary institutions
Pathfinder College of Health Technology, Isanpa, Iragbiji. Proposed Bisola University, Egbeda Road, Iragbiji Osun State College of Education Ilesa Sandwich Centre, Oke-Iragbiji Grammar School, Iragbiji
Health institutions
Comprehensive Health Centre, Iragbiji Four Primary Health Centres (Public) Ten Private Hospitals/Medical Centres, Iragbiji National Primary Health Centre, Iragbiji (Inoperational)
As of 2006, about 75% of children in five different schools in Iragbiji were found to have intestinal helminth parasites (a type of parasitic worm).
References