HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT: Ogun State is a state in South-western Nigeria. It borders Lagos State to the south, Oyo and Osun states to the North, Ondo State to the east and the republic of Benin to the west. Ogun State is bounded in the West by the Benin Republic, in the South by Lagos State and the Atlantic Ocean, in the East by Ondo State and in the North by Oyo State. Ogun State, which was created in February 1976 with Abeokuta as the state capital, comprises the old Abeokuta and ljebu provinces. It was one of the nineteen states created out of Olumo Rock the former twelve state structure of 1967. The state shares an international boundary with the Republic of Benin to the West and interstate boundaries with Oyo State in the north, Lagos State in the south and Ondo State in the east. ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE: Ogun State had seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) at its creation, out of which three additional ones were created to bring the number of local government areas in the state to ten. These are Abeokuta, Egbado North, EgbadoSouth, lfo/Ota, ljebuEast, ljebu North, ljebuOde, ljebuRemo, ObafemiOwode and Odeda local government areas (LGAs). In the further creations of Local Government Areas in 1981, 1989 and 1991, the former Abeokuta LGA became AbeokutaNorth and AbeokutaSouth LGAs, lfo/Ota became lfo and AdoOdo/Ota LGAs, ljebu Remo became Sagamu and Ikenne LGAs, ljebuOde became ljebuOde and Odogbolu LGAs and ljebuEast became ljebuEast and Ogun Waterside LGAs, making the total number of LGAs in the state to become fifteen (Odugbemi, 1993). The last local government creation exercise of March 1997 added five more LGAs to the fifteen in existence then, bringing the total number to twenty LGAs in the state. These are Ewekoro (from lfo LGA) with its headquarters at ltori, ljebu NorthEast with Atan as its headquarters, Obanta's lmekoAfon having its headquarters at Cenotaph, Ijebu lmeko, lpokia with its headquarters at Ode lpokia and Remo North having Isara as its headquarters . The creation of more LGAs in the state has three important elements for growth and even development of the state. First, it has brought the government nearer to the generality of the people who would be able to take part in, and give their inputs to, the government decisions which affect them. Their participation in the governance of their locality would generate pertinent questions on those governments activities that are likely to have negative effects on the development process. Second, it could generate competition among the LGAs which would foster efficiency in resource allocation, utilisation and the overall development of the LGAs. Third, the new local government head quarters have become local central Rock-soaked Ogun River scene, places and Ewekoro growth centres from which centrifugal forces could spread development impulse to the outlying, lagging areas. There are, however, two weaknesses in the proliferation of LGAs, the awareness of which should guide future LGAs creation. First, there was no continuity in the administrative units for which data could easily be aggregated or disaggregated. This creates difficulties for data collection and analysis over time. Second, some of the LGAs were not economically viable. The expected spread of growth to the backward areas may not occur. PEOPLE Ogun State is made up of six ethnic groups viz, the Egba, the Ijebu, the Remo, the Egbado, the Awori and the Egun. The language of the majority of the people of Ogun State is Yoruba but this is however broken into scores of dialects. MAIN CITIES AND TOWNS Abeokuta (capital city), Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ilaro, Ijebu- Igbo and Aiyetoro LAND MASS, LOCATION AND POPULATION Ogun State has a total land area of 16,409 square kilometres and is situated at latitude 7° 00’ north and longitude 3° 35’ east. It has a population of 3,751,140 (2006 census figures) and accounts for 2.7% of Nigeria’s total population. ORIGINAL INHABITANTS AND SETTLERS The Yorubas are the main ethnic group in Ogun. Abeokuta (which translates to ‘under the rocks’), the state capital, was founded around 1830 by a hunter called Sodeke who was the leader of the Egba refugees that fled when the once-powerful Oyo Empire crumbled under the weight of internecine wars. Abeokuta later gained prominence as the capital of the Egbas and faced several invasion threats by the Kingdom of Dahomey (located where the modern-day Republic of Benin lies). However, with the help of some European missionaries and British officers, the Egbas were able to repulse the threat of Dahomey. The exposure with Dahomey resulted in cultural interaction as well: the Egun, one of the prominent tribes in Ogun State, are said to have migrated from there. ETHNIC GROUPS Ogun State indigenes belong to the Yoruba ethnic group, comprising mainly the Egba, the Yewa, the Awori, the Egun, the Ijebu and the Remo. RELIGION The two dominant religions in the state are Christianity and Islam. Traditional religion is still practiced, though not by a large proportion of the people. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Ado-Odo/Ota, Egbado North, Egbado South, Ewekoro, Ifo, Ijebu East, Ijebu North, Ijebu North East, Ijebu Ode, Ikenne, Imeko- Afon, Ipokia, Obafemi-Owode, Ogun Waterside, Odeda, Odogbolu, Remo North, Shagamu. EDUCATION Ogun has one federal university ; the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and two state government universities; the Olabisi Onabanjo university,Ago Iwoye(formerly known as Ogun State University) and the Tai Solarin university of education (TASUED) Ijebu Ode. Ogun State thus has the highest number of registered universities in Nigeria (nine in all) with five new private universities also in the state. Ogun state has two major government hospitals,The Federal Medical Center,Abeokuta and the Olabisi Onabanjo university teaching hospital,Sagamu.Ogun State has produced many of the most important Yoruba politicians and musicians in Nigeria, including President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Chief MKO Abiola,Prince Bola Ajibola, Chief Kuforiji Olubi, Prof Ola Rotimi, Prof Olikoye Ransome Kuti, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Prof.Wole Soyinka and Chief Obafemi Awolowo. 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. Mineral resources available include chalk, phosphate, high quality stones and gravels for construction works. TOURISM Management Training Centre, Ogere Man-made * Adire Market, Itoko Abeokuta Cultural * Olumo Rock, Abeokuta Physical * Birikisu Sungbo Shrine Cultural/Religious Attractions * Obute-Oni Tourist Beach Natural * Ancient Palace of the Cultural/ Alake of Egbaland Monument * Ogunde Theatre Centre Man- made/Monument. MONUMENTS AND MUSEUMS Cultural features in Ogun State include Suna Cultural Hall not far from ljebu-Ode which contain archaeological findings; Birikisu Sungbo Shrine at Oke Eri village and the Orisagamu Water Pot near Sagamu. Ogun State is also home to the tombs of famous native sons and daughters such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo at Ikenne, Pastor S.B.J. Oshoffa at Celestial City, and lmeko and Madam Tinubu at Abeokuta. The National Museum at Abeukuta was opened to the public in 2002 and has a photographic exhibition on Treasures of Ancient Nigeria, as well archaeological findings from Olumo Rock. Madam Tinubu’s Tomb Madam Tinubu’s Tomb is a major tourist attraction in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Madam Efunroye Tinubu was a reputed adversary of the British colonial government during the colonial era. As punishment, she was banished from Lagos to her native Abeokuta. She was a former slave trader who. When she realised the relative difference between domestic slavery and the inhumane treatment of slaves in Europe and the Americas, she became an active opponent to all form of slave trading. She became the first Iyalode of the Egba clan and was able to build a small financial empire through trading in arms and salt. She is considered an important figure in West African history due to her political significance as a powerful female aristocrat of feudal Nigeria. She died in 1887. Birikisu Sungbo Shrine The Birikisu Sungbo Shrine is a popular tourist destination located in Oke Eri in the Ijebu Ode LGA. The shrine is believed to be the burial site of the Queen of Sheba, one of the concubines of King Solomon. Legend has it that the Queen of Sheba, an Arabian princess, migrated to Oke Eri in her old age where she died and was buried. Birikisu Sungbo Shrine FESTIVALS Major traditional festivals include lgunuko celebrations at lfo NIa village in lfo LGA; Agemo festival at ljebu- Ode; Boat Regatta at lwopin; Ojude Oba festival at ljebu-Ode and Tabborah day in Remo North LGA. Ojude Oba The Ojude Oba celebration in Ijebuland, Ogun State is an annual event during which indigenes congregate at the palace of the Awujale (king) for a carnival-like celebration. The glitz and colour associated with the festival place it among the most famous cultural festivals in the country. The Ijebu sons and daughters, Muslims and non- Muslims always look forward to this event. It comes up on the third day of the Eid-el-kabir celebration to celebrate the age-long tradition. This is the time the people at home are joined by those in diaspora together with their friends and well-wishers, irrespective of their religion and political affiliation come together to enjoy themselves. Agemo Foremost among the deities in Ijebu is the Agemo whose festival is celebrated by Ijebu communities in June/July of every year.