Akoko

ʻAkoko, with an initial glottal stop, is the Hawaiian term for the plant genus Euphorbia (spurges).

Akoko is a large Northeast Yoruba settlement in Yorubaland, the area spans from Ondo state to Edo state in southwest Nigeria. Akoko takes a large percentage of the local governments in Ondo state. Out of the present 18 Local Government Councils it takes four, Akoko North-East, Akoko North-West, Akoko South-East and Akoko South-West. Adekunle Ajasin University, a state owned university, is located in Akungba-Akoko. A state specialist hospital is at Ikare Akoko, while a general hospital is located in Oka-Akoko.

Geography

Akoko comprises about 40 small towns, predominantly situated in rocky areas of Ondo state. The rocky terrain nevertheless, may have helped the region to become a melting pot of sorts with different cultures coming from the north, eastern and southern Yoruba towns and beyond. Akoko became one of the few Yoruba clans with no distinctive local dialect of their own. Major Akoko settlements include Ikare, Oka, Oba, Ikun, Arigidi, Ogbagi, Okeagbe, Ikaram, Ibaram,Iyani, Akungba, Erusu, Ajowa, Akunu, Gedegede, Isua, Auga, Ikakumo, Supare, Epinmi, Ipe, Ifira, Ise, Iboropa, Irun, Afin, Igashi, Sosan, Ipesi, Etioro, Ayegunle and Oyin. In addition to this group, there are several other autonomous communities.

Akoko is popularly known as the home of education and has the second largest number of professors in the country, with the Ekiti taking the lead.

Ikare Akoko is the biggest city in the Akoko area. It has an I.C.T resource center where its people have the opportunity to connect to and communicate with other individuals across the country and around the world. In addition, the city also has the largest number of cybercafes in the Akoko area. Also another big and well know general Hospital is being located in Ipe Akoko, and a big secondary school Ipe High School.

Industry

Predominant traditional occupations of the community include large scale farming and teaching. In contemporary time, military, policing and para-military is the common denominator of all Akoko communities. This is clearly displayed in the fact that every Akoko state constituency produced in the last 20 years at least a commissioner of police or equivalent in the other military and para-military (Customs, Immigration, Prisons, Federal Road Safety Corps etc.). Akoko also produced the most prominent Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps in the person of Dr. Olu Agunloye and the former Inspector General of Police Gabriel Sunday Ehindero.

Notable people

Notable members of the Akoko clan include:

• Saint Moses Orimolade Tunolase, founder of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim.
• HRM oba Francis, the olupe of ipe Akoko
• HRM Oba Kadir Momoh (CON), the Olukare of Ikare Akoko
• HRM Oba William Adeusi, Onirun of Irun
• HRM Oba Saliu Bakare, the Owa of Ogbagi Akoko
• HRM Oba Adeleye, the Olubaka of Oka Akoko
• HRM Oba David Olorunfemi Obasoro(JP), the Oluwade Of Akunu-Akoko
• HRM Oba Kayode Olusa, the Oludotun of Iludotun-Ajowa Akoko. Pioneer Registrar, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko
• HRM Oba Adeniyi Adegoroye, the Oloba of Oba Akoko
• HRM Oba Momodu, the Akala of Ikaram Akoko
• The late Prof S. O. Adamu, first professor of statistics in Africa
• Chief (Dr.)Sameul Olaiya Oni(OON),FORMER Ondo State Head of Service & SSG, Former Minister of Education, Former Member of National Conference & Founder of NECO.
• The late Femi Bankole Osunla, photographer & PRO to the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti
• The late Chief Adebisi Ogedengbe, former Minister of the Federation under Alhaji Shehu Shagari
• Late Prof C.O Imoru (OAU IFE)
• Prof Olusi O. (UNIVERSITY OF KUWAIT)
• The late Mr. Abiola Fatai Ogedengbe, Daily Times Journalist and Head of Media at Shell Western Nigeria operations.
• Engr. C. S. O. Akande - former Secretary to the Government, Old Western State
• Oba T. S. Aliu, the late Olubaram of Ibaram Akoko and former Commissioner in the old Western Region
• Professor Micheal Adepoju Adeyemo, first Nigeria Chartered Accountant, Former Dean, Faculty of Business Administration Unilag
• Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi (Ret.), Bishop of Akure Anglican Communion
• Maj. Gen. Aduloju (Ret.)
• Barrister (Chief) Kayode Ajulo, Lawyer, Strategist, Civil Rights Activist and Founder, Egalitarian Mission, Africa
• Pa Sampson Adesugba, oldest Trade Union Leader in Nigeria
• The late Chief Rufus Giwa, former Chairman of Unilever Nigeria
• The late Chief J. A. Adeniyi , a renowned educator
• Oba Oladunjoye Fajana (PhD), a former African Development Bank and World Bank Executive
• Tai A Olotu, Director Regne Nigeria
• Micheal K Olotu Senior coordinator OF Canadian Mediation & Resolution Unit
• The late Professor Kola Folayan, former Commissioner for Education, Ondo State, Nigeria
• Chief J. O. Sanusi, Past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
• Dr. Olu Agunloye, Pioneering Corps Marshal and CEO of the Federal Road Safety Commission, former Minister of Power and Steel
• The late Dr. E. O. Jaiyebo
• The late Chief Adebayo Adefarati, former Governor of Ondo State
• The late Z. A. Ogunmola, a renowned educator
• Otunba Solomon Oladunni, a former Vice-Chairman of Mobil Producing Unlimited
• Col. Adejoro Ikupolati, Director of the Army Communication Corps, Ondo Commissioner for Works and Housing, Chairman of southern Akoko Government of Local Administration
• Sunday Ehindero, a former Inspector General of Police
• Prof. P. O. Oluboyo of the Walter Sisulu University, South Africa
• Emmanuel Olugbenga Ogunleye, former US Social Security Administrator, candidate for California State Assembly, and CEO of Disability Evaluation Services
• Dr Peter Olubambi of Tshwane University of Technology pretoria South Africa
• Professor C. O. Imoru, mathematician
• The late Professor Lanre Omole a unionist of renown and a reputed scholar in adult education
• The late Chief L. M. Komolafe, former Regional Manager North Western Nigeria National Seed Service and Former ALGON Chairman Ondo State
• Prof N. Adu, a renowned mathematician
• Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), Minister of Defense, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• The late Chief Edwin Obayan of the ADB
• Otunba Felix Babatunde Obada PhD
• Engineer Taye Afere of UNDP-MDV: Ikaram/Ibaram Millennium Village Project
• Prince Oyewole Jatto, Pioneer head of Department of Finance and Account to the Federal Road Safety Commission of Nigeria
• Chief Adeyemi Falade
• Chief Segun Abraham MD/CEO Segmanseh Nigeria PLC, Ebute-Metta Lagos
• Otunba Jobi Fele, late Chairman/CEO Jobitex Nig Ltd
• Oloye Olabisi O. Ogunjobi, former Vice-President of the African Development Bank Group
• Stanley O. Ikupolati, Director of FISL International Training, EEC African Development Project
• Tunji Abayomi (PhD), renowned political and human rights activist and counsel to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo
• Otunba Nat Adojutelegan (Solicitor-Advocate), NatAdo Solicitors, London, U.K
• Adesoji Adesugba, Chairman of the Industrial Arbitration Panel
• A. A. Balogun, former Deputy Surveyor-General of Nigeria
• Chief J S Adeola (Ret.) Principal Akoko Anglican Grammar School, Arigidi-Akoko
• Barrister Ajibola Aribisala (SAN), a successful lawyer and business man
• Engineer Alex Ogunmola
• T.A Ogunmola, Deputy Comptroller Nigerian Prisons, Akure
• Wole Ogunmola (Ret.) Director Federal Ministry of Agric, Abuja
• Femi Ogunmola Nicon Insurance, Abuja
• Olusola Adekunle Ogunmola
• Rear Admiral S.A Aremo (Ret.)
• Engineer Bayo Kolade Former Director of Steel Federal Ministry of Power and Steel
• Engineer Olu Elewa Former MD/CEO Ajaokuta Steel Mill
• Ambassador Tomi Olumoko Director, Ministry of External Affairs
• Ambassador Segun Apata
• Akin Daramola, Ondo commissioner for planning and budget
• Otunba Ganiyu Adams, factional leader of the OPC
• T. B. Joshua of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations
• Engineer Adewumi, Chairman\CEO of DENKI wire and cable, Akure
• Professor Michael Oladimeji Faborode, V.C of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife
• Ade Adeola, MD and Global Head\Oil & Gas of Standard Chartered Bank plc UK
• Prof Ajayi Borofice, D.G of the National Space Research and Development Agency
• Brig Gen Olorunfemi, Head, Education Corps of the Nigerian Army, Lagos
• Princess Adeyinka Olarinmoye, socialite, human rights activist and scholar
• Colonel Roland Omowa (Ret.), former ADC to Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo,
• S.B Bello, Marketing Manager, AP national headquarters in Lagos,
• Foluso Oye, Deputy Director of Special Security Services, Ondo state
• Dr F.S Oluwole, department of physiology, University of Ibadan
• The late Simon Ola-olorunpe Adeboye, an educator of great repute who also served the state judiciary in his later days
• The late Roy Chicago, a renowned highlife musician
• Hon. Anthony Adefaratimi Ayeni, political chieftain of the (Action Congress)
• Engineer Olusi Bamidele Felix, Principal Manager of Technical Services, PHCN CHQ ABUJA.
• Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, GMD/CEO of Wema Bank
• Dr. Samuel Olagoke Olutuyi, Ologo of Ogo, Irun Akoko, MD Kay-Precious Nig.Ltd, Chairman/MD Top - Olax Nig. Ltd
• Chief Tayo Ogunjemilusi, President of Petrochambers Ltd, Lagos
• The late Professor Kosemani, University of Port-Harcourt
• Chief Herbert A. Oyeleye
• Mr Olubayode. A. Agbi(Chartered Accountant)National Film and Video Censors Board
• Mr Ayo Olukoju-Oluwasemilore
• Mr Ariyo S.F, Deputy Chief V.I.O Ondo State ministry of transport,Akure.
• Mr. J.S.O Adeniyi, Former Auditor General of Ondo State
• Mr. Gajilo, Former Principal of Ajuwa Grammar School, Oke Agbe Akoko.
• Bar. Lakan Agunbaide - Magistrate
• Chief Ayo Agunbiade - MD/CEO Hicad, Lagos
• Chief Ehindero - MD, Ehindero Printing Press, Jos.
• Justice Sehinde Kumuyi Chief Judge, Ondo State, Nigeria
• Alhaji Olanusi Deputy Governor Ondo State, Nigeria
• Alhaji Yekini Olanipekun Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports
• Prince Solagbade Amodeni Ondo State Commissioner for Forestry
• Fesus Oni Agbaje Former Director, Agip Oil Port-Harcourt
• Otunba Kunle Obayan Director NDE Abuja
• Chief (Mrs.) Funke Agagu Former First Lady, Ondo State, Nigeria
• Late Professor M. Olabode Akindele - Renowned Professor of Psychiatry
• Late Chief Lamidi Aleemoseeba Alagun - The Alako of Ikareland
• Mr. Olusegun Sam Momoh
• Engr. Akin Bada-Chief Executive officcer of Transmission company of Nigeria-PHCN (TCN)
• Dr. Segun Ogunjemiyo of California State University, Fresno
• Barr. Idowu Dahunsi, Chief Registrar Supreme court of Nigeria.
• Brig. Gen. Bunmi Akintola, Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja