Offa, Nigeria

Offa Olalomi
—  City  —
Offa Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 8°9′N 4°43′E / 8.15°N 4.717°E / 8.15; 4.717
Country	Nigeria
State	Kwara State
Population (2005)
– Total	114,000
Time zone	WAT (UTC+1)

Offa, Kwara State, is a town located in central Nigeria with a population of 114,000 (as of 2005). The vegetation in Offa is savanna vegetation and the city is noted for its weaving and dyeing trade, using vegetable dyes made from locally grown indigo and other plants. Sweet potatoes and maize are the favourite staple foods of the indigenes in the town. Cattle, goats and sheep are also raised in the environs. 'Offa' is sometimes spelt as 'Ofa'. As in the rest of Nigeria, the key 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.

Tertiary institutions in the town include the Federal Polytechnic Offa, established in 1992, the Kwara State College of Health Technology, and the Nigeria Navy School of Health Sciences. There are also two private universities and a polytechnic whose construction are near completion.

Prominent families in the city of Offa include the Adegboyes, the Sani Aba Baloguns, the Olanipekuns, the Ogunniyis, the Kejis (Olugbense), the Oyawoyes, the Alabis, the Bakindes, the Oyelekes, the Okunlolas, the Soleyes, the Olafimihans, the Ogunwales, the Shogos, the Shittus,the Bellos and the Bukoyes. These are family names which were well known in Offa history. Other prominent people who are known nationwide include the Ijaiyas, the Akewusolas, the Adeniyi-Adewuyi Yusufs, the Giwas, the Adekeyes, the Olatinwos, the Alabelewe's and a host of others.

Offa was first settled around AD 1000 by Yoruba. The present king is the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II. The prominent knighted chiefs of Offa include Esa, Ojomu, Sawo and Balogun. 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 Grammar School [1] is the first community grammar school in northern Nigeria.

Offa has more recently become well known in Nigeria for being home to Adesoye College. Adesoye College is one of the most prominent private schools in Nigeria. The school's proprietor, Chief Adesoye is also the founder of Okin Biscuits. Both institutions have brought him and Offa fame throughout Nigeria.

Bibliography

• Barber, Karin: I Could Speak Until Tomorrow, London 1991.
• Olafimihan, James Bukoye: Iwe Itan Offa (The Book of the History of Offa).

Coordinates: 8°08′49″N 4°43′12″E / 8.147°N 4.720°E / 8.147; 4.720