Owo
About
Owo is a city and local government area in Ondo State, southwestern Nigeria. It sits at the southern edge of the Yoruba Hills and is an agricultural centre known for yams, cassava, maize, cocoa and cotton, with trade in timber, sawmilling and soya bean processing. The area is known for its large traditional palace, Aghofen, which has been declared a national monument, and for its archaeological site, which was first excavated between 1969 and 1971. The current Olowo of Owo is Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III.
History
In oral tradition, Owo traces its origins to Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba culture, and between 1400 and 1600 CE it was the capital of a Yoruba city-state. It maintained virtual independence from the neighboring kingdom of Benin, though it was sometimes required to pay tribute, and its ivory carvers were valued at the Benin court. Owo came under British rule in 1893. When Nigeria's regions were established in 1947, Owo became part of the Western Region, and in 1976 it became part of the newly created Ondo State. In June 2022, at least 50 worshippers were killed in a massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church.
Source: Wikipedia: Owo
Key Facts
State
Ondo State
Area
993.7 km²
Population
222,262 (2006 census)