Akoko Edo

LGA in Edo State, Nigeria

Akoko Edo Akoko Ẹdo
LGA
Country	Nigeria
State	Edo State
Headquarters	Igarra
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)

Akoko Edo is a Local Government Area in Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Igarra.^[1]^[2] It has an area of 1,371 km² and a population of 262,110 at the 2006 census.^[3] It consist of the Akoko people that are split between Ondo and Edo states. ^[4] Most see themselves as Yoruba and bear names identical with their Yoruba counterparts in Akoko Ondo. The Benin conquests during the reign of Oba Ozolua (1483-1504) established its first settlements in the region ^[5], while other people migrated there for fortunes, including the Bida. ^[6] Of the Igbirra and Idah from the North and East, the war which Oba Esigie fought in 1515-1516 with the Attah of Idah would have brought a lot of migration into the area.^[7]

The postal code of the area is 312.

As of 2016, its population density is 249.9/km² [2016]^[8]

The first local government chairman is Chief Joshua.B.Mayaki.

Geography

The Ancient Akoko-Edo area is situated in the northern part of Edo state in the south of the Niger-Benue Confluence. Its dominant geographical and environmental features are chains of ancient ridges of rugged rocky hills and a cave, stretching across the length and breadth of what is now known as the Akoko-Edo LGA of the present Northern Edo State, located between latitudes 6° 45′ to 7° 35′ north, and longitudes 5° 55′ to 6° 45′ east.^[9] Akoko-Edo, with a population of about 124,000 by the 1991 census, and 261,567 by the 2006 National Population Census, occupies a land area of about 1,371 square kilometers or 6.5% of Edo state by landmass and constitutes about 5.70% of the population. The area is described as the ancestral homeland of the Akoko people, whose indigenous language is the Akoko language, which is classified as Akokoid.^[10] Akoko-Edo is bounded in the North by the present Kwara state and parts of the present Kogi state, in the north-west by the present Ondo state, in the south-east by both Etsako west (Auchiclans) and Etsako north (Okpella), and in the south-west by Owan. ^[11]

Climate

Akoko, situated at an elevation of 97.65 meters (320.37 feet) above sea level, falls under the classification of tropical wet and dry climate or savanna (Aw).

Towns

The towns include Egl 1, Egbigere 2, Atte, Igarra, Enwan, Aiyegunle, Ugboshi-Ele Ugboshi-Afe,, Ekpesa, Ibillo, Ikiran-Ile, Ikiran oke, Ekor, Somorika, Lampese, Imoga, Ojah, Uneme-Akiosu, Ososo, Akuku, Ojirami-Dam, Imoga, Eshawa, Ojirami-Peteshi Ojirami-Afe, Dagbala, Makeke, Ekpe, Ekpedo, Bekuma, Okpe, Ogbe, Onumu, Akpama, Anyonron, Ogugu, Ikakumo, Ijaja, Oloma, Okunese, Uneme-nekua, uneme erhurun and Ikpeshi.^[12]^[13]

Languages

Due to unrestrained migrations and conquests, the people of Akoko Edo speak Eight (8) distinct languages that have overlapping occurs. The indigenous language of the people is the Akoko language, which is closely related to the Yoruba language and a subset of the YEAI. Before the British conquest of Nigeria, most people in the region adopted Yoruba language as a primary language. ^[14] However, the Pidgin English has become the primary language of the people, but many in the region still adopts Yoruba names like their counterparts in Ondo state, the Akoko Ondo. Other languages and dialects in the region include: the Ojiramis (Group II), who understand their neighbours Akuku (Group III) and Enwan (Group I), but not the people in the other villages and settlements.

Notable people

Notable people from Akoko Edo include:

Omobayo Godwins, a Nigerian politician and deputy governor of Edo State in 2024
Akogun Babatunde, Majority Leader House of Representatives, National Assembly, 2007 - 2011
Abodurin Solomon Amodu, Councillor Edo State Government Igharra II, 2018 - 2021
Kemi Akerele, Councillor Edo State Government Enwan/Atte/Ikpeshi/Egbegira, 2018 - 2021
Ojo Owolabi Samuel, Councillor Edo State Government Ibilo/Ekpesie/Ekor/Kiran Ile, 2018 - 2021
Monday Igbeleke, Councillor Edo State Government Somorika/Ogbe/Sasaro/Onum, 2018 - 2021
Oyewole Samuel, Councillor Edo State Government Oloma/Okpe/Ikakuma/Nyanran, 2018 - 2021
Emmanuel Omoladun Agbaje, Member House of Assembly Akoko-Edo, 2019 - 2023
Idaiye Yekini Oisayemoje, Member House of Assembly Akoko-Edo, 2019 - 2023
Joseph Babatunde L., Member House of Representatives, National Assembly Akoko-Edo, 1999 - 2003
Kingsley Ogini Topa, Councillor Edo State Government Igharra I, 2018 - 2021
Otaru Eveshoyan Benson, Councillor Edo State Government Ososo, 2018 - 2021
Ugbedaga James Ojo, Councillor Edo State Government Nehkue/akpama/aiyetoro/ekpedo, 2018 - 2021
Evester A Ejama, Councillor Edo State Government Imoga/Lampese/ Bekumi/Ekpe, 2018 - 2021
Donald Ojemeh Okogbe, former commissioner in Edo State, and Hon. Member Representing Akoko-Edo Constituency II 2023 - 2027
Peter Akpatason, Hon. Member Representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I 2023 - 2027

References

^ Edoaffairs (2019-08-16). "Edo State Local Government Areas and Headquarter Edoaffairs". Edoaffairs. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
^ "Flood disaster claims lives and destroys property in Akoko-Edo". Independent Television/Radio. 2014-07-16. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
^ places. "Towns & Villages in Akoko – Edo « Edo State « Nigeria". Towns & Villages. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
^ Fadoro, J. O. (2012). Towards Akokoid Orthographies.
^ OSIKI, O. M. (2009). Benin-Iuleha Relations in Pre-Colonial Times.
^ Jimoh, S. A. (2022). ROLE OF COLLABORATORS AND MERCENARIES IN THE BIDA LED WARS IN AFEMAI LAND 1857-1897.
^ "Akoko Edo people of Edo State, Nigeria". www.edoworld.net. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
^ "Nigeria: Administrative Division (States and Local Government Areas) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
^ Samson, Orifah. "The Linguistic Situation and Geography of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ "Akokoid languages". The Britannica. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
^ "Boundary dispute: Two communities in Edo and Ondo states on edge". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2018-03-25. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
^ "Post Offices- with map of LGA". NIPOST. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
^ Mary (2014-03-03). "List of Towns and Villages in Akoko - Edo LGA". Nigeria Zip Codes. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
^ Fadoro, J. O. (2012). Towards Akokoid Orthographies.

Edo State

State capital: Benin City

Local Government Areas

Education

Universities	Ambrose Alli University Benson Idahosa University Edo University Igbinedion University, Okada Mudiame University Samuel Adegboyega University University of Benin Wellspring University
Polytechnics	Auchi Polytechnic Edo State Polytechnic Usen Kings Polytechnic Shaka Polytechnic
Colleges of education	College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi College of Education, Ekiadolor Edo Technical College
Secondary schools	Edo College Federal Government Girls College, Benin Lumen Christi International High School, Uromi Presentation National High School University Preparatory Secondary School

Healthcare

Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Teaching Hospital
Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital
University of Benin Teaching Hospital

Mass media

Newspapers	Nigerian Observer Prime 9ja Online Obaland
Television	Edo Broadcasting Service Nigerian Television Authority Africa Independent Television Independent Television
Radio	88.1 90.5 92.3 92.7 93.7 94.1 94.3 95.7 96.9 97.3 100.1 101.5 105.5

Transportation

Tourist attractions

Landmarks	Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin Benin City National Museum Holy Aruosa Cathedral
Sports venues	Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium
Parks	Okomu National Park Ogba Zoo
Reserves	Okomu Forest Reserve Ohosu Game Reserve