Idoani

Idoani is a quiet small town in Ondo State of Nigeria where the Federal Government College, Idoani, is located. It is the seat of the Idoani Confederacy, a Nigerian traditional state.

Idoani is under the Ose local government in Ondo state. The ruling house is composed of the Royal Families: Adebiyi, Atewogboye, Aladekoba and Falade. The people of Idoani whose major occupation used to be farming, are peace-loving. The people speak Bini languages, some of which are different from the major Yoruba language of the south-western Nigeria. Quite a number of people still ride their bicycles to farm (a growing culture in the western world today). Idoani comprises six major quarters of Isure, Okedo, Amusigbo, Iyayu, Isure and Ako. There is also Owani (Idosale, a few kilometres away). The different quarters are contiguous (with the exception of Owani which is a few kilometres away) and are not separated with any walls or boundaries, making intermarriage between them very common. The differences between the six quarters is noticeable in the languages. Iyayu language has been described as non-Yoruba, while others' have all Yoruba linguistic affinity. As a matter of historical fact, the Isure, Iyayus, Amusigbos, Owanis and the rest have different historical background. Other school of thoughts is that they are one family. Idoani is the point where the southern and western Nigeria meeting.

Today there are many Idoani sons and daughters in different walks of life both at home and abroad; some of these are Olorunfemi Ogunleye-Jacobs (acclaimed to be among the first people to put on a tie in Idoani, when he was a secretary in the local government); Olanrewaju Olaleye (A teacher and a tailor and a gentleman- He lost one of his grandsons (Tunji) to the Arisekola Alao's Riot in the late 90's in Ibadan); Professor 'Banji Aje (Professor of French Language), late Chief Salaja D.K. Oshati (Magistrate), late Chief Obe Richard A. Akinyemi SAN (defense lawyer), Chief Robert A. Agbayewa -founder Lagos College of Academy, Ogunleye M. Biodun - Administrator of a construction company and late Mr. Akinyemi Stephen Aro - Business Tycoon (Retailing, Banking & Petroleum – first to own a gas station in the district). Late Chief Odofin - Bello (western Region of Nigeria, first Police Commissioner), Major-General O. Olutoye (Rtd.)- the current Alani (King) of Idoani and also former Sports Minister for the Nigerian Government, Major-General Saidu Ayodele Balogun (Rtd) the first Military Administrator of Ogun State, Dr. Oluwafemi M. Agbayewa a clinical professor in Canada also formal Chairman of Canadian Association Psychiatrist, Dr Oluyinka Olutoye- a USA based surgeon. High Chief Hon. Sir, Timothy O. Akinbode, one time member of House of Representative,the current Asiwaju of Idoani. Major-general A Christopher Olukolade (rtd),the Director of Defence Information (military spokesman), from (Dec 2010- sep 2015), he is also an ECOMOG veteran and the first and only army officer to become a 2 star general having started as a public relations officer in the army. history of Idoani can not be complete without the mention of the late Basorun (Dr.) Samuel Oyewole Asabia who was the first indigenous managing director of First Bank of Nigeria, a man who was chosen as the number one banker for many years in Nigeria, a man who became a Federal Permanent Secretary at the age of 27 and was once a Deputy Governor of the Nigerian Central Bank and Oluwole Ogunleye (A catechist who also own a driving school in Oyo state).

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