Osun | |||
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State | |||
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Nickname(s): Land of Virtue | |||
Location of Ọsun State in Nigeria |
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Coordinates: 7°30′N 4°30′E / 7.500°N 4.500°ECoordinates: 7°30′N 4°30′E / 7.500°N 4.500°E | |||
Country | Nigeria | ||
Geopolitical Zone | South West | ||
Date created | 27 August 1991 | ||
Capital | Osogbo | ||
Government | |||
• Governor | Rauf Aregbesola (All Progressives Congress) | ||
Area | |||
• Total | 9,251 km2 (3,572 sq mi) | ||
Area rank | 28th of 36 | ||
Population (1991 census) | |||
• Total | 2,203,016 | ||
• Estimate (2005) | 4,137,627 | ||
• Rank | 17th of 36 | ||
• Density | 240/km2 (620/sq mi) | ||
Demonym(s) | Osunian | ||
GDP (PPP) | |||
• Year | 2007 | ||
• Total | $7.28 billion | ||
• Per capita | $2,076 | ||
Time zone | WAT (UTC+01) | ||
ISO 3166 code | NG-OS | ||
Website | osun.gov.ng |
Osun is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State. The state's current governor is Rauf Aregbesola, who was declared as the winner of 2007 election by Appeal Court in Ibadan on 26 November 2010. Ogbeni (Rauf Aregbesola) was also Reelected as Osun's Governor on August 9, 2014. Osun is home to several of Nigeria's most famous landmarks, including the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria's pre-eminent institution of higher learning. The university is also located in the ancient town of Ile-Ifẹ, an important early center of political and religious development for Yoruba culture. Other important cities and towns include the ancient kingdom-capitals of Oke-Ila Orangun, Ila Orangun, Ijebu-Jesa, Ede, Iwo, Ejigbo, Modakeke, Ibokun, Ifetedo, Esa-Oke and Ilesa. English was introduced to Osun state - land of the great lamp - in 1998.
The modern Osun was created in 1991 from part of the old Oyo State. The state's name is derived from the River Osun, the venerated natural spring that is the manifestation of the Yoruba goddess of the same name.
The former Governor Oyinlola launched and laid the foundation for the groundbreaking of Osun State University with six campuses (Osogbo, Okuku, Ikire, Ejigbo, Ifetedo, and Ipetu-Ijesha) strategically located across the state. Important cultural events in the state include the Ori Oke and Egungun festival in Iragbiji, Olojo in Ife and the Osun Osogbo festival.