Oka Akoko

Oka Akoko Okarufe
Town
Oka-Akoko King's Palace
Anthem: Anthem: Tap to expand Oka ìlú Ibilemi Kòsí ìlú bí Oka fúnmi Bi'moṣákolọ títí Èmi y'opadà sílè Ọkà n'ilu mi ò, Okanílé Ọkà tamu tamu OKARUFE Lórí oke ;àti petele Oka nílé ló koo Ni bikibi t'a báwà Oka n'ilu wá, Okanile Eje ki gbogbowa parapo Láti tún ìlú Oka yíse Ní kíkú ni yiye Oka là ó padà sí Oka n'ilu wá,Okanile[1]
Oka Akoko Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°27′25″N 5°48′08″E / 7.45694°N 5.80222°E / 7.45694; 5.80222
Country	Nigeria
State	Ondo State
LGA	Akoko South-West
Government
• Type	LGA
• Olubaka of Oka-Akoko	Oba (Dr) Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, OON
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
Website	https://okarufeculturalfoundation.org/

Oka-Akoko is the headquarters of Akoko South-West Local Government of Ondo State, Nigeria. It is a majorly agricultural community with hilly terrain.The paramount and traditional ruler of Oka Akoko Kingdom is the Olubaka of Oka.^[2]

History

Oka-Akoko, also known as Oka, traces its roots back to the ancient city of Ile-Ife, the source of Yoruba culture. The name Oka is a contracted form of Okarufe, meaning Oka-Ife. According to oral traditions, three groups of settlers from Ile-Ife; Sirin, Siru, and Sifa, led to the establishment of Oka. The Sirin group comprises four quarters: Ibaka, Ikese, Korowa, and Okia. The Siru group comprises five quarters: Ebinrin, Okaodo, Owake, Iwonrin, and Ebo. The Sifa group comprises six quarters: Owalusin, Agba, Ikanmu, Iboje, Owaase, and Idofin. The group led by Asin settled in the lower and southern part of the hills and became known as Okaodo, while the group led by Okikon settled on the mountaintops and eastern part of the hills and became known as Okaroke, now referred to as Oke-Oka.^[3]

A short oral history of Oka Akoko in Oka Akoko language by Gbenga Omoaye, a native speaker on the 20th of May 2021 in Akure, Ondo state

Tourist attractions

Oka-Akoko is surrounded by numerous hills arranged in a circular formation, making it a scenic destination. These hills are a popular tourist attraction due to their natural beauty and opportunities for adventure. Another notable attraction in the area is the Oke-Maria Catholic Grotto, which draws visitors. The grotto's history dates back to when Rev. Father Seminati, who traveled from Lokoja to Oka Akoko, discovered the site's tranquility and spiritual significance. During his stay, he reported experiencing an apparition of the Holy Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, which inspired him to mark the spot as sacred. According to Father Seminati, the apparition was said to be a singular event, but it sparked a wave of devotion among locals and visitors. In December 1974, the diocese gathered to erect a statue of Holy Mary at the site and consecrate the hill as a place of prayer. Since then, the Oke-Maria Catholic Grotto has become an international Marian Pilgrimage Centre, attracting devotees and tourists alike.^[4]

New Yam Festival

The New Yam Festival is an annual celebration held in Oka Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. The festival takes place every first Saturday of August and marks the official start of the new yam harvest. During the festival, achievements of individuals within the community are recognized, including investors, philanthropists, and notable figures. Chieftaincy titles are conferred upon deserving sons and daughters of Ọkà Àkókó, as well as non-indigenes who have made notable contributions to the community. The Oka Yam Festival has become a symbol of unity among the people of Oka Akoko and the broader Ondo State community. It serves as a rallying point for the town's sons and daughter Of Oka Akoko to promote Cultural heritages.^[5]

Oka-Akoko Obas-in-Council

The following is a list of the traditional chiefs and monarchs that make up the Oka-Akoko Chief-in-Council:^[6]

• Olubaka of Oka-Akoko (Presiding Monarch)

Oba (Dr) Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, OON - Oka-Akoko (active)

• Olusin of Owalusin

Oba Stephen Oloruntele Oguntoye jp - Owalusin, Oka-Akoko (active)^[7]

• Alagba of Agba

High Chief J.J. Owagbemi - Agba, Oka-Akoko (active)

• Olukanmu of Ikanmu

High Chief Isreal Boboye Olubodun - Ikanmu, Oka-Akoko (active)

• Asalu of Korowa

High Chief Patrick Aroge - Korowa, Oka-Akoko (active)

• Olokia of Okia

Okia, Oka-Akoko (vacant)

• Oloba of Ikese

Ikese, Oka-Akoko (vacant)

• Oluworin of Iworin (Alomaja I)

High Chief Olugbenga James Okala - Iworin, Oka-Akoko (active)

• Elebirin of Ebinrin

High Chief Marcus Oloruntoba Omosowon - Ebinrin, Oka-Akoko (active)

• Aro of Owake

High Chief Mathew Sule - Owake, Oka-Akoko (active)

• Asemo of Iboje

High Chief M. O. Ofosola - Iboje, Oka-Akoko (active)

• Oludofin of Idofin

High Chief Sunday Albert Ogidan - Idofin, Oka-Akoko (active)

• Alasin of Ebo

High Chief Timothy A. Adefemi - Ebo, Oka-Akoko (active)

• Bere of Ibaka

High Chief Henry Olusoji Ayoko - Ibaka, Oka-Akoko (active)

• Oluwase of Owase

High Chief William Abiodun Ajakaiye - Owase, Oka-Akoko (active)

• Asin of Oka-Odo

Oba Pius Omiyejola Akande - Oka-Odo, Oka-Akoko (active)^[8]

Education

• National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Oka-Akoko Community Study Centre^[9]

Youth groups

• Oka Youth Agenda (OYA)
• Oka Youth Forum (OYF)^[10]
• Owase Community Professionals’ Forum (OCPF)^[11]
• Oka Development Forum (ODF)^[12]

Notable people

• Jones Arogbofa: military officer and Nigerian, served as Chief of Staff to former President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan^[13]
• Seinde Arogbofa: Nigerian writer and Afenifere chieftain^[14]
• Robert Ajayi Borofice: former Senate Deputy Majority leader and Nigerian politician, served as senator for Ondo North from 2011 to 2023^[15]
• Olugbenga Omole: former member of house of assembly^[16]

References

1. "Oka Anthem". Okarufe Cultural Foundation. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
2. ProjectShelve. "A HISTORY OF THE TRADITIONAL POLITICAL SYSTEM OF OKA-AKOKO PEOPLE IN AKOKO SOUTH WEST AREA OF ONDO STATE". projectshelve.com. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
3. Charles Babajide Olaseebi. "History of Oka Akoko". academia.edu: 8.
4. David Olagunju (5 November 2019) Oke Maria: The sacred hilltop in Oka Akoko. tribuneonlineng.com. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
5. Adie Vanessa Offiong (9 August 2014) Oka Day: A Celebration That Unites All Religions dailytrust.com. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
6. OKA OBA-IN-COUNCILokarufeculturalfoundation.org. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
7. Hannah Iwakun (11 December 2024) GOV AIYEDATIWA APPROVES APPOINTMENT OF FOUR TRADITIONAL RULERS, RECOGNITION OF TWO NEW STOOLS ondostate.gov.ng. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
8. Tinubu will do well, says Ondo monarch (31 July 2022) thenationonlineng. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
9. Tope Oyewole (19 December 2022) Oka Akoko Community Study Centre Inaugurates Gown & Town C’ttee. nounnews.nou.edu.ng. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
10. Tope Oyewole (4 July 2022) Oka Akoko Study Hosts Youth Groups. nounnews.nou.edu.ng. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
11. Owase youth socio-economic and cultural re-engineering event held with impact. (12 December 2023) vanguardngr.com. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
12. Blackdude (16 July 2018) HON DAVID AJOBIEWE’S PROPOSED OKA DEVELOPMENT FORUM LAUNCHED IN OKA AKOKO. ijebuloaded.com. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
13. Maryam Abdullahi (11 February 2024) Jones Arogbofa, Jonathan’s former chief of staff, slumps, dies in Abuja www.thecable.ng. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
14. Dayo Johnson Akure (16 August 2015 )The day Afenifere leader took Mimiko, Boroffice, others to Oka-Akoko. vanguardngr.com. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
15. I can’t go to my hometown because of Kidnappers – Boroffice (16 July 2019) businessday.ng. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
16. Dr. Sunday Akinbiola (20 May 2019) Akogun Gbenga Omole, A CANDLE READY TO LIGHTEN UP THE CITY Unveiling the profile of a visionary Young Leader, a grassroots politician, a revolutionist and a transparent quintessential Legislator– Akogun Olugbenga Omole. heromagazines.com. Retrieved 27 August 2025.

Further reading

• Olukoju, Ayodeji (1993). "Oral Traditions and the Political History of Oka-Akoko". History in Africa. 20: 249–262 – via Cambridge University Press.

External links

• https://okarufeculturalfoundation.org/
• https://odunorthamerica.org/