page_title: Offa, Kwara
hierarchical_section_title: Offa, Kwara
caption_attribution_description: English: A peacock that fanned its feathers, shook them out, and strutted in circles, seemingly just to show off its beauty.
context_page_description: Offa is a city located in Kwara State, central Nigeria with a population of about 120,100 inhabitants. The vegetation in Offa is savanna vegetation and the town is noted for its weaving and dyeing trade, using vegetable dyes made from locally grown indigo and other plants. Offa is well known for cultivation of Sweet potatoes and maize which also formed part of the favourite staple foods of the indigenes in the town. Offa in one of her eulogy is being address as the home of sweet potatoes. Cattle, goats and sheep are also raised in the environs. The main religions practised in the town are Islam, Christianity and traditional religions.
  The ancient tradition for which the town is known is wrestling. Offa's rich history is comprehensively documented in a book written by James Bukoye Olafimihan an educationist and clergyman titled 'Iwe Itan Offa', literally translated The Book of the History of Offa.
  Offa is on the railway line from Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria, and Offa served as the railway terminus before the line was extended north to Kano and Nguru. Offa is the second largest town in Kwara state, located in central Nigeria with geographic coordinates of 8’9N 4’43E.
context_section_description: Offa is a city located in Kwara State, central Nigeria with a population of about 120,100 inhabitants. The vegetation in Offa is savanna vegetation and the town is noted for its weaving and dyeing trade, using vegetable dyes made from locally grown indigo and other plants. Offa is well known for cultivation of Sweet potatoes and maize which also formed part of the favourite staple foods of the indigenes in the town . Offa in one of her eulogy is being address as the home of sweet potatoes.  Cattle, goats and sheep are also raised in the environs. The main religions practised in the town are Islam, Christianity and traditional religions.
  The ancient tradition for which the town is known is wrestling . Offa's rich history is comprehensively documented in a book written by James Bukoye Olafimihan an educationist and clergyman titled 'Iwe Itan Offa', literally translated The Book of the History of Offa.
  Offa is on the railway line from Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria, and Offa served as the railway terminus before the line was extended north to Kano and Nguru. Offa is the second largest town in Kwara state, located in central Nigeria with geographic coordinates of 8’9N 4’43E.  Offa was founded towards the end of the 14ᵗʰ century by a Yoruba prince from Oyo. Offatedo in Osun state, Iyana Offa in Oyo State, Offa in Cote d’Ivoire are peopled from Offa. The traditional head is the Olofa, who is assisted by prominent knighted chiefs including Esa, Ojomu, Sawo, and Balogun. The praise name of Offa is "Ijakadi Loro Offa", a Yoruba phrase meaning "wrestling is our game". The city's mascot is the peacock bird which is one of the most prominent exotic avian species in the region and also because the town is a beautiful place.  Offa has more recently become well known in Nigeria for being home to Adesoye College, one of the most prominent private schools in Nigeria. The school's proprietor, Chief Adesoye was also the founder of Okin Biscuits. Both institutions brought him and Offa fame throughout Nigeria.
  Offa is centrally located in the midst and middle of many neighboring towns like Erin Ile in the south, Ijagbo in the north, Igosun and Ipee in the east and Ilemona, Irra, Ikotun and Ojoku in the west. 
  Traditional Institutions  
  The supreme traditional ruler (king) of the town is the Olofa who is assisted by four High Chiefs namely Essa, Ojomu, Sawo, and Balogun. There are two hundred and five thousand traditional households. Since the founding of the town in late 14th century, twenty four Kings, (Olofas) have ruled as follows:
  List of Olofas in Order of Succession 
  1.      Olalomi Olafagangan     -           the founder of Offa who came from Oyo through Ile-Ife
                                                             (1392-1442)
  2.      Olutide                           -           1442 -1491
  3.      Olugesinde                     -           1491-1526
  4.      Oluwole                         -           1526-1567
  5.      Okunmolu                      -           1567-1624
  6.      Olusanle                         -           1624-1679
  7.      Olusanmi                        -           1679-1726
  8.      Olugbense                      -           1726-1786
  9.      Bamgbola Arojojoye      -           1786-1800
  10.    Amodu Agaka               -           1800-1803
  11.    Olumorin Anilelerin       -           1803-1832
  12.    Alade Alebiosu              -           1832-1844
  13.    Ariyibi Omolaoye          -           1844-1850
  14.    Morounfolu Okunoye    -           1850-1882
  15.    Adegboye Atoloyetele   -           1882-1887, and 1901-1906
  16.    Arokan Otaogbaye         -           1887-1901
  17.    Oyediran Ariwajoye I    -           1906-1917
  18.    Adeyeye Arojojoye        -           1917-1920
  19.    Abioye                           -           1921-1926
  20.    Esuwoye I                      -           1926-1936
  21.    Wuraola Isioye               -           1936-1957
  22.    Mustapa Keji                  -           1957-1969
  23.    Mustapha Olanipekun Ariwajoye II      -           1970-2010
  24.    Mufutau Gbadamosi Es
caption: Offa Mascot - Peacock
exif: {"Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)"}