Ogun State

Introduction Ogun State

Ogun, state, western Nigeria, created in 1976 and comprising former Abeokuta and Ijebu provinces of former Western state, the latter carved out of former Western region in 1967. Ogun is bounded by Oyo and Osun states to the north, Lagos state to the south, Ondo state to the east, and the Republic of Benin to the west. It is covered predominantly by tropical rain forest and has wooded savanna in the northwest.

Sodeke (Shodeke), a hunter and leader of the Egba refugees who fled from the disintegrating Oyo empire, founded about 1830 a principality at Abeokuta in what is now the north-central part of the state. Most of the inhabitants of Ogun state are members of the Egba and Egbado subgroups of the Yoruba people.

Agriculture, the economic mainstay of Ogun, produces rice, corn (maize), cassava (manioc), yams, plantains, and bananas. Cocoa, kola nuts, rubber, palm oil and palm kernels, tobacco, cotton, and timber are the main cash crops. The Aro granite quarries near Abeokuta, the state capital, provide building material for much of southern Nigeria.

Mineral resources include limestone, chalk, phosphates, and clay. Industries produce cement, canned foods, foam rubber, paint, tires, carpets, aluminum products, and plastics. Abeokuta, an important market centre, is a terminus of the roads and railways coming from Lagos and other parts of the country.

Major tourist attractions are Olumo rock, which according to tradition provided refuge for early Egba settlers; the Ake, the residence of the alake (the traditional ruler of Egbaland), built in 1854 and noted for its collection of antiquities and relics; and the Centenary Hall, all in Abeokuta. There are teacher training colleges in the state and a university of agriculture at Abeokuta. Area 6,472 square miles (16,762 square km). Pop. (2006) 3,728,098.

Historical Background

In pre-colonial times, today’s Ogun belonged to the kingdom of Oyo, which sank into civil war around 1800. South of Ogun, on the tiny island of Lagos, the British had a naval base near which the town of the same name grew rapidly.

Until the Berlin Congo Conference in 1885, Great Britain had focussed on a few strategically placed bases for its merchant fleet and navy, such as Lagos and Calabar, and was not interested in the communities developing there.

After the European colonial powers had staked out their spheres of interest 1885 in Berlin (these were only valid if another power had not previously brought the area in question under its control) the United Kingdom quickly expanded thusly its territory in the assigned Niger region. The British attack on the Kingdom of Oyo in 1891 was the first step, the punitive expedition against Benin 1896 the second.

Today’s Ogun became part of the “Protectorate of Lagos” (as opposed to the Colony of Lagos; the border between these two is identical to the modern border between Lagos State and Ogun State – inhabitants of a colony were treated as fully entitled subjects of the British crown, those in protectorates not) in 1893 and later of the “Protectorate of Yorubaland”, in 1906 of the “Protectorate of Southern Nigeria” and in 1914 of the whole of Nigeria. In 1899, it received a railway connection to Lagos, the “Boat Express” ran through Ogun to Apapa and thus connected the region with the wider world.

In 1899, it was several years earlier in this than other regions in West and Central Africa that were not connected to the coast.

In the 1930s, Ogun was a centre of the Nigerian women’s movement under the leadership of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (Fela Kuti’s mother). Democracy in colonial Nigeria after 1922 only existed in Lagos and Calabar; Nigerians could not participate politically elsewhere (see here).

During the 1940s, food was strictly rationed in Nigeria. The transport of food from the more agrarian Ogun to the hungry metropolis of Lagos was severely penalised (Pullen Scheme, see here).

In the first elections in Ogun, 1954, the semi-socialist “Action Group” (AG) under Ọbáfẹ́mi Awólọ́wọ̀ became the strongest party in the Western Region, to which Ogun also belonged.

After independence in 1960, the Yoruba region, and Ogun in particular, was engulfed in conflict between the Ọbáfẹ́mi Awólọ́wọ̀ and Samuel Ládòkè Akíntọ́lá fractions of the AG party (“Operation Wetie”, see here). In July 1966, the then ruler of Nigeria, Johnson Agulyi-Ironsi, was assassinated in Abeokuta in the second coup of the year, which was the prelude to the Biafra War.

The state was formed on 3 February 1976 from part of the former “Western” state.

Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. As a Nigerian state, Ogun is the second most industrialised state after Lagos, with a focus on metal processing. It has good road and rail connections to the harbours in Lagos and Lekki. Wole Soyinka, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature 1986, lives in Ogun.

Abeokuta is both Ogun State’s capital and most populous city and the capital of Egba Kingdom; other important cities in the state include Ijebu-Ode, the capital of the Ijebu Kingdom, and Sagamu, the capital of the Remo Kingdom and Nigeria’s leading Kola nut grower. Ilaro, the capital of Yewa(Egbado Kingdom). Ogun state is covered predominantly by rain forest and has wooden savanna in the northwest. Ogun State had a total population of 3,751,140 residents as of 2006, making Ogun State the 16th most populated state in Nigeria.

In terms of landmass, Ogun State is the 24th largest State in Nigeria with land area of 16,762 kilometer square. Ogun State is predominantly Yoruba, with the Yoruba language serving as the lingua franca of the state. The dominant religions in Ogun State are majority Christianity and minority Islam although a certain amount of traditional religion is still practiced. Ogun State is noted for being the almost exclusive site of Ofada rice production. Ogun is also home to many icons in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.

Governor

The current governor is Prince Dapo Abiodun, A member of the All Progressives Congress, who heads the Executive Council of Ogun State. On Wednesday 29 May 2019, Abiodun was sworn in as the fifth governor of Ogun State at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Kuto, Abeokuta. He was re-elected for a second term of office in March 2023.

Politics

The State government is led by a democratically elected governor who works closely with members of the state’s house of assembly. The capital city of the state is Abeokuta.

Geography

Ogun State borders the Republic of Benin to the west for about 185 km, Oyo State and Osun State (for 84 km) to the north, Ondo State to the east, Lagos State to the south for about 283 km, and has 16 km of coastline on the Bight of Benin to the south, interrupted by Araromi Beach exclave of Ondo State.

Climate

Ogun has a Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate. The city’s yearly average temperature is 29.34 °C (84.81 °F) and it is -0.12% lower than Nigeria’s averages. Ogun typically receives about 141.58 millimeters (5.57 inches) of precipitation and has 224.18 rainy days (61.42% of the time) annually.

Major rivers in Ogun State

• Ogun River
• Yewa River

Electoral system

The governor of the state is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two -third of the State local government Areas. If no candidate passes threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government Areas.

Major Town in Ogun State

Abeokuta, town, capital of Ogun state, southwestern Nigeria. It is situated on the east bank of the Ogun River, around a group of rocky outcroppings that rise above the surrounding wooded savanna. It lies on the main railway (1899) from Lagos, 48 miles (78 km) south, and on the older trunk road from Lagos to Ibadan; it also has road connections to Ilaro, Shagamu, Iseyin, and Kétou (Benin).

Abeokuta

Abeokuta (“Refuge Among Rocks”) was founded about 1830 by Sodeke (Shodeke), a hunter and leader of the Egba refugees who fled from the disintegrating Oyo empire. The town was also settled by missionaries (in the 1840s) and by Sierra Leone Creoles, who later became prominent as missionaries and as businessmen. Abeokuta’s success as the capital of the Egba and as a link in the Lagos-Ibadan oil-palm trade led to wars with Dahomey (now Benin). In the battle at Abeokuta in 1851, the Egba, aided by the missionaries and armed by the British, defeated King Gezo’s Dahomeyan army (unique in the history of western Africa for its common practice of using women warriors). Another Dahomeyan attack was repulsed in 1864.

Troubles in the 1860s with the British in Lagos led the Egba to close the trade routes to the coast and to expel (1867) missionaries and European traders. After the Yoruba civil wars (1877–93), in which Abeokuta opposed Ibadan, the Egba alake (“king”) signed an alliance with the British governor, Sir Gilbert Carter, that recognized the independence of the Egba United Government (1893–1914).

In 1914 the kingdom was incorporated into the newly amalgamated British Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. The Abeokuta riots of 1918 protested both the levying of taxes and the “indirect rule” policy of Lord Frederick Lugard, the British governor-general, which made the alake, formerly primus inter pares (“first among equals”), the supreme traditional leader to the detriment of the other quarter chiefs.

Modern Abeokuta is an agricultural trade centre (rice, yams, cassava, corn [maize], palm oil and kernels, cotton, fruits, vegetables, shea butter, and rubber) and an exporting point for cocoa, palm produce, fruits, and kola nuts. Rice and cotton were introduced by the missionaries in the 1850s, and cotton weaving and dyeing are now traditional crafts of the town.

Abeokuta is the headquarters for the federal Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority with programs to harness land and water resources for Lagos, Ogun, Osun, and Oyo states for rural development. Irrigation, food-processing, and electrification projects are included. Local industry is limited but now includes fruit-canning plants, a plastics factory, and sawmills. Near the town are the Aro granite quarries, which provide building materials for much of southern Nigeria, and a huge modern cement plant at Ewekoro.

Abeokuta was a walled town, and relics of the old wall still exist. Notable buildings include the Ake (the residence of the alake), Centenary Hall (1930), and several churches and mosques. Secondary schools and primary teachers’ colleges at Abeokuta are supplemented by the Federal University of Agriculture, which specializes in science, agriculture, and technology, and the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. Pop. (2016 est.) urban agglom., 595,000.

Ilaro

Ilaro, town, western Ogun state, southwestern Nigeria. Located on the former trade route from the towns of the empire of Oyo to the port of Porto-Novo (now the capital of Benin), 40 miles (64 km) southwest, it was established by the late 18th century as the capital and chief trade centre of the Egbado people (a subgroup of the Yoruba).

With the decline of Oyo in the early 19th century, the Egbado kingdom was raided for slaves by the Dahomeyans until it was absorbed in the 1840s and ’50s by the more powerful Egba kingdom at Abeokuta (29 miles [47 km] northeast). As a subject town, Ilaro served the Egba as a trading post on the western route from Lagos to Ibadan. In the 1860s European missionaries arrived and established the Yoruba Anglican Mission in Ilaro.

Following the 1890 delineation of colonial boundaries by the French and the British, the Egbado, who felt oppressed by Egba rule, asked for British protection and control of their territory. A British military garrison was built in Ilaro in the same year.

Modern Ilaro is a collecting point for cocoa, palm oil and kernels, kola nuts, vegetables (especially rice and okra), and fruits grown in the surrounding area. Yams, cassava (manioc), and corn (maize) are also cultivated by the town’s farmers. Cotton weaving and dyeing (with locally grown indigo) are traditional industries. There are deposits of limestone (used by a cement plant at Ewekoro, 13 miles [21 km] east-northeast) and phosphate in the vicinity.

Ilaro is the site of a federal polytechnic college. It is located at the end of a spur on the Lagos-Nguru railway and lies at a junction of local roads. Pop. (2008 est.) 32,649.

Ogun State consists of twenty local government areas. They are:

• Abeokuta North Akọmọjẹ
• Abeokuta South Ake
• Ado-Odo/Ota Ọ̀tà
• Ewekoro Itori
• Ifo Ifo
• Ijebu East Ọ̀gbẹ̀rẹ̀
• Ijebu North Ìjẹ̀bú Igbó
• Ijebu North East Atan
• Ijebu Ode Ìjẹ̀bú-Òde
• Ikenne Ìkẹ́nnẹ́
• Imeko Afon Imẹkọ
• Ipokia Ipokia
• Obafemi Owode Owódé-Ẹ̀gbá
• Odogbolu Odògbólú
• Odeda Odẹda
• Ogun Waterside Abigi
• Remo North Ìṣarà-Rẹ́mọ
• Sagamu
  (Shagamu) Ṣàgámù
• Yewa North
  (formerly Egbado North) Ayetoro
• Yewa South
  (formerly Egbado South) Ilaro

Ethnic Group in Ogun State

The main ethnic groups in Ogun State are:

• the Ẹgba, Ijebu, Remo, Egbado, Awori and the Egun peoples. There are also sub groups like the Ikale, the Ketu, the Ohori and the Anago

Ogun State is divided into three senatorial districts

• Ogun Central, Ogun East and Ogun West. Ogun Central consists mostly of the Egbas that occupies six local governments: Abeokuta North (Akomoje), Abeokuta south (Ake), Ewekoro (Itori), Ifo (Ifo), Obafemi owode (Owode ẹgba) and Odeda (Odeda).
• Ogun East consists mostly of the Ijebus and the Remos that occupies 9 local governments: Ijebu East (Ogbẹrẹ), Ijebu North (Ijebu Igbo), Ijebu North East (Attan), Ijebu ode (Ijebu ode), Ikenne (Ikenne remo), Odogbolu (Odogbolu), Ogun waterside (Abigi), Remo North (Ilisan Remo) and Sagamu (Sagamu).
• Ogun West consists mostly of the Yewas (formerly Egbados) that occupies 5 local governments: Ado odo Ota (Otta), Imeko Afon (Imeko), Ipokia (Ipokia), Yewa North (Ayetoro) and Yewa South (Ilaro).

Educational facilities

Ogun state has three federal secondary schools; Federal Government Girls’ College, Sagamu and Federal Government College, Odogbolu and Federal Science and Technical College, Ijebu-Imushin.

Ogun state has one Federal University; the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and one Federal college of education, FCE Osiele (both at Odeda Local government area), one state government college of education, named after the late Nigerian educationist of international repute Augustus Taiwo Solarin in 1994 as Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), (formerly known as Ogun State College of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, one Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro).

One is named after late Nigerian business mogul and winner of 12 June 1993 election, Basorun Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola as Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), formerly known as Ogun State Polytechnic, Ojere, Abeokuta, Another Gateway Polytechnic Saapade, Remo (GAPOSA), Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic Ijebu-Igbo (Aapoly) (formerly known as ‘The Polytechnic Ijebu-Igbo) it was name after Chief Abraham Aderibigbe Adesanya who was a Nigerian politician, lawyer and activist.

Two state government universities

• Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye (formerly known as Ogun State University), and the
• Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) Ijebu Ode.

Ogun State has a total of nine registered universities,

the highest of any state in Nigeria. It has five private universities. Amongst which are Chrisland University,

• Hallmark University in Ijebu-itele, Abeokuta
• Bells University of Technology in Ota,
• Covenant University and
• Babcock University in Ilisan-Remo, which was the first private university in the country.

The state has two major government hospitals

• The Federal Medical Center at Abeokuta, and
• The Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp is located at Sagamu Local Government area of the state.
Ogun state government has begun the Itele road

Tertiary institutions

•  Babcock University, Ilisan Remo
•  Bells University of Technology, Ota
•  Chrisland University, Abeokuta
•  Christopher University, Lagos Ibadan ExpressWay Makun, Sagamu
•  Covenant University, Ota
•  Crawford University, Igbesa
•  Crescent University, Abeokuta
•  Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro
•  Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
•  Hallmark University, Ijebu Itele
•  McPherson University, Seriki-Sotayo
•  Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere
•  Mountain Top University, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
• National Open University of Nigeria, Kobape, Abeokuta
• Ogun State College of Health Technology, Ilese, Ijebu Ode
• Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye
•  Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode

Economy

The state has a very high concentration of industries (the second most industrialized after Lagos State) and has one of the lowest incidences of extreme poverty (around 5% of the population against a national average of 31%) according to World Bank data from 2018.
Major companies in Ogun include the Dangote Cement factory in Ibese, Nestle, Lafarge Cement factory in Ewekoro, Memmcol in Orimerunmu, Coleman Cables in Sagamu and Arepo, Procter & Gamble in Agbara.

Primary sector

Mining and agriculture are among the most important economic sectors in Ogun. Limestone, chalk, phosphate and gravel are mined and grain, rice, maize, cassava, yams, bananas, cocoa, kola nuts, rubber, palm oil and palm kernels are harvested. The state is the largest producer of kolanut in Nigeria.

Secondary sector, metal processing

Ogún is also the name of the god (Orisha) for metalworking in the local Yoruba nature religion, similar to the Greek Hephaestus or the Roman god Vulcan (since the ancient world had trade relations with present-day Nigeria, this may not be entirely coincidental). The state lives up to this name by being the Nigerian centre for metalworking. Here are two examples:

• Proforce manufactures armoured vehicles in Ode-Remo (25 km from Lagos), which are also sold to Europe. Since 2008, the company has expanded its product range and also produces drones for the security sector.
• The wagon assembly plant in Kajola is the only plant in West Africa that manufactures, maintains and repairs railway vehicles.
Ogun also produces timber, ceramic products, bicycle tyres, carpets, adhesives and other products.

Transportation

Ogun benefits from its proximity to the metropolis of Lagos and the new deep-sea harbour and the new Dangote refinery in Lekki (as of 2024). The planned airport Lagos-Epe will be located next to the border to the state of Ogun.

Railways

Nigerian Railway Company

• Ogun benefits from the Lagos-Abeokuta-Ibadan standard rail link since 2021.
• The planned Apapa-Kajola Express will connect the centre of the state with the Lagos port.
• Abeokuta also is connected with Lagos by 77 km of the Western Railway (built in 1899), which still is used for freight trains.

Lagos Mass Transit (Lamata)

The terminus of the “Red Line” of the Lagos suburban railway is located in Agbado, which is part of the Lagos agglomeration but belongs to the state of Ogun in administrative terms. This is why the trains and carriages of Lagos State will be parked, cleaned and maintained in Ogun Roads

Federal Highways are:

•  A1 north from Lagos as part of the African Unity Road TAH2 Trans-African Highway 2,
•  E1 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway north to Oyo State,
•  A5 north from Lagos via Abeokuta and east to Oyo State at Omin Adio,
•  A121 east from A1 in Sagamu as the Benin-Sagamu Expressway via Ijebu-Ode to Ondo State at Kajola as part of the Trans-African 8 (TAH 8) Lagos-

Mombasa Highway.

Three roads to the Republic of Benin:

• the Sango Ota-Idi-Iroko Rd at Idiroko as part of the Lagos-Badagry-Porto Novo highway west to RNIE 1,
•  the Oja-Odan Road from Ilaro at Obelle to RN3 in Pobè,
• F102 west from Sagamu via Abeokuta to Meko at Idofa to RNIE 4 to Kétou.

Other major roads include:

•  the Epe-Ijebu-Ode Rd south from Sagamu to Lagos State at Agboju,
•  the Iken-Sekungba Rd south from the Awa-Itokin Rd from Egbe to Lagos State at Omu,
•  the Agbara-Atan Rd south from Atan to Lagos State at Morogbo,
•  the Abeokuta-Igboora-Iseyin Rd north from the Ayetoro Rd at Rounda Roundabout to Oyo State as the Ibara-Orile-Ijeun Rd,
•  the Ibadan-Eruwa Rd west from A5 at Ilugun to Oyo State at Olokemeji,
•  the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Rd north from Ilaporu to Oyo State at Mamu,
•  the Ibadan-Ijebu-Igbo Rd northeast from Ilaporu to Oyo State at Olugbuyi.

Religion in Ogun State

The dominant religions in the area are Christianity and Islam, with a notable presence of traditional Yoruba animism practiced by some individuals.

Christianity is represented by various denominations, including the Anglican Church, which is part of the Anglican Province of Lagos within the Church of Nigeria. This province encompasses several dioceses, each led by its respective bishop. Notable dioceses include:

• Awori Diocese (established in 2009), led by Bishop Johnson Akin Atere
• Egba Diocese (established in 1976), under the leadership of Bishop Emmanuel Adekunle
• Egba West Diocese (established in 2007), led by Bishop Samuel Oludele Ogundeji
• Ifo Diocese (established in 2007), under Bishop Nathaniel Oladejo Ogundipe
• Ijebu Diocese (established in 2007), led by Bishop Peter Rotimi Oludipe (since 2020)
• Ijebu-North Diocese (established in 2005), led by Bishop Solomon Kuponu
• Remo Diocese (established in 2004), initially led by Bishop Michael Fape, who served as Archbishop of Lagos from 2016 to 2021
• Yewa (formerly Egbado) Diocese (established in 2014), led by Bishop Michael Adebayo Oluwarohunbi
• Ijebu-South West Diocese (established in 2009), under the leadership of Bishop Babatunde Ogunbanwo

Additionally, the Catholic Church plays a significant role in the religious landscape of the region, with a population of 179,014 Catholics as of 2020. The Catholic community is served by the dioceses of Abeokuta (established in 1997) and Ijebu-Ode (established in 1969), which fall under the Archdiocese of Lagos. These dioceses are led by:

• Bishop Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo of the Abeokuta Diocese (since 2014), overseeing 60 parishes
• Bishop Francis Obafemi Adesina of the Ijebu-Ode Diocese (since 2019), managing 40 parishes

In addition to Christianity and Islam, traditional Yoruba beliefs and animism continue to be practiced by some members of the community, contributing to the rich cultural and religious diversity of the region.

Notable Religious Places in Ogun State

The region is home to several important religious sites, each holding cultural and spiritual significance for different communities. These sites are revered by local residents and religious pilgrims alike, offering a blend of Christian, Islamic, and traditional Yoruba practices.

1. Bilikisu Sungbo Shrine, Oke-Eiri (near Ijebu-Ode)

   • The Bilikisu Sungbo Shrine, located in Oke-Eiri near Ijebu-Ode, is an iconic religious site that has great historical and cultural importance. Declared a national heritage in 1964, the shrine is believed by the Ijebu people to be the burial place of the legendary Queen of Sheba.
   • For centuries, it has served as a significant pilgrimage destination for followers of traditional Yoruba beliefs, as well as Yoruba Muslims and Christians, making it a unique intersection of diverse faiths. The shrine is not only a place of spiritual reflection but also a symbol of unity among the region’s different religious communities.

2. The Church of the Lord (Aladura), Ogere Remo

   • The Church of the Lord (Aladura), situated in Ogere Remo, is a prominent Christian religious institution known for its Pentecostal practices and teachings. Founded by Joseph Ayo Babalola in the early 20th century, it has grown into a significant church within the Nigerian Christian community.
   • The church’s headquarters in Ogere Remo attracts thousands of worshippers seeking spiritual healing, deliverance, and empowerment through prayer and divine intervention.

3. Redemption Camp (Lagos-Ibadan Expressway)

   • Redemption Camp, located along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, is the global headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Known for its vast expanse and remarkable facilities, this sprawling religious complex is one of the largest Christian centers in Africa.
   • The camp serves as the venue for RCCG’s annual conventions, drawing millions of believers for spiritual enrichment, prayers, and fellowship. Its reputation as a center of miracles and transformation makes it a highly sought-after pilgrimage site for Christian worshippers worldwide.

4. Living Faith Church Worldwide, Canaanland (Ota, Ogun State)

   • Living Faith Church Worldwide, with its headquarters at Canaanland in Ota, Ogun State, is one of Nigeria’s most influential and rapidly growing megachurches. Founded by David Oyedepo, this church is home to one of the largest Christian congregations in the world.
   • The Canaanland complex includes a large auditorium, educational institutions, and other facilities that serve as a hub for religious, educational, and social activities. It is a major pilgrimage site for Christians seeking spiritual empowerment, prosperity, and growth.

Tourist centers in Ogun state

• Olumo Rock
• Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library

Mineral Resources in Ogun State

Ogun State, located in the southwestern region of Nigeria, is rich in a variety of mineral resources. These resources play a significant role in the state’s economy and contribute to its industrial development. The following are some of the key mineral resources found in Ogun State:

1. Clay

   • Ogun State is abundant in clay deposits, which are essential in the production of ceramics, bricks, tiles, and other construction materials. Clay is also used in the manufacturing of pottery, tiles, and as a raw material for the production of cement and other industrial goods.

2. Limestone and Phosphate

   • Limestone is one of the most important minerals found in Ogun State, playing a critical role in the production of cement. The state hosts several limestone deposits, which are used in cement production, construction, and agriculture. In addition to limestone, phosphate is found in Ogun State, used primarily in the production of fertilizers for agricultural purposes.

3. Bitumen

   • Ogun State is home to significant reserves of bitumen, which is crucial in the production of asphalt for road construction. The state’s bitumen deposits are part of one of the largest in the world, making it a valuable resource for the country’s infrastructure development, particularly in road construction and maintenance.

4. Kaolin

   • Kaolin is another valuable mineral found in Ogun State. It is a type of clay used in the production of porcelain, ceramics, paints, and paper. Kaolin’s versatility makes it an important resource for various industries, including the ceramics, paper, and pharmaceutical industries.

5. Gemstone

   • Ogun State is known for the presence of various gemstones, including garnets, aquamarine, and amethyst. These gemstones are valuable both as ornamental stones and for their industrial applications, making them an important aspect of Ogun State’s mining sector.

6. Feldspar

   • Feldspar is a key mineral in Ogun State, used primarily in the production of glass and ceramics. It is also utilized in the manufacturing of paints, tiles, and as a raw material in the production of several other industrial products. Feldspar’s high demand in the global market has increased the mining activity of this resource in the state.

These mineral resources are not only essential to Ogun State’s industrialization but also offer vast potential for both local and international markets, contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth and development.

Conclusion

Ogun State, located in southwestern Nigeria, is known for its rich cultural heritage, economic significance, and historical relevance. It is often referred to as the “Gateway State” due to its strategic location as a link between Lagos and other parts of the country. The state is home to major industries, educational institutions, and historical landmarks, including Olumo Rock and the first church in Nigeria.

Ogun State plays a vital role in Nigeria’s economy, with thriving sectors in manufacturing, agriculture, and commerce. It also has a strong literary and academic tradition, being the birthplace of renowned writers like Wole Soyinka. With its diverse ethnic groups and dynamic population, Ogun State continues to be a hub of cultural, industrial, and educational excellence in Nigeria.