Iragbiji

Iragbiji (also Ira-gba-iji) is a town and capital of the Boripe Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria, near Ikirun. The town is inhabited by the Yoruba people.^[2] The population of the town is about 164,172.^[1]

Iragbiji
Iragbiji
Coordinates: 7°54′0″N 4°41′0″E[1]
Elevation	429 m (1,407 ft)
Time zone	UTC+1 (West Africa Time)

History and oral tradition

Short story of Iragbiji by a native speaker

The name "Iragbiji" came into use over 600 years ago,^[3] it was reported that the first settlers made their homes under an IRA tree (Bradilier Thongy).^[4] The town was founded by a great hunter from Ejio compound in Moore, Ile Ife called Sunkungbade (Obebe). The man Sunkungbade got his name from a drama he created while he was still an infant. He was said to be in the habit of crying ceaselessly and not even the milk of his mother's breasts could soothe him.^[5] As it was the practice in those days, an ifa (oracle) was consulted to determine why he cried so much. The ifa advised his parents to make a miniature crown and place it on his head whenever he cried.^[6] The oracle's advice worked, and so Sunkungbade (he who cried to get a crown) was added to his names. The Ifa priest, Oladunjoye, foretold that when Sunkungbade became an adult, he would ask to found his own community and that he should be allowed to do so. As the child matured, he started exhibiting all the traits the priest had foretold. He was courageous, intelligent, strong-willed and especially attached to tradition and culture. He married a woman named Oloyade. He asked his parents to be allow him to leave and found his own settlement. Remembering the oracle's advice, his parents gave their blessing.^[7]

Traditional institutions

The Sukungbade's descendants are broken down into four ruling houses: Ajibode, Ogunmolu, Osungbemi, and Arowodoye/Arodoye.^[8]

The Sukungbade's descendants have been Aragbijis in unbroken succession since the founding of Iragbiji. The present Aragbiji, Oba Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi, Odundun IV is the fourth on the Ajibode Ruling House Lineage.^[9]

Tourist attractions

Iragbiji has a number of natural tourist sites, some of which are as follows: Okanyilule (Double hills),^[10] Ile-Ona Museum of Art and Archival materials (collection of M.O.),^[11] The Palace museum, Igbodu place/Cave Ori Oke, Ayeye (mythical stream), Alagaso water source, Alagaso cave, Oke Moori, Okuta Odo (Motar) hill, Osun shrine, Obatala shrine, Igbo Igbale, Isikan hill, Ile Nla (Antiquated palace building), Ota Igun hill, Gbanla/Oso Osi site, Ojolukoko shrine, Oba Ogunmolu shrine, Isanpa, Traditional war fence (Earth), Traditional stone wall fence, Sanpona shrine Oke Agbo and Ira Tree site.^[6][12]

Boripe Local Government Chairmen from 1991

The Boripe local government was created in 1991

• Prince Gboyega Famoodun
• Elder Bode Aremu
• Alhaji Kareem Adegboyega Afolabi
• Chief Adeniyi Aina
• Elder Ruben Ajayi
• Prince Bimbo Oyedele
• Hon. Kehinde Hassan Moronkeji^[13]
• Hon. Tajudeen Abiodun Ayantoye^[14]
• Hon. (Rev) Oyeyiola Adelani Adebayo
• Hon. Adeyemi Fatai tayelolu Emaagbadun

Educational institutions

Iragbiji is experiencing growth in size with number of educational institutions as evident below;^[15]

Public primary schools

• N. U. D School 1, Isale Oyo, Iragbiji
• N. U. D. School 2, Isale Oyo, Iragbiji
• St. Peters Anglican Primary School, Oloti Area, Iragbiji
• Baptist Primary School, Isale Oyo, Iragbiji
• C & S Primary School, Ajegunle Area, Iragbiji
• Oba Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Model Primary School, Orita Odan, Iragbiji
• C. A. C. Primary School, Idi-Isakaagba, Iragbiji
• L. A. Primary School, Popo, Iragbiji
• L. A. Primary School Eesade, Iragbiji
• Methodist Primary School, Otapete Area, Iragbiji
• Ajani Okin Memorial Primary School, Adugbo, Iragbiji

Less City

• C. A. C. Primary School, Idi-Ogungun
• Community Primary School, Oore
• Community Primary School, Odebudo
• Aderibigbe Memorial Primary School, Eleesun
• Agbeniga Community Primary School, Aro Ayedaade
• D. C. Primary School, Egbeda
• Community Primary School, Ayekale

      Private institution 

• pathfinder college of health iragbiji

       Federal institution 

• federal university of agriculture iragbiji Osun state

Public secondary schools

• Oke Iragbiji Grammar School, Iragbiji
• Baptist Secondary Grammar School, Iragbiji
• Unity School, Iragbiji
• Nawar-ud-Deen Grammar School, Isale Oyo, Iragbiji

Private nursery / primary schools

• FOMWAN Nursery School, Adugbo, Iragbiji
• God Supremacy Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji
• Our Lady of Fatimah Nursery & Primary School, Adikoko, Iragbiji
• Pace Setter Nursery & Primary School, Egbeda Road, Iragbiji
• Onward Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji
• Gods Heritage Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji
• Prince of Peace Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji
• Ibad Rahaman Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji
• Dunit Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji
• Markaz Nursery & Primary School, Iragbiji
• A2 Group of Schools, Isale Oyo, Iragbiji
• High Class Group of Schools, Lado Area, Iragbiji

Private secondary schools

• FOMWAN High School, Iragbiji
• Victory Scientific High School, Iragbiji
• A2 Comprehensive High School, Iragbiji
• Muslim Comprehensive High School, Iragbiji
• Pace Setter Group of Schools, Iragbiji

Tertiary institutions

• Pathfinder College of Health Technology, Isanpa, Iragbiji.
• Proposed Bisola University, Egbeda Road, Iragbiji
• Osun State College of Education Ilesa Sandwich Centre, Oke-Iragbiji Grammar School, Iragbiji

Health institutions

• Comprehensive Health Centre, Iragbiji^[16]
• Four Primary Health Centres (Public)
• Ten Private Hospitals/Medical Centres, Iragbiji
• National Primary Health Centre, Iragbiji (Inoperational)

As of 2006, about 75% of children in five different schools in Iragbiji were found to have intestinal helminth parasites (a type of parasitic worm).^[17]