Afijio is an acronym from Awe, Akinmorin Fiditi, Ilora, Imini, Jobele, Iware, Ilu Aje, Oluwatedo and Ojutaye, which are the principal towns that constitute the Local Government, and the ten wards in the council areas. Hence, the new LCDA was carved out of the present Afijio Local Government and it comprises of the following towns: Ilora, Imini, Ilu Aje, Oluwatedo, Ojutaye
Our Vision
As stated earlier, there are 33 Local Governments and 35 Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Oyo State each with specific functions, responsibilities and objectives.
Realizing the necessity to move government closer to the rural dwellers in order to meet the needs of our people at grassroots, hence the creation of Local Council Development Area (LCDA) by Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi in July, 2016 after an approval of the Oyo State house of assembly in June, 2016.
Generally speaking, the concepts of creating LCDA out of the present local governments in the state are as follows:
- Make the Government closer to the people.
- Encouraging democratic principle at grassroots.
- Boosting the internally generated revenue of government.
- Provide more basic infrastructural facilities and social amenities for the people e.g. Good roads, water, electricity, education, quality health, etc.
- Make citizen to be more responsive and responsible to their statutory functions e.g. Payment of taxes & levies.
- Encourage human capital development at grassroots e.g. Training, youth empowerment etc.
- Strengthening the security network of the council area.
Our Mission
The mission of Afijio West LCDA is as follows
- Encouraging community participatory approach in project implementation via the needs concept.
- Citizen should play an advisory role to government
- Ensuring viability of the council areas through intensification of efforts on our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
- Blocking all revenue leakages inimical to the success of the government.
- Ensuring dispensation of all government statutory functions
- Ensuring citizens obedience to the rule of laws vis a vis compliance with government directives
- Proper dissemination and advocacy of government policies and programmes.
Our Objectives
Specifically, Government has a set objectives that led to the creation of the Council Areas. Some of these Objectives are: –
- Collaboration with the parent local government to move the LCDA forward.
- Create good synergy between the government and the people
- Strengthening the LCDA to be financially independent without necessarily looking up to state or federal allocation
- Bring developments closer to the people
- Sensitizing citizenry on their civic responsibilities e.g. Payment of taxes, and other important levies.
- Sodigi Rock, Ilora
- Obanakop Rock, Ilora
- Ese Oloja Rock, Ilora
- Elekara Market, Ilora
- Ayetoro Market, Ilora
- Oparinde Market, Ilora
- Akibio Market, Ilora
- Bode Market, Ilora
- Imini Main Market, Imini
Oyo State Cooperative College, Ilora
The major tourist attraction in the council area are:
Ese Oloja Hill:-
This twin hill is located along Imini road in Ilora town, the bigger hill is referred to as the wife while the smaller hill was the husband.
A church is built on the hill by the Christ Apostolic Church Mission (C.A.C). The southwest C.A.C members worship on the hill yearly. They have stopped going to Aramoko in Ekiti State for the yearly worship. People from far and near including europeans visit the hill anytime.
Ifeniyi Hill:-
This hill could be found at Oke Isanmi in Ilora town.
It was the first place of settlement for the forefathers of Ilora people who migrated from Ile-Ife town.
It is believed that people live on the hill before the expansion of Ilora town to its present size. It is also believed that the hill provides security (protection) to the people.
Obanako (a big tree)
Obanako is a deity that could be found in Ilora town. It first settled within the community for a place called Oluwatedo now referred to as Obanako settlement.
The deity surrounds itself with a chain, they believed that Obanako is an intermediary between them and god, it is also believed that he (Obanako) gives them protection during time of war they have a popular song they sing in praise of Obanako’s power of protection as thus.
Ogun nle mi bo wa o, Obanako gba mi o!
The people believed that when there is an outbreak of war and they could lay their hand on the chain, the war has been won.
Orisa Popo (a mystery water)
This is a deity found in Ilora town. It is worshipped by Ilora people before the advent of Christianity and Islam.
Today, the deity is being worshipped for a period of three (3) good days in the month of June of every year to coincide with the harvest of new yam.
It is believed that the deity has power of protection, healing and provision.
If there is a misunderstanding between two Ilora people or one person cheats the other person, the person cheated will invoke the spirit of Popo river to judge between them.
Aribonbo Sana-Iyawo
This is a deity found in Ilora village every woman married into Aribonbo community is bound to dance round the deity after the birth of her baby.
It is impossible to snatch the wife married into aribonbo community, anybody that tries it will surely die.
All the identified tourist attractions in the LCDA witness large visitors from within and outside the council area.
Europeans are not left out of the large patronage of the tourism centres.
Till today, no fees is charged, because the tourist centres have not been developed.