Afijio Local Government

Crops Produced in the LGA

Food crops              Cash Crops

Maize                        Cocoa

Yam                           Kolanut

Cassava                     Coffee

Coco-yam                 Orange

Fruits

Groundnut

The crops are produced in large quantities in the following towns Ilora, Fiditi, Aawe, Jobele, Akinmorin, Iware and Imini.

The Local Government plans to regain her lost glory in fruits and citrus production through the procurement and distribution of fruit and citrus seedlings to farmers of the council area.

An investor could put his/her money in large scale production of citrus, orange, fruits and poultry farming.

The Local Government is blessed with vast expanse of land that could be acquired with ease for crop farming or livestock production.

The Local Government can boast of the existence of many tractors that could be hired at low price for mechanized or small-scale farm works.

There exist good and well-maintained road network that could guarantee easy transportation of farm products.

There are enough financial institutions that could aid and safe transfer of capital.

All the major towns of the local government have hotels for relaxation.

The major tourist attractions identified in the local government area are:

• Ese Oloja Hill:

The hill is located along Imin road in Ilora town.

The hill is a twin hill and tradition has it that the bigger hill is named the wife while the smaller hill is the husband. A church is built on  the hill by the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Mission. People from far and near including Europeans visit the hill any time of the year  and C.A.C. members from all over the world converge to the church on the hill annually for special worship service.

• Ifeniyi Hill:

This hill is 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 provide security (protection) to the people especially from wars and external aggression.

• Obanako (A Big Tree):

Obanako is a Deity that was worshipped in Ilora town before this modern age. It first settled within the community and when people defiled it, Obanako decided to leave the community for a place called Oluwatedo now known as Obanako Settlement.

The Deity surrounds itself with a chain. The people believed that the Obanako is an intermediary between them and God. They also  believed that it gave them protection during wars. They have a popular song they sing in praise of Obanako power of protection thus:-  (Ogun nle mi bow a o, Obanako gba mi o!) meaning I am pursued by war; Obanako, rescue me o!.

• Orisa Popo (Mystery Water):

This is a Deity found in Ilora Town. The Deity was worshiped bu Ilora people before the advent of Christianity and Islam. Today, the  Deity is being worshiped in the month of June every year to coincide with the harvest of new yam. It is being worshiped for three (3)  good days. It is believed that the Deity has the power of protection, healing and provision. If there is misunderstanding between two  Ilora  people or if one person cheats another, the person cheated will invoke the spirit Popo river to judge between them.

• Sogidi Lake:

Sogidi Lake is found in Aawe town. It is believed that Sogidi is a female human being turned into a lake and that she lives in the lake till  today. Half of its body is Fish, while the remaining half is human body. Sogidi is worshiped by people of Aawe yearly and during the  annual festival, Sogidi will come out of the lake. It was believed that Sogidi has the power to heal and give babies to barren women. In  every month of October when the Aawe Day is celebrated, Aawe Indigenes and visitors pay homage to the Lake to ask for blessings,  protection and long life.

• Igi Omo:

Igi Omo is an ancient tree owned by the Alajoguns (witches and wizards). The tree is found in Ilora town. It was believed that if a leaf of the tree is plucked by anybody, bad things will happen to the person. All efforts put forth to cut the tree by both the indigenes and  Europeans have failed. For any part of tree to be used, the Alajoguns must be consulted.

• Odo Eegbe:

Odo Eegbe is a merciful and lenient river found in Fiditi town. The Oba and people of Fiditi appease the god of Eegbe river especially during the dry season when water is difficult to get, with a bucket full of water, poured inside the river. Before getting home after the rituals, they will all be soaked with rain water. On getting to town, enough water will be found everywhere, wells, streams and rivers.  Annual festival is held for the river.

• Aribonbo Sana – Iyawo:

This is a Deity found in Ilora. Every woman married into Aribonbo community is bound to dance round the Deity after the birth of her  baby.

Other attractions to potential tourists in Afijio Local Government area are:

• Kuntanti Shrine at Aawe Town
• Oke Ajadi at Fiditi Town
• Yemoja at Akinmorin Town
• Erugun Ati Ilu Aje TownAll identified tourist attractions in the Local Government Area witness large visitor turnout of the large patronage of the tourist centers.

For business transactions, the local government can boast of the following markets:

• Eleekara Market at Ilora
• Ayetoro Market at Ilora
• Oparinde Market at Ilora
• Oba Akibio Market at Ilora
• Bode Market at Ilora
• Imini main Market at Imini
• Iware main market at Iware
• Akinmorin Day Market, Akinmorin
• Egbejoda Market, akinmorin
• Alaawe main Market, Aawe
• Ijaye Ojutaye market at Ijaye-Ojutaye

Farm products and commercial goods are sold and bought in all the above mentioned markets. Easy transportation of farm products from the farm and goods from other parts of the country to the markets is guaranteed through the availability of good and well-maintained road network in the local government area. Such farm products include:

• Yam
• Tomatoes
• Cassava
• Groundnut
• Fruits
• Orange
• Kolanut
• Coffee
• Oil palm
• Cocoa

Yam, Cassava, Maize, Fruit, Orange, Groundnut, Tomatoes are sold in large quantities between the months of June and September in all the markets. Majority of the marketers are women who buy in large quantities from these markets and transport them to Ibadan, Lagos and other big markets to sell.

Names Of Major Financial Institutions Present In The Area Are

• African International Bank Limited Plc, Ilora
• First Bank of Nigeria Limited, AAwe
• Aawe Community Bank, Aawe
• Eleekara Community Bank, Idi-igba, Ilora
• Ilora Community Bank, Ilora
• Oleyo Community Bank, Fiditi
• Spring Bank inside SPED, Akinmorin

Major Industrial Presence

• Bond Chemicals, Aawe
• Yinka Folawiyo Farms, Ilora
• Amo Sanders, Aawe
• Amo Farms, Aawe

Other Areas Of Interest

• Livestock especially poultry production
• Fruit canning industries making of Pine-apple, Orange, Citrus and Tomatoes juice.

The Local Government is presently being administered by Career Civil Servants in the absence of political functionaries.  The list of the management team are:-

• Muili, A. A. – Head of Local Government Administration
• Oladiran, O. O. – Director, Admin. & Gen. Services
• Kazeem K. B. – Director, Finance and Supplies
• Miss Alade V. L. –  Director, Agric & Natural Resources
• Shittu C. O. – Primary Health Care Coordinator
• Eniayewu, K. O.    – Director of Works
• Ogundele, G. O.           –  Director, Education and Social Services
• Alli, R. T. – Director, Budget, Planning, Research and Statistics