IRELE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State was created on 11th September, 1991, from the defunct Ikale Local Government Area. Its headquarter is Ode-Irele. It is bounded in the West by Okitipupa Local Government. In the East by Edo State, in the North by Odigbo Local Government and in the South by Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. Irele Local Government Area occupies an area of over 1000 square kilometers in the lowland region, south east part of Ondo State. It falls within the tropical rain forest with abundant rainfall and sunshine. The Local Government Area drainage system is made up of river Ofo, Owena, Arerin, Apere, Oluwa, Out Atan and Ogbodogbo. The inhabitants of Irele Local Government Area are essentially Ikales with few Urhobo and Edo speaking settlers. The people also speak Yoruba and English Language fluently. By the 2006 National Population Census figures, the Local Government has a total of over 200,000 people. There are over 300 towns and villages in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State. The major towns include: Ode-Irele, the headquarters of the local government area; Ami, Ajagba, Akotogbo, Iju-osun, Iyansan, Barogbo, Atoranse, Loda, Lonla, Lewumeji, Gbeleju-Loda, Kajola-Lokaka, Kajola-Ojurin and Liapanu, just to mention a few. Among the traditional vocations of the people of Irele Local Government Area are Ore Festival, Eje, Ojoye-Jesun, Eminale, Esigie and Egbare, which are being celebrated at different periods of the year in the communities. Indigenes from far and near do come yearly to their communities for these festivals. Orthodox religion, Christianity and Islam are practiced with traditional religion. There is the belief in Malokun, Leron, Lomookuta, Maapeyo for Irele community. Erufun for Omi community, Epo and Awere for Iyansan; Igwe and Iwo for Akotogbo and Awere-awere for Ajagba communities. There are six prominent traditional rulers in Irele Local Government Area; while there are few Olojas and Baales installed by the various traditional rulers in the domains. Prominent among the existing chieftaincy title are: Maran, Seja, Gboroye, Aribo, Konye, Jagboju, Oyenusi, Orebemekun, Gbogunron, Yasere, Oyewoga, Aragbuwa, Lumeko, Idogun, Asaron, Agbogun, Lisa, Gbeleju, Ojan and Lemadoro etc. The geographical location of Irele Local Government Area with the rain forest with abundant rainfall and sunshine encourages farming. About 75% of the populations engage in agricultural activities. Major agricultural products are Yam, Maize, Cassava, Plantain; while the cash crops include Rubber, Kolanuts, Palm Oil, Cashew, Cocoa, and Pineapples etc. At the moment, the Irele Local Government area has also embarked on the planting of about 30,000 oil palm seedlings and more than 15,000 cocoa seedlings across the towns and villages of the Local Government Area of Ondo State. Thousands of the crops are still being nursed for onward transplanting by the Agricultural Department of the Local Government and sales too to would-be farmers as well as members of the public. With the creation of the Irele Local Government both the Federal and State Government Agricultural Organizations and Private Agricultural Agencies have established their offices at Ode-Irele. Such agencies include: (a) The Agricultural Development Agency (b) The Agricultural Inputs and Supply Company which sells fertilizers, cutlasses, chemical etc. to farmers at subsidized rates. Farmers and individuals interested in agricultural activities were been encouraged by the Irele Local Government to have access to new farming techniques and agricultural inputs, including new breed seeds. They are also encouraged to have access to extension services and fertilizers at highly subsidized prices. Farming machines, tools and equipment are also made available to farmers by the local government for small, medium and large scale cultivation of land. The population are being encouraged annually to cultivate every available piece of land to boost food production. A lot of mineral resources abound in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State.They include: (a) Bitumen deposits at Lonla-Irele, Legbogbo, Gbeleju-Loda, Loda, Akinboni, Lutako, Daikolo, Laworo, Petu, Akinyomi, Ajagba, Barogbo and Iju-osun. The large minerals are still untapped. (b) Petroleum (c) Kerosene (d) Alluvial gold at Egbe-Letu Irele (e) Kaolin at Omififun-Irele, Gbeleju, Lokaka, and Labaile villages in Irele Township. (f) Iron Stones at Omi along the Basin of River Ofo. (g) Sand of the manufacture of Glasses etc. INDUSTRIES/INDUSTRIAL POTENTIALS Although, there are no large-scale industries in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State, the major contributions of private ownership sawmill industries available cannot be over-emphasized. There are however, about 15 medium-scales sawmill industries established all over the Local Government Area. These help in no small measure in the socio-economics Development of the Local Government Area. There is Local Native gin processing factory, Private Palm Oil Mills across the Local Government Area, fish smoking and preservation as well as tapping of rubbers. Already Irele Local Government has concluded plans to assist any business organization wishing to establish industries in the Irele Local Government Area by providing such companies with adequate land. The present administration has also promised to provide and maintain the basic infrastructural facilities for their take-off. In furtherance of its commitment to accelerate industrialization, the Local administration of Comrade (Hon.) Shadrack Olowojuni, has called on both the federal and state government to speed up action on the exploration of the abundant BITUMEN deposits at Lonla-Irele and environs. He has also appealed to the authorities to set up a Bitumen Implementation Committee to actualize the exploration of the Mineral deposits as well as continue to discover more blocks within the Local Government Area. The Irele Local Government through the Community Development Department has responsibility for the co-ordination, promotion and development of commercial activities throughout the area. It handles matters related to the participation and organization of consumer affairs. Trade fairs and industrial exhibitions within and outside the Local Government Area, Organizing traders into Co-operative Development and Trading Association; Conducting trade enquires and advisory services, attending to traders complaints within and outside the area and registration of business premises as well as social clubs. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS The administration of Comrade (Hon) Shadrack Olojuni encourages the people to join social organizations and clubs. They constitute veritable means of mobilization and medium of dissemination of information and ideas. However, Recreation Centres are very few in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State, it is the intention of the government to develop some Recreation Centres in different parts of the area. If developed, Akotogbo Sea Port would be an attractive Recreation Centre. Similarly, the WARM SPRING WATER at Ayeomoni Village in Ode-Irele, if developed too would be another attractive Tourist Centre for the Local Government and the entire populace. There is also the MALOKUN Shrine at Ode-Irele among others. Among the Hotels which are of importance are: (a) Three JS Hotel, Ode-Irele (b) Palm Group Hotel, Ode-Irele (c) Sharp Corner Hotel, Ode-Irele (d) New Paradise Hotel, Ode-Irele (e) Mullad Group of Hotels, Ode-Irele (f) Iwalewa International Hotel, Akotogbo (g) Imafidon Hotel, Akotogbo (h) Royel Hotel, Ajagba and (i) Messrs J.O. Olatunji Restaurant, Ajagba, among others. SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDEX OF GROWTH EDUCATION I. Number of Primary Schools (b) Public Schools – 60 (c) Private Schools – 25 II. Number of Secondary Schools (a) Public Schools – 11 (b) Private Schools - 12 Education is another sector where Comrade (Hon) Shadrack Olowojuni has demonstrated a relentless commitment towards the improvement of the appealing standard of education in Irele Local Government Area. He believes that the provision of instructional materials and conducive learning environment are all necessary conditions to motivate teachers are public alike. The Chairman consistently charged parents, teachers and pupils to be highly disciplined and dedicated. To solve some of the educational problems of pupils and students in the area, the administration has set aside thousands of naira for the development of schools. HEALTH Number of Health Centres: (i) Public Health Centres - 10 (ii) Private Health Centres – 12. The Local Government Health Care Department encompasses 3 Comprehensive Health Centres located at Ode-Irele, Ajagba and Akotogbo respectively, while there are 12 Basic Health Centres together with 10 health posts. There is also additional Mobile Health Units on ad-hoc approach which are being used for health services as the situation demands. The Irele Local Government Area is divided into 10 Health Districts for the full implementation of 10 health services to the people. Personnel manning the Health Institutions include a Medical Doctor, Nurses/Midwives, Community Health Workers, Wardmaids and Health Attendants. There are also environmental Health Officers responsible for the environment well-beings of the local government area. However, these Primary Health Centres are been managed by the Irele Local Government, with the assistance of the UNICEF and other World Health Agencies. STATE GENERAL HOSPITAL There is one State Hospital established at Ode-Irele by the Ondo State Government while there are about 10 privately owned Health Centres across the Local Government Area. They Include: (a) St. Theresa’s Catholic Health Centre, Ode-Irele (b) St. Peter’s Hospital, Ode-Irele (c) Fak Medical Centre, Ode-Irele (d) Olatujoye Health Clinic, Ode-Irele (e) St. Michael (Gbajumo) Health Centre, Ode-Irele (f) Adeleke Memorial Hospital, Ode-Irele, etc. WATER There is water supply at Ode-Irele township which is been provided by the Ondo State Government, while there are a good number of private water boreholes sunk allover the local government area. ELECTRICITY One of the major indices of urbanization is electricity supply. It is in the realization of this that the local government is giving priority attention to the supply of electricity to communities. Though, at the moment, only Ode-Irele, Omi and Ajagba communities are enjoying electricity supply, the present administration is working relentlessly towards providing Iyansan, Akotogbo, Iju-Osun, and Barogbo communities with power supplies. THE STAFF WELFARE The welfare of the workers of the Irele Local Government is very paramount in the mind of the Chairman, Comrade (Hon) Shadrack Olowojuni. Salaries and allowances of the staffs as well as their annual leave bonuses are not even made to suffer any set-back, as this astute leader ensures prompt payments on the last day of every working months. There are also plans by the administration to establish a Housing Estate for the people and the workers to alleviate the present housing problems of the citizens. ROAD TRANSPORTATION For socio-economic development of Irele Local Government Area, Comrade (Hon.) Shadrack Olowojuni administration gives roads rehabilitation a great priority. So far, over one thousand kilometers of roads were graded in the past ten months in office across the various communities of the Local Government Area. There is also emphasis on the construction of line drainages and culverts on township roads and opening up of feeder roads. SPORTS Another area of interest of the present administration is the government plan to develop sports. It has already decided to raise clubs, develop a Modern Sports Stadium at Ode-Irele to promote sporting activities among school children and public alike.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 23:10:20 +0000
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