Introduction: Situated in the Southwestern belt of the Nigerian rainforest, Ode Ondo or Ondo City has a population of half a million people, making it one of the largest cities in the state named after it. Its traditional ruler, the Osemawe is a descendant of Oodua, the founding King of Yoruba Kingdoms. The current Osemawe is Oba (Dr.) Victor A. Kiladejo. The forty fourth King who was a medical practitioner before he succeeded Oba (Dr.) Festus I.A Adesanoye. He is married to Olori Comfort Olayinka Kiladejo.
The location of Ondo in the middle of Nigeria’s rain forest but with good access to the coast made the city a major transit point to northeast Yoruba land during the era of Yoruba civil war. Its strategic location led to its rapid rise as a conduit for goods from Lagos into Yoruba land, and subsequently attracted Christian missionaries who established the first mission church, St. Stephen’s Oke-Aluko in 1875. The coming of Christian missionaries, many of whom were anglicized Africans, had a lasting impact on the community. First was the establishment of a primary school which trained catechists and teachers, as well as what were then Native Authority clerks. The functional education received in the primary school also led to new commercial ventures such as cocoa and rubber farming, a shift to a measure of cash crop farming. The Ondos also left their community to trade with Europeans in what is called “Eti Odo” (the riverine area adjoining the present Ondo and Ogun states) as retail merchants, representatives of European trading companies, and interpreters to foreign merchants.
Ondo Traditional Political Organization: Traditional political authority is vested in the King (Oba) who is generally considered the spiritual and political head of the Ondos. He heads the Council of senior chiefs called Eghae; these are (Lisa, Jomu, Odunwo, Sasere, Adaja, and Odofin) who with him make up what is considered a cabinet, referred to in other Yoruba towns as Iwarefa. The Obaship is hereditary, and currently, three ruling families are recognized to produce candidates, one after the other. These are: Okuta, Foyi, and Leyo. The coral beads worn on their wrists and ankles as well as the big drum “ugbaji” which they and a few Ekule Chiefs are entitled to beat during ceremonies distinguish the Eghae. Next in rank to the Eghae are the Ekule Chiefs who are six in number. They are Arogbo, Logbosere, Odofindi, Sagwe, Sara, and Lotuomoba. There are other junior chiefs under the Ekule category. Elegbe Chiefs are third in rank and consist of Ayadi, Orunbato, Sokoti, Gbogi, Luogho, Losare, Lijoka, Lijofi, Loyinmi, Odole, and Saogho. Most of the ward chiefs in the city report directly to Elegbe principal chiefs named above. Elegbes under Ayadi performed security functions. There are other chiefs under the 15 Elegbe Chiefs such as Yegbata, Bafan, Lomafe, etc. Apart from these chiefs, there are also chiefs for spiritual duties called alarowo. They are Sora and Akunnara, who are Oramfe priests.
Apart from male chiefs, there are also women chiefs headed by Lobun (female King) who is in charge of the community market and who has an important ritual function in the crowning of a new King. Ondo is one of few Yoruba kingdoms with a tradition of female kings. Indeed, Ondo’s first king, Pupupu, was female, thus making Ondo city one of the few spots with age-old traditions of gender diarchy or balance of power. Other female chiefs are Lisa-Lobun, Jomu-Lobun, Orangun-Lobun, Sasere-Lobun and Adafin. Other lesser grade female chiefs are Odofin-Lobun, Ogede-Lobun, Sama-Lobun and Awoye-Lobun. The Eghae selects Lobun while other women high chiefs select their colleagues whenever a vacancy occurs. The female king is a principal character in the coronation of a new king in Ondo. Although colonial rule and successor independent governments have eroded the traditional authority of the Oba and his chiefs, nevertheless the Oba is still highly regarded as representing the collective identity of Ondo people, an intercessor between his people and government, and the custodian of Ondo culture and tradition. These traditions are enacted and reaffirmed through such ceremonies as Odun Oba, Oramfe, Ogun, and the modern Ekimogun Day celebration. Modern government in Ondo follows the same pattern as in all parts of the Nigerian Federation. The federal constitution, notwithstanding the peculiarities of Nigeria’s ethnic groups, decreed a uniform local government with elected chairmen and councilors. There is no constitutional or statutory relationship between the local government and the traditional system of governance although the court in the Oba’s Palace still serves as the preferred court of first instance in civil cases.
Ondo Economy: Most Ondos are farmers producing cash (cocoa, rubber, and timber) and food crops (yam, plantain, cassava, and palm produce). Local indigenes as well as non-Yoruba transient migrants who sell clothing and household products engage in retailing. A service sector consisting of building construction, motor servicing, and furniture making is also prominent. There is an emerging phone and Internet service that connects Ondo to other parts of Nigeria and the world. There are also a few manufacturing or industrial plants such as wood processing, stone crushing, cocoa beans processing, and paper products. Ondo has a few commercial banks, four of which are branches of nationwide banks while the others are community banks. There are also four hotels and a large market situated in the centre of the city.
Ondo and Education: The positive and beneficial impact of the presence of missionaries in Ondo led the community to establish the first community secondary school in Nigeria and the oldest secondary school in the Old Ondo and Benin Provinces (now Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Delta States). Named Ondo Boys’High School, the secondary school was incorporated in 1919 after six years of informal existence under a Durham Universitytrained Classics graduate, Reverend Moses Craig Adeyemi, an Ondo indigene. To the credit of Ondo community and the founding principal, Ondo Boys’High School grew to offer education to young boys and later young girls before reverting back to an allmale school in keeping with its founding tradition. The spirit of community development, which led to the founding of Ondo Boys’High School, is still evident in Ondo after about one century of the establishment of the school. To the credit of the Ondos, the following institutions were established by community efforts; Ondo General Hospital, Ondo Divisional Teacher Training College, and Ondo Civic Centre. Whilst the General Hospital and Ondo Divisional Teacher Training College have become respectively State and Federal institutions, Ondo Civic Centre is being developed under Ondo Development Committee, a civil society group with a mission to promote Ondo development. Higher education in Ondo
In Nigeria, the Ondos are known for their thirst and quest for education. This community’s ambition led many Ondo indigenes into professional studies: law, engineering, medicine, diplomacy, banking, and academics. A degree awarding institution in Ondo, Adeyemi College of Education, which has been in existence for over 35 years, is currently being joined by the Methodist University of Science and Technology, to place Ondo in the league of University towns in Nigeria. At present, there are twenty secondary schools in the city. The importance of professional and academic training to Ondo people is best illustrated by the fact that three of the national merit awardees in Nigeria: Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe of Medicine, Professor Oladayo Oladapo of Engineering, and Professor Olu Adegoke of Geology are from Ondo. Traditionally, Ondo’s quest for education has taken its sons and daughters to the United Kingdom and the United States and Canada. For example, there is no single household in Ondo town without one family member studying or working in North America or Europe.
Investment Climate: Ondo provides a favorable environment for internal and external investment. It is rich in agricultural resources and thus a viable site for agricultural industries. It is only a few miles from the major centers of bitumen deposit and the proposed seaport and free trade zone between Ondo and Ogun states. It is also a city that is well endowed with modern real estate. In addition to a viable internal population, Ondo has a network of roads that link the city to major population centers such as Lagos, Ibadan, Akure, Benin, Ijebu-Ode, Warri, Asaba, and Onitsha. Religious pluralism and tolerance of plurality are abiding aspects of Ondo traditional culture.
Topography: The town has a conductive investment climate and a favourable tropical weather with average rainfall and ample sunshine. It is surrounded by hills and that to a reasonable extent contributes to its modern temperature.
Hospitality Business: Ondo has recently become a safe haven for ambitious entrepreneurs wishing to take advantage of the conviviality of the town and the emergence of different business opportunities. Hotels in Ondo town which are of different sizes can complete favourably among others in the ever increasing competition in the hospitality business in the country. There are also numerous guest houses with good facilities located at several places in the town.
Mobility and Transportation: Ondo is fast expanding and assuming the status of a city, hence movement within the town is made possible through various modes of transportation such as taxis, and commercial motorcycles. The township roads are motor-able while it is also very safe to walk on the streets anytime of the day.
Industries: Despite the downturn in business establishments in the town occasioned by the closure of some of the big establishments, like the Nigerian Romanian Wood Industry (NIROWI) and Premier Metal Industry private business establishments such as sachet water factory, sawmill factory, petrol filling stations, private educational institutions among others are visible in the town.
Culture & Tradition: Ondo as an ancient enclave with cultural affinity with the Yoruba race is an embodiment of culture and tradition. The us of several traditional dresses such as Aso-Oke, Smiyan, Etu, Alaari among others is still in vogue. Similarly the celebration of traditional festivals numbering fifty three of which are Odun-Oba and Ogun Festivals play prominence has taken the town to lime light. Political: Although in the past, it appears the people of Ondo devotes little time to politics, the advent of democracy and the need for active participation has made the people change their perceptions. In demonstration of this change of attitude, almost all the political parties registered by INEC have been embraced by the people. Similarly several indigenes of the town now hold political post at local state and federal level. Consequently, political participations in Ondo Town have served several functions which include balance of leverage, management peaceful co-existence of all.
Commerce: Ondo has markets of different sizes that are located at various places such as Agbogbooke, Akinjagula Odojomu, Sabo, and Mofere. However of the lot, the biggest and most modern is Moferere which has been reconstructed by the Federal Ministry of Environment Housing and Urban Development courtesy of the Millennium Development Goal Initiatives of the Federal Government. The market, though not built to the sizes of those at Wuse (Abuja) or Balogun (Lagos) stocks items of valuable importance at competitive prices.
Tourist Centres: Although, Ondo town does not have plenty of tourists centres which could be found in several places like the Bar Beach in Lagos, Riyom water falls in Jos to mention a few, it has some tourist centres like Multimillion Naira Ondo Civic Centre, Osemawe’s Palace, National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) headquarters among others.
Educational Institutions: Ondo has numerous education institutions owned by public, private, religious organizations and the Government. It also has two higher institutions of learning; these are Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo and the National Institute for Education Planning Administration (NIEPA).
Heroes and Legends: Some indigenes of Ondo town have won recognition for their contributions to National Development . Among these are Prof Sylvester Adegoke, a professor of Geology at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and one-time National Merit Award Winner, Professor Dosekun, first Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Otunba Sunday Adegeye (Akaka King Sunny Ade), Professor Ifedayo Oladapo, a renowned Engineer and National Merit Award Winners, Dr Olusegun Ranhman Mimiko, former Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Prof Philip Abiodun, Vice-Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University to mention a few.
Food and Local Delicacies: Ondo people are unique when it comes to food. Despite the prominence which some food items like rice, macaroni, meat pie among other is gaining in the contemporary society, Ondo people still give recognition to Local food delicacies like pounded yam, eba, puupuu ( a starchy food item obtained from cassava) and these could be obtained in some Food Joints in the town which also prepared local soup like okro, ‘gbanunu’, vegetable to mention a few.
Language and Communication: Ondo has a language that is clear and understandable and can be comprehended by any person who understands Yoruba language. Hence linguistic barrier would not pose a problem to any visitors who come to Ondo town for any areas of need.