It is said that the founder, Onayelu, was a great hunter who hunted the northern parts of Odo-Oluiwa; the present Ijebu Ode, where he was a prince. Following the sudden demise of his father and the subsequent controversial accession to the throne of his younger brother, the Ofiranoye while Onayelu was away hunting, he decided to migrate from Ijebu Ode to settle permanently on the large expanse of land where he had been hunting and known today as Ijebu Igbo. Ijebu Igbo forest reserve which is called the Omo forest reserve is among the 12 biggest forest reserves in Nigeria. Ijebu igbo forest reserve Queen Elizabeth forest reserve J1 forest reserve J2 forest reserve J3 forest reserve J4 forest reserve Apoje forest reserve and many more.
Classification
Ijebu Igbo is divided into five clans; Oke-Sopin, Oke-Agbo, Ojowo, Atikori, and Japara. An Oba is enthroned to govern each of these clans. These Obas are typically classified as "third-class" and they all submit to the headship of the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo. The Orimolusi is a first-class and he is the supreme head of Ijebu-Igbo.
Traditional Rulers in Ijebu-Igbo and its Environment
Orimolusi is the traditional ruler of ijebu Igbo land and presides over four local government areasand 10 Local Community Development Area in Ogun state Nigeria, which is the largest kingdom in Ogun state in term of land mass with more than 300 villages.
The local governments and LCDA are all under the authority of the Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo. The last Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo was late Oba Samuel Adetayo Onasanya, who died in 1994. Ijebu East Ogbere Ijebu East Central Ojowo Ijebu North Ijebu Igbo Ijebu North Central Oru Ijebu Igbo West Ojowo Ago Iwoye Ibipe Ijebu North East Atan Yemoji Ilese
Geography
Ijebu Igbo is the second largest town in Ogun State and the largest among Ijebus in terms of land mass, there are arable land for farming. Also there are hundreds of villages and hamlet under Ijebu Igbo. The town is bordered by Ibadan, Ikire, and Ondo.
Ijebu Igbo boasts of many secondary schools, amongst which are two of the foremost secondary schools in Nigeria, Molusi College & Abusi Edumare Academy founded on January 28, 1949 and in January 1971 respectively. Ijebu Igbo is also home to some higher institutions, such as; Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic and Nigeria Prison Service Academy a first of its kind institution in sub-Saharan Africa
Notable People from Ijebu Igbo
Ijebu Igbo is the political headquarter as well as the commercial nerve centre of Ijebu North local government with many of its indigenes playing actively on the national political stage. Ijebu igbo has also produced prominent politicians and business men in the history of Nigeria like Mike Adenuga, Abraham Adesanya, Olabiyi Durojaiye, Buruji Kashamu, Sent. Olalekan Mustapha, Late Sen Abraham Adesanya,Sen Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka, Prof Ogunye etc. and more
