Inisa, is a city located in South-western Nigeria, located in Osun state. The city is a trading center for the cocoa and kolanut produced in the surrounding areas. Inisa lies in the Yoruba cultural region. In the late 19th century it was the only town in South-western Nigeria not to suffer great losses in population in the struggle among various Yoruba kingdoms to control the area.
This was mostly because Inisa was located too far south to be effectively controlled by the Ilorin Emirate, a powerful Fulani-controlled Yoruba city to the north. Subsequently, outposts were set up by the Yoruba of Inisa to curtail the power of the Fulani at Ilorin. Population (1995) 116,800. Its population as of 2007 was 180,553. Inisa-town is in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State of Nigeria. It is situated about 26 kilometers by road north-east of Osogbo, the State capital. It is about five hour ride by rail from Lagos, the commercial capital of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is situated on the margins of the southern forests of Nigeria on a fairly raised land well over 600 meters above sea level. Inisa is the largest and most populous town in the Local government Area. The town has ancestral links with Alaafin of Oyo, the Alara of Aramoko in Ekiti and Owa of Ijesaland.
Inisa was founded many centuries ago by Ooku, a brave prince and warrior from Offa-Eesun, a small but historic settlement near Ofa in the present Kwara State. Ofa-Eseun herself was founded by a prince of the Alaafin royal dynasty of old Oyo. From this historical link with Ofa, the Princes and Princesses of Inisa are commonly referred to as “OMO MOJO” while people of Inisa are generally referred to as “Inisa – Oyemojo” the word “OYEMOJO’ is a combination of two words (names), “OYE and MOJO”. One refers to the paternal parentage and the other to the maternal parentage of Ooku, the founder of Inisa.
Ofa-Eesun was later destroyed during the Nupe incursions into the Northern Yorubaland in the 17th century. The Ofa-Eesun people subsequently moved en mass to found the present Ofa town. Ooku contested the throne of Ofa and lost.
The Beginning The chieftaincy dispute coupled with some related domestic problems caused Ooku to migrate from Ofa-Eesun. He was said to be childless at that time of his life. He had to consult Ifa Oracle for the solution of his problems. The Oracle directed him to move away from his family and homestead to find solutions to his problems. The Oracle also informed him that there were two important gods in his ancestral or family lineage i.e. Obatala and Ogun, and that the two gods must be accorded respect and veneration. As a result of the Ifa predictions, Ooku moved out away from his people and founded a new abode now known and called Inisa.
When he arrived at his new abode, he sat under a tree at a place now known as Popo in the town. Having reached the spot and as he sat under a tree to rest, he found sixteen (16) snails around the area. He interpreted the incidence of the snails as a fulfillment of an aspect of the Ifa Oracle divination. He eventually chose the spot as the location of Obatala shrine. Snails are favorite meat of the Obatala god. He eventually became a committed devotee of Obatala god. He began to keep all his belongings including the fried meat of his preys around the shrine and dedicating all his possessions to the Obatala god and its shrine. It was from this act of complete devotion that the word Inisa (Ini-orisa) which later became the name of the town emerged. The Obatala god became the most important god of the people, and its festival, the most important festival in the town.
Another tradition, however, states that the name, Inisa came in to being as a direct consequence of the actions of Ooku’s descendants. They were said to have caused the unification of the other smaller and neighboring communities (settlements) around their own and galvanized same into a polity known as Inisa. It was in the course of knitting together of the diverse possessions into a unit that the settlement came to be known as INISA that is to say in Yoruba - “INI-ti –A-SAJO”.
The Building Blocks With time, other immigrants came to join the sprawling settlement. Some of the early immigrants were settled not too near or too far from Popo area. Among the early immigrants were the Subokun group from Mogun quarters of Ile-Ife, the Oluode group from Aran-Orin who were later joined by Eesa Tannomo family from Ilemona. Other immigrants include the Oke-Iponrin from Iresadu, the Oke-Omo from old Oyo. The Oke-Ogun group migrated from Ilota in the present Kwara state and they settled first at Okua before a smaller detachment of the pioneering settlers at Okua finally ended up at Inisa. The Oke-Ogun group led by Olugbokun and Melemuku was settled at Oke-Ogun area at Inisa by Oriola Fasikun, the then ruler of the town. Today, Inisa is made up several family counds, sharing common bond. It is often said, that there is hardly any individual in Inisa who is not related to another one way or the other. Below, we present the family compounds that constitute Inisa:
FAMILY COMPOUNDS IN INISA
OLUNISA WARD
1 Adegbite 2 Agbajana 3 Agbenla/baba onilu 4 Akingbola 5 Akolegbaro 6 Ariwo ola 7 Aro Ayan bioloja 8 Arolodo 9 Atabinti 10 Balogun 11 Idi-opele 12 Idi-otin 13 Jagun Oyedele 14 Oba Agbaosi 15 Onireke 16 Osolo 17 Oluawo Onifa 18 Oyedele 19 Oyotedo 20 Sole 21 Taka Taka/Baale Akinyin 22 Oba Agbaosi Kupelete
EESA WARD
1 Alagbede Teru 2 Alapo 3 Arewuyo 4 Arina 5 Eesa Adegboye/Okunlola 6 Elejin 7 Elemo 8 Jagun Ogbalola 9 Jawo 10 Oba Olarionye 11 Olorisa Oko 12 Oluode 13 Osaana 14 Paja 15 Popo/Fasikun 16 Subokun OSI BAALE ODE
1 Alagbaa 2 Abede 3 Aganna/Oluawo Isegun 4 Aibio/Ajamoreba 5 Ali Olodo 6 Arin Oje 7 Arioye 8 Afilaka 9 Arilegba Ajelesi 10 Baale Sango 11 Eesa Obihun 12 Gbagi 13 Isale Ako 14 Jalugun 15 Ogunjide 16 Oguntoyinbo 17 Ola-Oloro 18 Olejaorin 19 Oloro 20 Onira 21 Ore 22 Oya 23 Sese
OLUKOTUN WARD
1 Asuramu 2. Arogun 3 Ajala 4 Baale Okeogun 5 Baba Elesin 6 Eesorun 7 Idi-ita 8 Laro 9 Oba-Otepola 10 Oluwuru 11 Olugbede 12 Olutokun OTUN BAALE ODE
1 Ademokun 2 Baale Agbede 3 Baale Okeayan 4 Elebu 5 Erorinmo 6 Ikupolowo 7 Onikan 8 Olerede 9 Oluku 10 Sango Ogba aga
It is worthy of note that there are several satellites of these compounds in many locations in Inisa. This is commonly referred to in Inisa as fo‘le mo
The War Exploits Inisa had been from time immemorial, a warrior community. She was deeply involved in the struggle for the survival of Yoruba race during the period of internecine wars and particularly, during the onslaught and incursions of the Fulani into Yorubaland in the 19th Century. Inisa people participated actively in the series of the wars. They fought in the Osogbo was of 1840, the Jalumi war of 1878, the Ofa war (1886- 1890) and the Daparu war. The Ofa war resulted from the desire of Ilorin-fulani to avenge their defeat at the Jalumi on Ofa and the neighboring towns. They laid siege on Ofa for several years before Ofa was eventually sacked around 1890. The Daparu war resulted from the sack and fall of Ofa. The Fulani now desired to sack all the towns and villages between Ofa and Osogbo and bring them under the rule of the Fulani of Ilorin. They continued to attack, raid and wage wars on the people. Only Inisa was brave and courageous enough to face the Fulani forces, as the other towns and villages were deserted, seeking refuge at Ibadan war camp at Ikirun.
Governance Structure The Oba-in-Council had always ruled the community until the impact of modern administration forced the town to come together with her neighbors to form the “ODO-OTIN FEDERAL COUNCIL”. The Olunisa was the head of the town and the custodian of customs, traditions and the traditional power (Authority). The Olunisa carried out the administration of the town with the council of Chiefs.
An Industrious People and their Adventures Inisa people are predominantly farmers producing cash crops such as Cocoa, Kola-nuts, palm-produce. They also produce arable crops such as yams, cassava, plantain, rice, fruits, and vegetables e.t.c. They brought and introduced the white Kola-nuts (Gbanja) into Nigeria from Gold coast (now Ghana) between 1920 and 1926. There are also craftsmen and traders among the people. Local industries include dyeing, blacksmithing, goldsmithing, pottery, black-soap making, drumming, carving, weaving e.t.c. The people are now involved in construction works, masonry, carpentry, welding, mechanic-works, transportation e.t.c. Inisa people are found in many West African countries- Ghana, Togo, Republic of Benin, Mali, Ivory Coast (now Côte d'Ivoire) and indeed several countries in Europe and America. e.t.c. The people can be found in great members in many parts of Nigeria.
Communal Spirit The traditional spirit of self-help and co-operation was intensified with the establishment of the cultural organizations known as “Egbe Ibile” in the early 1940s which later became known as “Inisa Descendants’ Union (IDU)” in the mid-1960s. Through this cultural organization, many development projects were undertaken by the Community. The projects include road construction, building of schools, Post Office, Town-Hall, Markets places and places of worship. The Inisa community Medical Centre was established in the late 1940s, through the Toils of Inisa people. There are many co-operative organizations, clubs, trade guilds and movements in the town. Below we present Social Clubs that are registered with IDU and have been playing key roles in the development of the town:
LIST OF SOCIAL CLUBS REGISTRED WITH IDU 1 Asajo Prestige Circle 2 Basiri Social Club, Ikorodu 3 Igbo Community (I) 4 Igbo Community (II) 5 Inisa Club 10 Lagos 6 Inisa Club 25 7 Inisa Dynamic Club 8 Inisa Progressive Club 9 Inisa Progressive Club 20 10 Inisa Progressive Elite and Elite Sisters 11 Inisa Youth Initiative (IYI) 12 Inner circle Club 10 13 Irepodun Social Club, Inisa 14 Iwajowa Club Lagos 15 Klobb Klassy Inisa 16 Onward Ladies Club 17 Ooku Aapo Club 18 Oredunni Social Club 19 Otaareji Club 10 20 Oyemojo Social Club 21 Progressive Sisters’ Club
The past rulers of the town: 1. Ooku – the founder 2. Aapo – younger brother of Ooku 3. Olugoke – son of Ooku 4. Oladeji – second son of Ooku 5. Olabooye Abidiogun 6. Oriola Fasikun 7. Aina Lagbaja 8. Olasokunni 9. Agbaosi 10. Olarinoye 11. Joojo 12. Otepola 13. Binuyo 14. Kanyinde 15. Moronfolu Okunoye 16. James Popoola Otepola II
Inisa- A new Dawn Today, the town is blessed with a humane, progressive and responsive monarch, the first University Graduate to ascend the throne his forebears in Inisa and indeed Odo Otin Local Government Area. He is HRM Kabiyesi Joseph Oladunjoye Oyedele, Fasikun II, JP. He ascended the throne in 1978 and the town has witnessed tremendous progress since then. In his tenure, Inisa developed from a town with only one secondary school and five primary schools to a town with six private primary schools, 12 public primary schools, four private secondary schools, six public secondary schools and one Government Technical College. Inisa now has a Community Bank now known as Legend Micro – Finance Bank. This bank frequently adjudged as the best in Osun State and one of the best in Nigeria. There are now two major markets in Inisa- Orisunmbare Market and Oba Fasikun ( Alaruba or Wednesday) Market. Inisa now has its first indigenous sachet water producing company- FOTTOP Water.
Inisa has produced two Surveyors – General, six Permanent Secretaries, a Head of Service, two Secretaries to the State Government, Several Commissioners, Politicians of note, Executives in Business and Public Service. In addition, Inisa under the peaceful reign of our current monarch has produced a Deputy Provost of a College of Education, a Deputy Rector and a Registrar in a Polytechnic, a University Registrar, several Secondary School Principals, 10 University Professors among whom have been Deans, a Deputy Vice-chancellor a Vice-Chancellor, and several doctoral degree holders. Inisa’s main asset is her rich human resources, which the community continually explores for her sustainable development. There are challenges, no doubt, but we are moving on. The potentials are there but it behoves all sons and daughters of Inisa to join hands together to build Inisa of our dream. Our heritage is rich, it is solid and we should be proud of it and guard it jealously. We are the trail blazers and our best is yet to come.
Long live Kabiyesi Olunisa Long live Inisa community Long Odo-Otin LGA Long live Osun State Long live the Federal Republic of NigeriaINISA DESCENDANTS UNION
MEET A FEW OF OUR PIONEERS AND OUR BEST
In 2009, we introduced this section which showcases a few compatriots who have made inspiring achievements of historical relevance. This year we have updated this list with available information. We shall continue updating on an annual basis.
S/n Name Feat Compound 1 Ooku First ruler/ Founder Inisa 2 Joseph Oladunjoye Oyedele First graduate ruler Popo 3 J.A. Woye First Permanent Secretary Jagun 4 M.A.Fatoki First IDU Chairman Olu Awo 5 M.A. Fatoki First University Graduate Olu Awo 6 M.A. Fatoki First Lawyer Olu Awo 7 R.A. Lana First State Legislator Ajala 8 R.A. Lana First Regional Cabinet Minister Ajala 9 Adebisi Jinadu First Federal Legislator Subokun 10 J.A. Adedeji First Head of Civil Service Arina 11 Johnson Folayan First indigene to become School Principal Baba Elesin 12 Shuaib Afolabi Oyedokun First Secretary to the State Government Areoye 13 Omoniyi Adewoye First Professor Jagun 14 Omoniyi Adewoye First Vice-Chancellor Jagun 15 Omoniyi Adewoye First Federal Cabinet Commissioner/Minister Jagun 16 Olu Agboola First Licensed Surveyor Alagbaa 17 Femi Ojo First Chartered Surveyor Balogun 18 Moyosore Oyinlola First Surveyor-General Gbagi 19 Olugbade Tunde Oyegoke First Graduate Engineer BabaElesin 20 Martin Omisola First Chartered Accountant Balogun 21 Michael Oladejo Alao First Medical Doctor Arina 22 Amudat Oyedokun First Female University Graduate Areoye 23 Labo Popoola First Muslim Professor Areoye 24 Grace Toyin Tayo (Nee Afolabi) First Female Professor Areoye 25 Olusegun Ojo First to attain the Rank of Registrar in a University Ajamareba 26 Felix Owolabi Akinloye First to play in the National Football Team Subokun 27 Rabiu Afolabi First to play professional football in the Elite League in Europe Alagbaa 28 Gbadamosi Orisasona First Muslim Convert Adegbite 29 Josiah Oyeboade First Christian Convert Isale Ako 30 Imam Muhammad First Chief Imam Olukotun 31 Noibi Alli First Noibi Imam Areoye 32 James O. Akinola First Bishop Olugbede 33 Clement Akinwale First ordained Reverend Father Alagbaa 34 Olanipekun Ogungbile First Elected Local Government Chairman Alagbaa 35 Ahmed Oyinlola First Executive Secretary of a Federal Government Agency Jalugun 36 Enoch Kolapomoye Ajiboso First indigene to be elected Local Government Chairman outside his State Eesa Obiun 37 Enoch Kolapomoye Ajiboso First indigene to be appointed State Cabinet Commissioner outside his State Eesa Obiun 38 Oyelayo Oyebode First to attain the rank of National Director in NDLEA Baale Sango 39 Kayode Fasola First to attain the rank of Executive Director in a major national Bank Ajala 40 Bisi Popoola First to attain the rank of Deputy Provost in a College of Education Arina 41 Fola Adegbite
Joseph Oyedeji Bayo Fasola Akin Adegbile Peter Adeyemo Kola Oyegoke Gbadebo Adeyefa
Pioneers of Rural Banking Erorinmo Olorisa Oko Eesa Adegboye Jagun Balogun Baba Elesin Sese