Omupo
Omupo was founded by Prince Ikujenrola Adebari Alomole, the surviving son of Ifa priest, Awogbola Olomu Aperan who was also a Prince from the Obadio royal family, in Ile-Ife.
Awogbola Olomu Aperan migrated from Ile-Ife in early 15th century in protest over a succession dispute in the Obadio Chieftaincy family despite pleadings by the larger family against his decision. Obadio family is one of eight autonomous monarchs that Oduduwa is believed to have met in Ile-Ife.
Awogbola met Fagbamila Ajagunla, the first Orangun of Ila at Igbo Ajagunla in the course of his journey and participated in many war expeditions with Orangun. Orangun led Awogbola Olomu Aperan, Olugbon, Aresà and Onikoyi, to support Oranmiyan in the war against the Baruba.
Because Olomu Aperan was the Mace bearer of the Ogbò Cutlass, he was given the epithet of Ológbò Lómònò (The Pathfinder Who Knows the Way). This was the origin of the name Igbomina as a people. After the Baruba war, Olomu Aperan settled in Oyo-Ile, while Orangun went back to Ila.
Years after staying in Oyo-Ile, Olomu Aperan consulted Ifa oracle and his chief priest, Famuwagun, advised him to proceed on a journey in search of a new settlement. The presence of Oro Agogo plant (botanical bell cactus) was to serve as a marker or indicator of the location. Olomu Aperan used the Ogbo cutlass to guide his way to where the Oro Agogo was found which is known till today as Omupo.
Olomu Aperan while leaving Ile-Ife, also cut a branch of Omo tree as a souvenir. He used it as working stick and passed it on to his male – Kujenrola, who planted it at Omupo and got the name Alomole.
The Omo tree and Oro Agogo remain tourists’ sights in Omupo till today.
Traditional Governance
Omupo is ruled by the Olomu of Omupo, supported by traditional Chiefs in line with Yoruba traditional governance structure. Among the traditional chiefs are the Iwarefa – the six traditional king makers who also constitute the inner cabinets of the Olomu.
Omupo boasts of a long documented lineage of monarchy with early rulers being Oba Ladubo (1728–1788), Oba Oyewusi Ayinla (1788–1832), and, Oba Makaaye Adungbelogun I (1832–1858).
HRM Oba Muhammed-Yakubu Adebayo Buari II is the 17th Olomu of Omupo in succession. He ascended the throne of his forefathers on 12 June, 2010.
Current Political Status
The historical and political importance of Omupo was strengthened in 1954 when Omupo became a District headquarters under the Ilorin Native Authority System. Omupo has remained headquarters of the District comprising 34 Towns and villages.
Since 1979, Omupo has also been the administrative headquarters of Omupo Constituency in Kwara State for the election of a representative to the Kwara State House of Assembly.
Omupo is also the headquarters of Omupo/Idofian Area Council and Omupo is one of the 18 Ward Headquarters in Ifelodun Local Government Areas in Kwara State.
Cultural Practices and Festivals
Like every typical Igbomina town, Omupo has cultural practices.
Taboo
The selling of Pounded Yam is strictly prohibited in Omupo and is the major taboo in the town. The prohibition is believed to have been enacted to forestall a repeat of a fatal incident that occurred a long time ago in the town and involving food vendors competing for customers.
A curse was also placed on any violator and its subsequent effects on offenders has made the ban effective over ages till date.
Major Festivals
Oba Agba (Baba Agba) Festival; Egungun masquerade celebrations. The two major masquerades are Jenju and Owolewa, which were gifts from the Alaafin Oyo to Olomu Aperan, as spiritual authority and blessings by the Alaafin.
Religion
There are Muslims, Christians and Traditional religious faithful in Omupo. Ileya; Eid-el Fitri; Eid-el Maolud, are celebrated by Muslim. Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter festivals. The traditional faithful celebrate Sango; Ogun; Osha Ọkọ, etc.
Modernization
Omupo has not lagged behind in area of civilization. The town’s first primary school was established by the Anglican Church in 1942 while the Omupo Moslem community built a primary school in 1956. The first secondary school, Omupo Anglican Grammar School, was founded in 1967 and the Omupo Muslim College in 1994.
In the area of social infrastructure, the town, through community initiatives was linked to the supply of public piped borne water in 1961 and connected to the public power supply system in 1974.
Health Service Hub
Omupo has become the hub for the provision of qualitative secondary health service in the Ifelodun Local Government through the Omupo Cottage Hospital which was established through community initiative in 1981 – 45 years ago.
In recognition of its impressive performance Omupo Cottage Hospital has remained the Provider of Health Services of the Year in Kwara State for two years running 2024 and 2025 as conferred on it by the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency.
BRIEF PROFILE OF OLOMU OF OMUPO
HRM OBA MUHAMMED-YAKUBU ADEBAYO BUARI II
His Royal Majesty Oba Muhammed-Yakubu Adebayo Buari II, was born over seven decades ago to the royal lineage of Olomu Muhammed Suleiman Buari, his father and the twelfth Olomu of Omupo.
An accomplished Chartered Accountant, Banker and ICT Solutions Expert, Oba Yakubu Buari had his primary and secondary school education at St. Michael’s Anglican Primary School, Omupo and Commercial College, Zaria. He qualified as an Accountant from London School of Accountancy, and has an MBA degree from University of Ilorin, Kwara State before attending series of job improvement courses both locally and internationally including Executive Internship Programme of American Express Bank (AMEX), New York, USA.
Before his ascension to the throne of his forefathers on June 12, 2010, as the 17th Olomu of Omupo, Oba Yakubu Buari had clocked a combined 35 years’ professional work experience, traversing Banking, Manufacturing, Management including Chief Executive positions at different times.
These include Junior Officer at Barclays Bank of Nigeria; Assistant Accountant, Kwara Cooperative Federation Limited; Accountant, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board; Chief Accountant, Bauchi State Investment and Property Development Company Limited; Assistant General Manager, Trade Bank Plc; Principal Partner, Bayo Buari and Co; and, Chairman, Board of Director, OVL Group.
For his proven integrity and demonstrated competence, Oba Yakubu Buari served as Executive Director, Administration and Finance on the Board of Biomedical Company Limited representing the interest of Trade Bank Plc. He was also, at different times, an Associate Lecturer at Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi; the University of Ilorin, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He also served as External Examiner for Banking & Finance and Accountancy courses to the Kwara Polytechnic, Ilorin.
Since 2010 Oba Yakubu Buari has brought to the leadership of Omupo and its people not only his wealth of experience from the corporate world, but his humanness, integrity and sense of purpose which are critical for the upliftment of his people.
This has helped him to seamlessly combine his wide ranging professional work experience with extensive service to the Omupo Community.
Not surprisingly, since his ascension to the throne16 years ago, Oba Yakubu Buari, who was Chairman of the Education Committee of the Omupo Muslim Community which helped to birth the Omupo Muslim College, Omupo, has been able to mobilize the people and recorded unprecedented level of co-operation among indigenes leading to significant growth and development of the community. Among these major progress and achievement so far are:
- Upgrade of the Olomu stool to Second Class Status from a third class category.
- Redevelopment of the palace with the construction of a new Aganju Olomu. The administrative complex, Gbagede Olomu and perimeter fence are nearing completion.
- Omupo has become a health service hub for the whole of Ifelodun Local Government through the Omupo Cottage Hospital. The facility has remained the Provider of Health Services of the Year in Kwara State for two years running – 2024 and 2025, as conferred on it by the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency. These are all thanks to the indefatigable medical director and relentless donations and support from indigenes.
- A vocational training centre donated by Senator Lola Ashiru is being activated to boost youths’ empowerment in the town.
- A standard division police station is being constructed to support various security measures and apparatus in the town.
- Omupo City Hall is also under reconstruction to enhance social life of the people.
Oba Yakubu Buari is a member of various local and international professional underscoring his quest for knowledge and expertise in the areas of human and materials management, Accountancy and Banking. He is Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants UK (FCMA), Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators UK (FCIS), and, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (FCTI). He is also an Associate Member of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (ACIB), Chartered Institute of Marketing UK (ACIM), and, Chartered Institute of Management of Nigeria (AMNIM).
Oba Yakubu Buari is also versatile in knowledge sharing. He has presented seminar papers on topical issues in his fields of competence and he has to his credit a publication titled Introduction to Value Added Tax in Nigeria which he co-authored in 1994.
Oba Muhammed-Yakubu Adebayo Buari II is happily married to Olori Sidiqat Olayinka Buari with whom he is blessed with Princes and Princesses.
