The present Okitipupa Local Government came into being after splitting Ikale Local Government into Irele and Okitipupa Local Governments in 1991. It will be recalled that the Old Okitipupa Division is now split into Okitipupa, Irele, Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Governments. The Local Government lies between Longitudes 40 .3” and 6 00” East of Greenwich Meridian and latitudes 50 45” and 80 15” North of the Equator. It has a population of about 233,, 565 as at 2006 census and covers a land area of about 63Ssq km. It is bounded on the east by Irele and Ese-Odo Local Government while to its west lies Odigbo Local Government and part of Ogun State. To its north lies Odigbo Local Government while it is bounded in the south south by Ilaje Local Government.
The Inhabitants of the Local Government Area are mainly Yoruba of Ikale ethnic group. Yoruba is therefore widely spoken, while English is the official language. The area is mainly an agricultural society planting both cash and food crops. The Local Government has a high literacy level with a pool of highly skilled manpower covering all spheres of endeavours. The people are very hospitable and equally accommodating.
The government in the local government is vested in the Executive Council headed by its Chairman, Secretary and the Supervisors while the Legislative arm comprises the Speaker and the Legislators. The Head of Administration in the Local Government is headed by Director of Local Government administration and other heads of departments.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
The Local Government can boast of many big towns and villages. The people are mainly urban dwellers and no matter where they go to farm, they still come back to base. Okitipupa is the capital and seat of Government, while other towns include Aye, Ikoya, Ilutitun, Iju-Odo, Igbotako, Erinje, Igbodigo, Ayeka, Erekiti, Iju-Oke, Igodan, Okunmo, Omotosho, Ayetoro, Wakajaiye and Mile 49 along Lagos – Benin Express way. The local government presently has eleven major traditional rulers and other Olojas and Baales, namely:
TRADITIONAL COUNCIL
1. HRM, OBA ALAYELUWA G.B. FADUYILE ADEGUN II
Abodi of Ikaleland
2. HRM, OBA M.O. ADETOYE
Jegun of Idepeland
3. HRM, OBA GBADEBO BAJOWA
Rebuja of Osooro
4. HRH OBA S.A. AKINLALU
Orungberuwa of Erinje
5. HRH OBA DANIRE TEMOLA
Orofun of Iju-Odo land
6. HRH, OBA IDEPE FOADEOYE
Majuwa of Moribodo Kingdom
7. HRH OBA P.A. AKINSOLA
Olu of Igodan-Lisa Okunmo
8. HRH OBA J.E. OLA AIYEKU
Obagberume of Igbodigo
9. HRH OBA BODE AIYELOMI (J.P)
Lumure of Ayeka Kingdom
10. HRH OBA ADETAYO OLATUYI
Olura of Igbisin Land
11. HRH OBA W.A. AKINLADE
Halu of Ode-Aye
VEGETATION AND CLIMATE
The Local Government is in the high forest Zone of rain forest, although the shifting cultivation system of the people of the local government has turned the high forest into shrubs and herbs zone. The humidity is relatively high and the annual rainfall is about 2000mm. We experience a dry season that is not completely dry during the months of November to March with occasional rainfall within the months. The temperature ranging between 210 centigrade and 290 centigrade. Apart from River Oluwa, which runs through the state, the local government is less with rivers and streams such as river Akeun, Omiju, Chen, etc. some of which flow in the Atlantic Ocean. They all support fish farming and production of swamp Rice.
INDUSTRIALIZATION
There is a conducive atmosphere for rapid industrialization in the local government. Currently, there are two industries in the area, (though awaiting revitalization) Okitipupa Oil Palm Plc and Oluwa Glass Factory.
The palm oil and raw palm kernel being produced by OOPC Plc and smaller Mills have the potential of being turned into vegetable oil, PKO for the manufacture of soap, candle and lubricants while cake can be used for animal feeds. The palm tree and the palm fruits can be turned into fertilizer and particle board and brown paper.
In specific terms, Okitipupa Local Government Areas is home to the following two leading industries’ outfits in the state.
Oluwa Glass Company Plc can produced sheet glass from the abundant glass sand deposit in the adjoining Ilaje Local Government area. Its installed capacity is 40,000 metric tons per annum. It is presently moribund and the owner, Ondo State Government is working assiduously to get it back in operation.
Okitipupa Oil Palm Company Plc produces palm oil and palm kernel from its many hectares of oil palm plantation spread round the local government area and beyond. These products can sustain thriving vegetable oil processing companies in the locality. There is presently none. The Local Government can boast of about 7,000 hectares of Oil palm and turned into oil palm belt with every family owing a plantation of its own. The Local Government is the highest producer of palm oil and palm kernel in the southwestern part of Nigeria. The OOPC Plc has its 4,500 hectares plantation scattered through out the local government while the balance of 3,000 hectares are owned by private people of the local government. Both local and foreign investors are welcomed in this sector.
Okitipupa Local Government has adequate infrastructural facilities for industrial development viz:
TRANSPORTATION AND NETWORKING
There is a good number of excellent roads network connecting towns and villages within the local government area and with other part of the state and the country at large. The very important west-east western road passes through the local government.
Water transportation is another means of movement within the locality. It is therefore possible to reach adjoining local government areas and states by canoe and speed boats. A major sea port planned for Olokola in the southern local government of this area will definitely boost commercial activities when completed. As for Air transportation, Akure Airport runs a daily flight to Abuja and flight ticket can be obtained at Akure and the Airport premises.
ELECTRICITY SERVICES
Every town in the local government is connected to the national grid. Work has also commenced on a major energy generation outfit at Omotosho, a town in the local government. When completed, energy supply in the locality will be boosted and this will be a big advantage to industrialists in the local government.
WATER SUPPLY
The area enjoys ample rainfall every year. Surface water in streams and river is abundant and could be used for irrigation. The current effort by the state government in ensuring that all the taps that had dried up are now running will boost industrialization.
INDUSTRIAL LAY-OUT
There is a government sponsored industrial layout in Okitipupa with electrification and excellent road network as an incentive to investors. Industries been targeted includes vegetable oil processing, hollow glass production, soap making and palm wine bottling.
Further potentials in the Industrial Sector of the Local Government.
BITUMEN
Bitumen was first discovered in Nigeria in 1900 with subsequent geological survey showing large deposit across Edo, Ondo, Ogun and Lagos States. The survey indicates further that the deposit is in commercial quantity, and that Okitipupa Local Government is in the (BEECON), a private bitumen mining company has recently commenced exploitation of its allocated block which falls within the Local Government Area. For the purpose of emphasis, the bitumen deposit runs from Edo State through Okitipupa, Irele and Ilaje Governments in Ondo State is reputed to be largest in the world. More investors are welcomed in this sector.
It is to be recalled that products from bitumen deposit include:
(a) Synthetic Crude – for the production of Petrol, Diesel and Kerosine.
(b) Asphalt – for road and building construction.
(c) Sulphur – used to produce sulphuric acid, for the manufacture of rayon, cellulose, fungicides and insecticides in the pharmaceutical industry.
(d) Vanadium – used for making steel alloys, springs and for high speed tools
(e) Nickel – used in the manufacture of stainless steel and pherous alloys
MARKETING POTENTIALS
The local market potentials for Bitumen products and bye-products is very high. For example local consumption of asphalt is over 300,000 tonnes per annum, with a much higher local and regional demands in the West Africa sub-region.
PETROLEUM
Among emerging industries is a Petroleum Refining Company, which is taking advantage of the proximity of the Local Government to the oil deposits in the adjoining Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government areas. Further investment in petroleum refining and petrochemical industry are desired.
KAOLIN (CLAY)
The Local Government is blessed with a good deposit of Kaolin in Abusoro and other parts of the local government and this is yet to be mined on a large scale. This material is useful in chemical industries, pharmaceutical insulators etc. Investors are encouraged to come forward and take advantage of its availability in the area.
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
Agriculture is the basic occupation of the people of the Local Government. This is enhanced by the element climate and the relatively fertile land mass. A wide variety of tree and food crops are grown. These include oil palm, rubber, cocoa, kolanut, cashew, banana, cassava, yam, maize and others.
MAIZE
This popular food crop is widely grown in Okitipupa Local Government for human consumption. The local output will support the establishment of a local feed mill that is presently absent. The growing poultry farming in the environment and beyond encourages this investment. The market for maize is large and will be a profitable venture to embark on large scale maize cultivation in the area.
CASSAVA AND YAM
Both are commonly grown as staple food items and they are cultivated by every household for consumption and sales. Cassava is however dedicated as a primary raw materials for industrial starch, flower and others. Cassava is also converted into gari and pupuru (similar to fufu or lafu). With the Youth-in Agric Programme of Dr. Olusegun Agagu’s programme, hectares of the crop can be found in everywhere in the local government even for export. Investors are invited to generate interest in this large scale cultivation of cassava to meet the domestic and export needs.
PLANTAIN
This is run on large scale and lorry loads of it are sent to Lagos, and other big cities of Nigeria on daily basis for industrial and private consumption.
PINEAPPLE
This also grown for commercial basis for some local and foreign factories.
Tree crops grown in this area include oil palm, rubber, cocoa and kola. These crops have a high potential for the production of raw materials for the following industries, namely:
v Food Beverages and Tobacco
v Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
v Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals
FISHERIES
These include terrestrial fresh water and marine fish and shrimps. The people in the Local Government traditionally practice fresh water fishing. The natural conditions favour the practice of aqua culture on a large scale and investment is desired in this sector.
AGRICULTURE
So also the availability of forests, oil palm plantations the rivers and streams are all favourable conditions for bee keeping for the production of Honey. Honey production or bee keeping if well managed is a good source of livelihood and can be a good export earner for the Nation.
TOURISM AND HOLIDAY RESORT
The development of the resources of this local government into industries will facilitate the development of Tourism in the local government.
SMALL SCALE CREDIT SCHEME
The State Government operates a small scale credit scheme designed to provide soft loans and extension services to entrepreneurs.
MICRO-CREDIT AGENCY
This Agency makes consultation with reputable banks for loans to be disbursed to small and medium scale industrialists.
It is on record that the efforts of the State Government in the areas of micro – credit and small scale credit schemes commenced some 2 years ago have started yielding dividends even when a good number of states are just inaugurating theirs.
HEALTH SERVICES
There is a Specialist Hospital at Okitipupa, the Local Government Capital while Public Health Centres exist in the other towns. The area is also well-served by a good number of privately owned hospitals. Public Health Officials regularly undertake inoculation exercises against yellow fever, polio, small pox and measles. Environmental Sanitation is ensured in the Local Government Department for Environment.
EDUCATION AND MANPOWER
The Local Government area has many public and private primary and secondary schools. There is a Technical School for the training of technicians and a vocational centre for skill acquisition. The Local Government has 87 Public Primary Schools, 23 Public Secondary Schools and the present Ondo State University of Science and Technology.
HOTEL
The Area is well served by good hotels. Notable ones include Sarah Joe, M & K, Richmond, Coastal Hotel, Zion Gate Hotel, Maryland Hotel,etc. Despite this, investment opportunities still exist for hotel business considering the economic impact which Olokola seaport and the power generation outfit at Omotosho will have.
POSTAL SERVICES AND TELECOMMUNICATION
Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST) handles postal services with its’ network of post offices in every town. The area is also served by privately owned courier services companies.
TELECOMMUNICATION
The area is covered by the Global System of Mobile Communication Network especially, the M-tel Network, MTN, GLO, ZAIN, ETISALAT
RADIO/TELEVISION
Both the State and Federal Radio/Television programmes can be monitored in the Local Government. Reception from Radio and Television stations in Lagos and some states is possible. The construction of a Nigerian Television Authourity (NTA) broadcasting station in Okitipupa is in progress. They all offer commercial advertising facilities to the public in the form of announcements or sponsored programmes.
BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
The Local Government can boast of a few commercial banks like United Bank for Africa (UBA), Skye Bank, Spring Bank. First Bank, intecontinetal Bank,Oceanic Bank and at least one development bank, the Nigeria Agricultural Bank Ltd. It is also easy to access banks in adjoining Local Government Areas.
For the foregoing, it is apparent that God has endowed us with abundant natural and mineral resources that can transform this Local Government. The Local Government is currently putting all of this in its world wide web – www.okitipupalg.com. for whoever may be visiting our website from any part of the world. I must not forget to mention that this local government is itching to partner with and encourage any would-be investors in this Local Government. You will please find attached to this a summary of investment opportunities indicating type of investment, raw materials needed, output, application and economic justification.
