For ease of managing their commercial enterprise called Nigeria, the colonial powers bastardised relationships between communities. They created paramount rulers in chosen communities over others without reference to historical background. Our new generation inherited this aberrant set up in most cases. However none of the Obas who arrogate paramount rulership to themselves has authority beyond his domain. Igogo and environ were under Ilorin province until 1936. Unfortunately, some communities that share common origin with Igogo still remain in the old Ilorin province, now Kwara State. The motorway linking Otun with Igogo and Ikun was constructed through communal labours between 1936 and 1938.

Flagrant disregard to the principle of equity that was the order of the day during formative period of British Rule is inferable from the Intelligent Report of July 28, 1938 by A. F. Abel, an Assistant District Officer.

Igogo then with a population of 3126 was quite close to Otun with a population of 3366 but relatively much more than Erinmope 2793, Ikun 1965, Osan 978, Osun 744, Aaye 320, Ikosu 299, Epe 296, Isaoye 218, Ira 152 and Iro 140. Notwithstanding the population figures, Igogo was given 4 seats on the District Council whereas Otun had 11 seats. Erinmope, Ikun and Osan that were much less populated also had 4 members each on the Council while Osun had 3, Aaye, Ikosu, Epe, Isaoye, Ira and Iro were allocated 2 seats each.

Correspondingly, the Committee on Finance that consisted of 18 members, 4 were from Otun. Igogo was allocated 2 only while Erinmope, Ikun and Osan also had 2 each. Ikosu, Osun, Epe, Aaye, Isaoye and Ira had 1 representative.
There was practically no recourse to the Internally Generated Revenue or the capacity to generate such from the constituent villages before allocation of dividends.

Another record of apparent bias was reported as follows: “Obagogo made a half-hearted request for a court. The request was not supported by the council…..A village court at Gogo does not appear to be least necessary or required by the people”. But in 1944, Igogo people formally presented their request for a court in writing. The request was never granted.

Missionaries

In the 1938 report of Mr Abell, “there were only two poorly attended schools controlled by the Seventh Day Adventists Mission in the District, one in Otun and the other in Igogo”. The school in Igogo then had 28 enrolled pupils while Otun had 36.

Seven Day Adventists Mission could make such little headway from educational standpoint because people were unwilling to send their wards to the schools. It was believed if the children embraced the tenets of the denomination, they might be debarred from obtaining jobs in government or commercial firms which could ask them to work on Saturday, the day of rest of the Seventh Day Adventists.

By this time, both Roman Catholic and Church Missionary Society Missions established at Igogo in 1925 has started to consider opening of schools in Igogo. Saint Patrick’s Catholic School Igogo was eventually opened in 1940 while Emmanuel Anglican School Igogo became opened in 1942.

Education

The Christian missionaries initiated schools. Due to the refusal of the people to send their children to school, local policemen and Osomaalos were deployed to force children to School. Despite these efforts, the people still refused to enlist female children in school. They nursed the fear of the female children becoming pregnant prematurely.

Saint Patrick Catholic School Igogo established in 1940 started to provide standard education in 1945. Pupils could read as far as standard four only. They completed standard five and six at Usi, the nearest place to Igogo where this facility existed. The first set of standard six outgoing pupils of Saint Patrick’s School, Igogo finished in 1952.

There was a total overhauling of Primary Education in 1955 when the previous infant school and senior school became collectively referred to as Primary School. The change was brought about by the defunct Western Regional Government of Nigeria.

The Anglican Church Igogo established Saint Saviour’s Secondary Modern School in 1961 where student prepared for Secondary School education. In 1968, Saint Felix Catholic Modern School was also established with only nine pioneering students. But in 1969, the school was converted to a Commercial Modern school and had twelve typewriting machines all financed by the RCM Church.

In order to absorb the increasing number of graduates from primary schools, Igogo Commercial High School was established in 1975 when Secondary Modern School education was abolished, with the last phased out in 1978. The establishment of the school became a positive turning point in the history of education in Igogo. In 1980, Ifelodun Comprehensive High School was established with the joint effort of the townsmen and Ondo State Government.

Religion

African traditional religion was peculiar to our forefathers. They believed and worshipped Osun, Ifa, Ogun, Egungun, Agan and other deities.

But after the Yoruba civil war of 1821 to 1893, Igogo had its own share of evangelization by the Christian Missionaries penetrating through the Southern Coast of Nigeria.

Islam came to Moba land through the jihadists via Ilorin. The advent of Christianity brought Western Education which eventually led to the rapid socio­economic development of the town.

Islam

Islam was the first foreign religion to be introduced to Igogo. It was introduced into the town in 1922. The founder was one Mr. Balogun Faleye from Idemo quarters. He was then working in the Northern part of Nigeria where he was probably converted to the religion. On getting home, very few people embraced it. Among those who first joined him were one time Imam of Igogo, Baba Omo ­Oba, Mr. Sanni Fasua and the late Chief George Olowa (who was later converted into Christianity). Mr. Isiaka from Ojule Isaka in Idemo quarters was the first person in the town to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Mecca). But the exact year was unknown.

Advent of Christianity

The introduction of Christianity to Igogo was first met with violent opposition by the traditionalist who regarded Christianity as a usurping force to their culture.

The Seventh Day Adventist was the first Christian Church to be introduced to the town and this was in 1924. The SDA Church was introduced to Igogo by one Pastor Balogun on the 19th day of November, 1924. The following people were the first to embrace the Seventh day Adventist religion: Late Joseph Owolabi, Ajiboye Ogunligboado, Fabiyi Ateere, Pa. Joseph Ajayi who was later the founding father of the Catholic Church at Igogo, Abraham Abe, Daniel Ojo. Others were Fadahunsi Aganga, Olaleye Oke­ Owa, Odeyemi Oke­Okin, John Fatigun and Ogunlade Oke­Ode. The first teacher in this church was Mr. Lawani. This was during the reign of Oba Adarasiledoye. Pastor Balogun resided at Otun as there was no mission house at Igogo then. He was more of a visiting supervisor to Igogo. The first women in this church were Osabu Ayeni, Adegunlero Ilowu, Osadipe Isalu, Marian Dada and Serah Oyebimpe.

The Roman Catholic Church had become well established in the town before the end of the year 1925. The founder was Late Mr. Joseph Ajayi of Ilowu quarters. Among the early converts to the church were Late Pa James Ogidi Ogunleye, Late Michael Ojo Eleja, Late Mr. Adagele from the same quarters with the founding father, and Mr. Saye Amukoro among many others. These early converts would go from house to house on evangelism to win many people to their fold, hence the large population of the Catholic Church today in Igogo.

As mentioned earlier, this Church had serious opposition from die hard traditionalists who, on many occasions, subjected the Church leaders to severe flogging, untold inhuman treatment, and destruction of property, including their first church of thatched roof at Idi Ose. However, the converts remained faithful to God and the church flourished. With time, the hostilities meted out to the Christians subsided and by providence many converts from the traditional sect became good Christians and later played significant roles in the church development. It is worth mentioning that during worship hours in the church at Idi­ Ose, pupils were also gathered for schooling.

Igogo was then under Ilorin Province and the RCM church was being administered from Oro Diocese with Rev. Father Simon (a French Priest) as the manager. With increase in the population of the church, and the expansion of the town, the church members decided to relocate from Idi­ Ose to the present site with the expert advice of the Late Rev. Father Martin Kenny.

The Church also made some notable achievements in education and modern health service.

The Church Missionary Society (CMS) also was established about November, 1925. CMS church also had its own share of teething opposition from the traditionalists. Prominent among the foundation members were Joseph Ogundipe (aka Oyo), Mr. Daniel Ojo of Idemo, Madam Marian of Isaba and Baba Egbe Coker, all of blessed memory. They built their first church at Oke-­Agamo but with increased number of members, the church moved to the present site along Otun road. Members of the church also took part in many other developmental projects in Igogo.