A HISTORICAL ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF IWARO OKAAKOKO IN SOUTH-WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO STATE UP TO 2024

This report explored the historical origin and development of Iwaro Oka-Akoko, a key quarter within the Oka-Akoko township, in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria, up to 2024. Drawing on archival documents, oral accounts, and recent studies, it was established that Iwaro's origins are deeply rooted in the migration of the Yoruba people from Ile-Ife, the acknowledged cradle of Yoruba civilisation. The earliest settlers, led by ancestral figures, traversed various towns such as Ijesa and Ekiti territories before ultimately inhabiting the Oka plateau, with Iwaro emerging as one of the central and enduring settlements. The geographical setting anAdebayo et al., 2025;). undulating plateau within the Kukuruku range provided natural defense and resilience against external aggressors, most notably during historical conflicts with the Nupe and Edo, further cementing Iwaro's reputation as a stronghold. Iwaro, like other sections of Okaland, was shaped by a culture of communal leadership and chieftaincy, initially governed by autonomous high chiefs who steered local governance and dispute resolution. Over the centuries, these quarters coalesced, with power struggles, particularly between the Asin and Olubaka, reflecting wider patterns of traditional authority renewal. The ascendancy of the Olubaka as paramount ruler, frequently legitimised during colonial administration and solidified by High and Supreme Court rulings as recently as 1998, redefined leadership and unity in Oka-Akoko, directly affecting Iwaro's political landscape. The twentieth and early t