USA Africa Dialogue Series - IJESA ICONS AND THE MAKING OF MODERN NIGERIA: PUBLIC PRESENTATION

IJESA ICONS AND THE MAKING OF MODERN NIGERIA, Edited by Siyan Oyeweso                           Editor's Remarks   This book examines the contributions of notable Ijesa people in all spheres of national life. Essentially, the book is in honour of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, the Governor of Osun State, and an outstanding Ijesaman, who symbolises the sterling virtues of the Ijesa. The book rightly argues that the Ijesa impact on national development is firmly rooted in the vicissitudes of Nigeria's pre-colonial history. Indeed, the pervasive commercial influence of the Ijesa is best captured in its trading philosophy as exemplified in the Osomaalo trading phenomenon.   In the social and political spheres, it could be observed that the Ijesa people abhor injustice, corruption, tyranny and they would fight all forms of maladministration with every available means at their disposal. This has been the basis of the 'revolutions and protests' that have characterized the socio-political development of the Ijesa people since the nineteenth century.   The book argues that Ijesa have contributed tremendously to the socio-economic and political developments of Yorubaland in particular, and Nigeria as a whole. They have distinguished themselves in all aspects of human endeavours in addition to being pioneers in several professional callings. Carefully going through this book, it would seem that a study of Nigeria's socio-economic and political development would be incomplete without a proper articulation of the contributions of several Ijesa sons and daughters to the making of the Nigerian socio-economic as well as political edifice.    The book represents a significant addition to the existing literature on the Ijesa people and their monumental contributions to nation-building. However, it must be stressed that a single book of this nature cannot exhaustively consider all Ijesa notable personas in one swell. Subsequent volumes would definitely attempt to cover these gaps.

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