Esuwoye I became Olofa in 1926. He ruled from a period for ten years and in 1936. He was very rich and was very popular even before he became the Oba.
ECONOMY:
It was during his reign that Patterson Zochonis with headquarters at Ilorin purchased 158 tons of palm kernels from Offa a profit of £ 1,535.00 was realized on this occasion. The people of Offa actively participated in the production of cash crops such as yams, sweet potatoes, guinea corn, etc. people, like pa James Adefolaju, Ola Odefemi, John Lawani and Oshundun were very popular yam dealers during this period. In view of large production of these cash crops in Offa, they were bought cheaply by the rich cash crop merchants and sent for sale to places like Ile-Oluji, Ondo, Abeokuta and Ilesa. This resulted in shortage of these food items in Offa and an unprecedented increase in the prices of these food crops was witnessed during the reign of Oba Esuwoye. The consequence of this was the migration of people from Offa to places, like Ibadan, Oyo, Ife and Ondo; some even went as far as Gold coast (now Ghana). People like pa Oredola and Alhaji Gbadamosi are examples of people who travelled to Ibadan to become cocoa buying agents or cocoa traders. Alhaji Balogun, pa Oyeniyi and Oloyede traveled to Ghana to become major cocoa merchants.
The increase in the influx of European goods through importation changed the nature and position of local traders in the economy of Offa. For example, in 1928, notable traders like Giwa Ilesanmi who was formerly a renowned trader in foodstuffs such as gari, yams and beans, beans, who were sending farm produce to places like Lagos, became customers to the United African Company ) at Ilorin, Oshogbo and Ibadan in 1932. The introduction of British trading activities and systems in collaboration with some of their representatives in Offa altered the nature of trade in some indigenous goods.
POLITICS:-
It was in 1935 that the position of Olofa of Offa as the district head of Offa was changed due to agitation by Erin-Ile for independence from Offa district. The native authority granted the request of Erin- Ile and it became independent of Offa district. The above action was seen by the Ilorin native authority as a step to reduce the power and importance of Olofa. The decision was a turning point in the administrative fortune of the leadership of Offa in the district as it leads to series of agitations by other villages, which had been subordinate to Offa, to be granted similar independence. This period also marked the beginning of series of disputes between the Olofa and other village heads relating to boundaries and farming rights.
EDUCATION:
First Baptist primary school and Wesley primary school were established in 1934 during the reign of Oba ESUWOYE. Pa J.B Olafimhan, an indigene of Offa and one of the teachers in St. Marks after acquiring a standard five certificate by 1928, proceed to St. Andrews College at Oyo where he acquired secondary school education from 1930 to 1934.
By 1933, a couple of hundred men were identified as being capable of reading and writing in Offa. These include about 103 railway staff and about 45 indigenes of Offa. Most of them passed through the mission school in Offa.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:
The Offa descendants union (O.D.U) was established on 13th October 1935 by some well-meaning and enlightened citizens of Offa resident tin Lagos. The sole aim of its establishment was to seek the improvements of Offa district, work for her unity, peace and progress amongst all sons and daughters of Offa district and the other districts of Ilorin division and ultimately to regain the lost divisional status of Offa, which she lost in 1917
INFRASTRUCTURE
As a result of Esuwoye’s position and riches, he was the first to use corrugated iron sheets to replace thatched roofs of Olofa’s Place.....Next
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