Mopa is a town in the

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

n state of

Kogi Kogi State is a state in Nigeria. Kogi may also refer to: * Kogi people, people who live in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia * Kogi language, a Chibchan language of the Kogi people * Kogi Korean BBQ, a truck-based restaurant in Los ...

. The name "Mopa" derives from the Yoruba phrase "imo papo", meaning "people with the same ideology." It serves as the headquarters of the

Mopa-Muro Mopa-Muro is a Local Government Area in Kogi State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Mopa on the A123 highway. It has an area of and a population of 59100 at the 2016 censusbr> The postal code A postal code (also known local ...

Local Government Area. Mopa is predominantly Christian, with approximately 95% of the population identifying as Christians, 4.5% practicing traditional beliefs, and a small Muslim population—primarily outsiders living within the town. Mopa is known for its vibrant local industries, including

Mopa Breweries Mopa Breweries, Ltd. is a Nigerian brewery founded in 1980 by Chief J. Adewale Bello in Kogi State, Nigeria. The brewery is based in the town of Mopa in the Mopa-Muro Local Government Area. In 2005, the Canadian company Alexus-NextGen bought a con ...

, Boja Industries, BD Farms, and marble quarries.

Education

Mopa boasts several educational institutions. It is home to a state-run Government Technical College, as well as missionary-established schools such as

ECWA Secondary School, Mopa ECWA may refer to: * Evangelical Church Winning All, Church with over 10 million in total attendance worldwide *East Coast Wrestling Association East Coast Wrestling Association (ECWA) is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 1 ...

and Baptist Girls' High School, Mopa. These schools have played a significant role in improving literacy and education standards in the region.

Language and Culture

The people of Mopa speak the Yagba language, a dialect of the

Yoruba language Yoruba (, ; Yor. ) is a Niger–Congo languages, Niger-Congo language that is spoken in West Africa, primarily in South West (Nigeria), Southwestern and Middle Belt, Central Nigeria, Benin, and parts of Togo. It is spoken by the Yoruba people. ...

. They are known for their rich cultural heritage and traditions. The town's social structure is organized into various clans, including Iya Ode, Aribo, Omoe Age, Anunmade, and Iya Mogbe, among others. Mopa's cultural life features festivals, traditional music, and dances, which serve as important aspects of communal bonding and the preservation of their heritage.

Economy and Natural Resources

Mopa is endowed with significant mineral deposits, including talc and mica. Marble quarrying also contributes to the local economy, alongside the agricultural activities of BD Farms. Local breweries and light manufacturing industries further sustain the economy and provide employment opportunities.

History

Mopa is situated near a prominent hill to the northeast. According to local history, the people of Mopa originally lived on the northern side of this hill. To protect themselves from potential attacks by rival settlements, they relocated to the southern side, where the hill provided a natural defense barrier.

Notable People

Sunday Awoniyi Chief Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi (; 30 April 1932 – 28 November 2007) was a Nigerian politician and tribal aristocrat. He was the ''Aro'' of Mopa, Kogi State, formerly Kabba Province. Popularly called ''sardauna", Awoniyi was a founding mem ...

– A prominent Northern Nigerian Yoruba politician and the Aro of Mopa. He was one of the founding members of the People's Democratic Party. *

Seth Sunday Ajayi Seth Sunday Ajayi (born 16 May 1943) is a Nigerian scientist, scholar and the first African Professor of Wildlife Ecology. Early life and education Ajayi was born on 16 May 1943 in Mopa, Kogi State. He attended the Sudan Interior Mission Day S ...

– A scholar and the first professor of wildlife and fisheries in West Africa. He was instrumental in advancing wildlife conservation and environmental protection in Nigeria.

References

External links

"Natural Resources and Economic Development – Print Version"
''links.onlinenigeria.com.'' Retrieved 2024-02-23. Populated places in Kogi State Populated places with year of establishment missing {{Kogi-geo-stub