By Honesty Victor
Ile Igbagbo (The House of Faith) in Ogbomoso is the historic family compound of the Ogbomoso’s first Christian converts, serving as the primary gateway for Christianity and Western education in the region.
Located in the Isale Afon area, the compound became the “root of Christianity” in Ogbomoso during the mid-19th century.
It was the home of Pa Abraham Fasanya and his wife, who were among the earliest converts trained by the Baptist missionary Thomas Jefferson Bowen starting around 1855.
The establishment of this household signaled a shift in the cultural and religious traditions of the community, fostering a new, lasting religious identity.
Over time, this initial household laid the groundwork for the widespread acceptance and growth of Christianity in Ogbomoso.
The emergence of Ile Igbagbo (literally “House of Faith” or “House of Believers”) is directly linked to the early missionary activities in the mid-19th century.
It serves as the cornerstone of Christianity in Ogbomoso, which is home to one of the oldest theological institutions in Nigeria, the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS).
The compound is famed for producing Ogbomoso’s first generation of educationists. Its most notable son, Professor Nathaniel Durojaye (N.D.) Oyerinde, was born there in 1875 and became a pioneering scholar and author of the official early history of Ogbomoso, Iwe Itan Ogbomoso.
For over a century, Ile Igbagbo has been a symbol of progressive change, transitioning the community from traditional religious practices to Christianity and formal schooling.
Ile Igbagbo in Ogbomoso represents the foundational, historical household of the first Christian converts and the establishment of the Christian faith in the city.
It signifies a pivotal shift in the religious landscape of Ogbomoso, marking the transition from traditional practices to the introduction of Christianity.
