Origin

Atakunmosa West Local Government from the early days was named after the 7th Owa Obokun of Ijesha land who was reputed to be a great warrior. The name Atakunmosa became significant in contemporary politics when Chief J.O Fadahunsi led Ijesha Divisional Council embarked on construction of a market for Ilesa at a portion of the palace ground donated by the then Owa Haastrup Ajimoko II in 1955.

People
The people of Atakunmosa West are Yoruba of Ijesa stock in the South Western part of Nigeria. They share common heritage of history and culture with other Yoruba world views as farmers and craftsmen but are more notable as itinerant traders. Following the introduction of Western education late in the 19th century, they were one of the earliest beneficiaries and later became famous as teachers, catechists, and later pastors and professionals being dividends of early embrace of missionary education. Today, education arguably follows closely after agriculture in their social profile.
    Other ethnic groups such as Igede from Benue State, Igbo  from the East, Hausa from the North are found mostly in the villages as artisans and farmers. These and other factors contribute to modern day heterogeneity of the Atakunmosa Council Area which also hosts other members of the Yoruba Family including Ede, Modakeke , Iwo, Ibadan, and Ogbomoso etc.

Location & Potentialities
Atakunmosa West Local Government has approximately 484 sqkm of very fertile Arable land mass dotted with hills that are rich in solid minerals, especially gold, granite and clay. With an estimated census figure of 58,000 people (1991 Census) the residents are peasant farmers while sizeable plantations for cash crops (especially cocoa and palm products) abound all over its landscapes. The local government is located by nature and the pleasant coincidence of history to benefit from high population concentration of major urban centers in the South Western Region.
    Almost half way between Ile-Ife and Ilesa,two major towns and home to major educational institutions, Obafemi Awolowo university, Ile-Ife and osun State College of Education, Ilesa, respectively, the Local Government is Linked by an express way with the commercial capital of Nigeria –Lagos which is approximately two hours drive from one hour drive.
    Furthermore, two newly emerging urban cities and state capitals, Akure and Osogbo, and less than one hour drive away form Osu. The Local Government therefore conveniently deserves the appellation of the convergence, the city of the future that offers access to a market of over 30 million people immigrants, tourists, and investors etc.
    Igun, one of its sur-urban towns hosts gold in commercial quantity which the  Local Government is willing and  ready to expose to public participation for joint and beneficial enterprise. It is not a coincidence that a distinguished daughter of the Local Government, the Deputy Governor of osun states, Erelu Olusola Obada is the present chairperson of 14 members Cocoa Rebirth Project consisting of fourteen Cocoa producing states. The Local Government is home to cocoa in exportable quantity. The same applies to cassava and most other staple food items and as raw materials for industries e.g. Bakery, Brewery, beverages and confectioneries.

Historical Transformation
Atakunmosa West Local Government as we have the entity today owes its existence to a long history of socio-political / evolution, agitation and administrative reforms. Below is a brief presentation of the historical highlights.

• The post Robirobi Riot of 1941 which major demands centered on liberalization of Ilesa-based administration to cater for the yearnings and aspirations of Ijesas in the rural areas consisting of adjoining settlements. This led to the establishment of Ijesha Northern District Council in 1952.
• Self-rule era to First Republic era up to 1976 when Atakunmosa Local Government was created along with Obokun and Ilesa Local Governments Atakunmosa Local Government was in existence for twenty years then, consisting of former Ijesa South District Council.
• 1996 to date: Atakunmosa Local Government was split into two in 1996 as  Atakunmosa West Local Government & Atakunmosa East Local Governments’ by the Military regime under late Sanni Abacha-Atakunmosa West retained its Headquarters in Osu.