title: Okuta
text: # Okuta
  
  Okuta is a town located in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria.
  
  ## Geography
  
  Okuta is located about 300 km (190 mi) north of Lagos, and about 170 km (110 mi) northwest of Kwara State's capital of Ilorin. Internationally, Okuta is located around 8 km (5.0 mi) from the Beninese border.
  
  ## Ruler
  
  Edidi is currently under the rulership of His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Idris Abubakar Seropetete lll as of 2019.
  
  ## Festivals
  
  Festivals in Edidi include:
  
  * Okuta Gaani Festival: Occurs annually in January/February. It is a celebration of religion, culture, and dance which brings participants from nearby countries as well as the local area.
  
  ## Brief History
  
  Okuta Ilorin was documented in the 16th century long ago before the invention of sharpening steels for knives. A man known as Ojo Isekuse who was one of the founding fathers of Ilorin devised a method for sharpening his knives with the use of a stone. It was from the activity of the knife sharpening that the name of the town Ilorin was formed.
  
  