Oyo State is an inland state in southwestern

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. Its capital is

Ibadan Ibadan (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Oyo State, in Nigeria. It is the third-largest city by population in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano, with a total population of 3,649,000 as of 2021, and over 6 million people within its me ...

, the third most populous city in the country and formerly the second most populous city in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

. Oyo State is

border Borders are usually defined as geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other subnational entities. Political borders c ...

ed to the north by

Kwara State Kwara State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Kwárà), is a state in Western Nigeria, bordered to the east by Kogi State, to the north by Niger state, and to the south by Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo states, while its western border makes up part of the internation ...

, to the east by

Osun State Osun State (; yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Ọ̀ṣun), occasionally known as the State of Osun by the state government, is a state in southwestern Nigeria; bounded to the east by Ekiti and Ondo states, to the north by Kwara State, to the south by Ogun S ...

, and to the southwest by

Ogun State Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. Ogun State borders Lagos State to the south, Oyo State and Osun State to the north, Ondo State to the east, and the Republic of Benin to the ...

and the

Republic A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...

Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north ...

. With a projected population of 7,840,864 in 2016, Oyo State is the fifth most populous in the

. The vast majority of Oyo State residents are

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

, and the

Yoruba language Yoruba (, ; Yor. '; Ajami script, Ajami: ) is a language spoken in West Africa, primarily in South West (Nigeria), Southwestern Middle Belt, and Central Nigeria. It is spoken by the Ethnic group, ethnic Yoruba people. The number of Yoruba speake ...

remains dominant. Nicknamed the "Pace Setter State", present-day Oyo State sits on territory formerly ruled by various kingdoms and empires. The

Oyo Empire The Oyo Empire was a powerful Yoruba empire of West Africa made up of parts of present-day eastern Benin and western Nigeria (including Southwest zone and the western half of Northcentral zone). It grew to become the largest Yoruba language, ...

was a powerful Yoruba empire that ruled in much of the area from c. 1300 to 1896. Built in the 1830s, modern city of Oyo is considered a remnant of the imperial era, being referred to as "New Ọyọ" (''Ọ̀yọ́ Àtìbà'') to distinguish itself from the former capital to the north, '

Old Oyo The Oyo Empire was a powerful Yoruba empire of West Africa made up of parts of present-day eastern Benin and western Nigeria (including Southwest zone and the western half of Northcentral zone). It grew to become the largest Yoruba-speaking s ...

' (''Ọ̀yọ́-Ilé''). The

Alaafin Alaafin, or ''The Owner of the Palace'' in the Yoruba language, is the title of the emperor of the medieval Oyo empire and present-day Oyo town of West Africa. He ruled the old Oyo Empire which extended from the present day Benin republic to Ni ...

of Oyo continues to serve a ceremonial role in the city. Oyo State is noted for being the site of the first university in Nigeria, the

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It became an independent university in 196 ...

, founded in 1948. The state

economy An economy is an area of the production, distribution and trade, as well as consumption of goods and services. In general, it is defined as a social domain that emphasize the practices, discourses, and material expressions associated with the ...

remains largely agrarian, with the western city of Shaki being described as the state's breadbasket.

Cassava ''Manihot esculenta'', common name, commonly called cassava (), manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America. Although a perennial plant, cassava is extensively ...

cocoa Cocoa may refer to: Chocolate * Chocolate * ''Theobroma cacao'', the cocoa tree * Cocoa bean, seed of ''Theobroma cacao'' * Chocolate liquor, or cocoa liquor, pure, liquid chocolate extracted from the cocoa bean, including both cocoa butter and ...

, and

tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...

are among the most important

crops A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. When the plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or hydroponics ...

to Oyo State's economy.

Geography

Ijio Hill, Iwajowa LGA, Oyo State, Nigeria

Oyo State covers approximately an area of 28,454 square kilometers and is ranked 14th by size. The

landscape A landscape is the visible features of an area of land, its landforms, and how they integrate with natural or man-made features, often considered in terms of their aesthetic appeal.''New Oxford American Dictionary''. A landscape includes the ...

consists of old hard rocks and dome shaped hills, which rise gently from about 500 meters in the southern part and reaching a height of about 1,200 metres above sea level in the northern part. Some principal rivers such as Ogun, Oba, Oyan, Otin, Ofiki, Sasa,

Oni An is a kind of ''yōkai'', demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore. Oni are mostly known for their fierce and evil nature manifested in their propensity for murder and cannibalism. Notwithstanding their evil reputation, oni possess i ...

, Erinle and Osun river originate in this highland. Oyo State contains a number of natural features including the

Old Oyo National Park Old Oyo National Park is one of the national parks of Nigeria, located across northern Oyo State and southern Kwara State, Nigeria. The park is 2,512 km2 of land in northern Oyo state, south west Nigeria, at latitude 8° 15’ and 9° 00’N ...

. In this location there was earlier

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

for the endangered African wild dog, ''

Lycaon pictus The African wild dog (''Lycaon pictus''), also called the painted dog or Cape hunting dog, is a wild canine which is a native species to sub-Saharan Africa. It is the largest wild canine in Africa, and the only extant member of the genus '' Lyc ...

''; however, this canid is thought to have been locally extirpated at the present. The Climate is

equatorial Equatorial may refer to something related to: *Earth's equator **the tropics, the Earth's equatorial region **tropical climate *the Celestial equator ** equatorial orbit **equatorial coordinate system ** equatorial mount, of telescopes * equatorial ...

, notably with dry and wet seasons with relatively high

humidity Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation, dew, or fog to be present. Humidity depe ...

. The

dry season The dry season is a yearly period of low rainfall, especially in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which moves from the northern to the southern tropics and back over the course of the year. The te ...

lasts from November to March while the wet season starts from April and ends in October. Average daily temperature ranges between and , almost throughout the year.

History

It was formed in 1976 from Western State, and included Ọsun State, which was split off in 1991. Oyo State is

homogenous Homogeneity and heterogeneity are concepts often used in the sciences and statistics relating to the uniformity of a substance or organism. A material or image that is homogeneous is uniform in composition or character (i.e. color, shape, siz ...

, mainly inhabited by the

ethnic group who are primarily agrarian but have a predilection for living in high-density urban centres. The indigenes mainly comprise the Oyos, the Oke-Oguns, the Ibadans and the Ibarapas, all belonging to the Yoruba family and indigenous city in

. Ibadan had been the centre of

administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative assistant, Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an admini ...

of the old Western Region since the days of

British colonial rule The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...

. Other notable cities and towns in Ọyọ State include Ọyọ, Ogbomọsọ,

, Isẹyín-Okeogun, Ipapo-Okeogun, Kíṣì-Okeogun, Okeho-Okeogun, Saki-Okeogun, Igbeti-Okeogun, Eruwa-Ibarapa, Iroko, Lanlate, OjeOwode-Okeogun, Sepeteri-Okeogun, Ilora-Oyo, Jobele-Oyo, Awe-Oyo, Ilérò-Okeogun, Okaka-Okeogun, Igbo Ora-Ibarapa,

Idere Idere is an Ibibio-Efik language of Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated b ...

Records and landmarks

The first degree awarding institution in Nigeria is the

(established as a college of the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

when it was founded in 1948, and later converted into an autonomous university in 1962). The other universities in the state are:

Lead City University Lead City University is a private university in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. History The university submitted its application to the National Universities Commission the year 2002. The Standing Committee on Private Universities (SCOPU) conducted ...

, Ibadan,

Ajayi Crowther University Ajayi Crowther University also known as ACU is a private university located in Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria. Historical background The Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo was established by the Supra Diocesan Board (West) of the Church of Nigeria (Anglic ...

, Oyo,

Koladaisi University KolaDaisi University also known as KDU, is a private University in Ibadan, Oyo State. The university was founded by Chief KolaDaisi, CON, Bashorun of Ibadan as its Proprietor. It is associated with the KolaDaisi Foundation (KDF). KolaDaisi Univer ...

, Dominican University, Ibadan,

Dominion University The term ''Dominion'' is used to refer to one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire. "Dominion status" was first accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the Irish Free State at the 1926 ...

and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology,

Ogbomoso Ogbomosho (also Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́) is a city in Oyo State, south-western Nigeria. It was founded in the mid 17th century. The population was approximately 454,690 in the 2006 census. It is the second largest city in Oyo State and also among ...

The Polytechnic, Ibadan The Polytechnic, Ibadan (typically called "Poly Ibadan") is an institution of higher learning in Ibadan in Oyo State, Nigeria. Founded in 1970, Poly Ibadan is similar to other polytechnics in Nigeria. The institution was established to provide ...

, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology Igbo Ora, Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic Eruwa are located in Oyo State. There are 324

secondary schools A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

and 1,576 public

primary schools A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ed ...

in the state. Other noteworthy institutions in the city include the

University College Hospital, Ibadan University College Hospital, Ibadan is a federal teaching hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria attached to the University of Ibadan. History The University College Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan was established by an August 1952 Act of Parliament in response to ...

; the first teaching hospital in Nigeria and the

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a nonprofit organization that works with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture, with the ultimate ...

(lITA). Cocoa House, located in Ibadan, was the first

skyscraper A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable building having multiple floors. Modern sources currently define skyscrapers as being at least or in height, though there is no universally accepted definition. Skyscrapers are very tall high-ris ...

built in Africa. The state is home to NTA Ibadan, the first television station in Africa, and the Obafemi Awolowo (formerly, Liberty) Stadium, a stadium with a capacity of 35,000. Other major tourist attractions located in the state include: Agodi Botanical Garden, Ado-Awaye Suspended lake, Mapo Hall, University of Ibadan

Zoological Garden A zoo (short for zoological garden; also called an animal park or menagerie) is a facility in which animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes. The term ''zoological garden'' refers to zool ...

, Ido Cenotaph, Trans-Wonderland Amusement Park,

located in the historical site of the ancient capital of the famous old Oyo Empire, Iyamopo and Agbele Hill in Igbeti, Bowers Tower and the Cultural Centre, Mokola. The state hosts the first FM radio, and the first private television station, Galaxy Television (Nigeria) in the country.

Government and politics

Under the Nigerian 1999 constitution the government of Oyo State, and those of the other 35

Nigerian States Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and 1 federal capital territory. Each of the 36 states is a semi-autonomous political unit that shares powers with the federal government as enumerated under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Niger ...

, is divided into three branches to be in line with the government of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya 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 G ...

which is also three tier: the

executive branch The Executive, also referred as the Executive branch or Executive power, is the term commonly used to describe that part of government which enforces the law, and has overall responsibility for the governance of a State (polity), state. In poli ...

, the

legislative branch A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government. Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known as ...

and the

judiciary The judiciary (also known as the judicial system, judicature, judicial branch, judiciative branch, and court or judiciary system) is the system of courts that adjudicates legal disputes/disagreements and interprets, defends, and applies the law ...

. The executive branch of Oyo State government is headed by an elected executive governor who presides over the State Executive Council made up of appointed cabinet members. The present governor of Oyo State is Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde with

Rauf Olaniyan Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan (born 25 February 1960) is a Nigerian politician, civil engineer, and farmer. He served as the deputy governor of Oyo State from 2019 to 2022 before he was impeached following misconduct and a series of allegations leveled ...

as deputy governor. The legislative branch is headed by an elected Speaker of the House of Assembly. The current Speaker is Hon.

Debo Ogundoyin Adebo Edward Ogundoyin (born 17 February 1987) is a Nigerian politician. He is the current speaker of the Ninth Oyo State House of Assembly and member representing Ibarapa East constituency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party P ...

. And lastly, the judiciary is headed by the Chief Judge of Oyo State High Court. The present Chief Judge of the state is Muktar Abimbola.

Education

Presently the State has 2,004

public schools Public school may refer to: *State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government *Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England and ...

, 971 private nursery/primary schools, 969 public secondary schools including 7 schools of Science and 57 private secondary schools. Also in the State, there are five government technical colleges at Oyo,

, Ibadan, Shaki-Okeogun and Iseyin-Okeogun with enrolment of 2,829 students in the 2000/2001 academic session. The National Youth Service Corp(NYSC) permanent orientation camp is located in Iseyin. There is Ebedi Writers’ Residency situated at the hill-side of Barracks area of Iseyin . This International Residency has brought great writers, journalists and authors all over the world including Africa's first Nobel Laurel, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Jumoke Verissiomo, Funmi Aluko, Richard Ali, Paul Liam and others. Historically prominent secondary schools include

St Anne's School Ibadan St Anne's School, Ibadan is a secondary school for girls in Ibadan, Nigeria. The school took its current name in 1950, after a merger between Kudeti Girls School, founded in 1899, and CMS Girls School, Lagos, founded in 1869. It can therefore clai ...

(1869),

Wesley College, Ibadan Wesley College of Science (founded as Wesley College on November 5, 1905) is a government controlled, co-educational, senior secondary school located in Ibadan, Oyo State. The school was previously called "''Wesley College"'', a teacher training ...

(1905),

Ibadan Grammar School Ibadan Grammar School is a secondary school in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria. It is currently located at Molete area, close to St. David grammar school. History Established in March 31st 1913. It is among the notable oldest secondary school in Ibada ...

(1913),

Government College Ibadan A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is ...

(1927), St Theresa's College Ibadan (1932), Ibadan Boys' High School (1938), Olivet Heights Oyo (1945), Queen's School Ibadan (1952), Loyola College Ibadan (1954), St. Bernadine's Oyo (1957), Lagelu Grammar School Ibadan (1958), Iseyin District Grammar School Iseyin (1964), Methodist High School, Ibadan (1961) St Patrick's Grammar School Ibadan (1962) and several others. It's also home to Africa's leading fountain of knowledge, the iconic University of Ibadan (The university was originally instituted as an independent external college of the University of London, then it was called the University College, Ibadan). Two new technical colleges located at Iseyin, Iseyin Local Government area and Ikija in Oluyole Local Government area were established in the 2001/2002 academic session. A college of education, Oyo State College of Education, Oyo. There is a Polytechnic,

, with 2 satellite campuses at

Eruwa Eruwa ( or fully () meaning 'pieces of yam are available here' is a town and the headquarters of Ibarapa East Local Government Area in south-western Nigeria located in Oyo state. Eruwa is 72 km south west of Ibadan and 60 km north ea ...

and Shaki-Okeogun, (now known as The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic) and a State-owned University, The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, which is jointly owned by Oyo and

Governments. The federal premier university The

, is also located in State capital. A private Polytechnic (SAF Polytechnic, Iseyin) is located in Iseyin. There is a vocational Institute in Saki West Local Government named: The Kings Poly, Shaki-Okeogun. There are also the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan; Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo; Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), the Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan (FEDCOFOR) a subsidiary of

Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) is the Nigerian Government agency that is responsible for forestry research. It is headquartered in Jericho Ibadan. FRIN was established as the Federal Department of Forestry Research in 1954. Th ...

(FRIN) and the

Nigerian Institute Of Social And Economic Research Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...

(NISER), all in Ibadan. Similarly, there are 15 Nomadic schools in the State. They are Gaa Jooro and Gaa Baale, both in Kisi (Irepo Local Government); Baochilu Government; Arin-Oye, Abiogun, Okaka and Baba-Ode (Itesiwaju Local Government); Iganna (Iwajowa Local Government); Igangan and Ayete (Ibarapa North Local Government); Gaa Kondo and Igbo-Ora, (Ibarapa Central Local Government) and Sepeteri (Saki East Local Government). There are 213

continuing education Continuing education (similar to further education in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, Ireland) is an all-encompassing term within a broad list of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United ...

centres spread all over the State. 15 special primary schools and 8 special units in secondary schools cater for handicapped children. There are 11,732 teaching staff in the state public secondary schools and 2,789 non-teaching staff. The Agency for Adult and Non-formal Education (AANFE) caters for illiterate adults who had no opportunity of formal education. The agency has 455 classes in existence in the 33 Local Government areas of the State, while 200,000 illiterate adults and over 80,000 post-illiterate adults have been trained recently.

List of universities

The following are universities located within Oyo State; * University of Ibadan, Ibadan * Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso * Lead City University, Ibadan * Dominican University, Ibadan * Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo *

* Oyo State Technical University, Ibadan, Oyo State * Àtìbà University, Àtìbà University, Ọ̀yọ́

List of polytechnics

* Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa * The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic * Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Ogbomoso

List of specialized tertiary institutions

* Federal School of Surveying, Oyo * Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan * Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan * Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan * Federal School of Statistics, Ibadan

List of colleges

* Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo * Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor plantation Ibadan (FCAHPT) * Federal College of Agriculture Ibadan *

Emmanuel Alayande College of Education Emmanuel Alayande College of Education formerly Oyo State College of Education also known as EACOED is a state-owned College of Education located in Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Na ...

* Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo-Ora * Oyo State College Of Nursing and Midwifery, Eleyele, Ibadan * Oyo State College of Health Science and Technology, Eleyele, Ibadan * The College of Education, Lanlate.

List of registered private polytechnics

* The Kings Polytechnic, Saki * SAF Polytechnic, Iseyin * City Polytechnic, Ibadan * Tower Polytechnic, Ibadan * Bolmor Polytechnic, Ibadan

List of current public officials

Agriculture

Agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...

is the main occupation of the people of Oyo State. The climate in the state favours the cultivation of crops like

maize Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. Th ...

, yam,

cassava ''Manihot esculenta'', common name, commonly called cassava (), manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America. Although a perennial plant, cassava is extensively ...

millet Millets () are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. Most species generally referred to as millets belong to the tribe Paniceae, but some millets al ...

rice Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima ''Oryza glaberrima'', commonly known as African rice, is one of the two domesticated rice species. It was first domesticated and grown i ...

plantains Plantain may refer to: Plants and fruits * Cooking banana, banana cultivars in the genus ''Musa'' whose fruits are generally used in cooking ** True plantains, a group of cultivars of the genus ''Musa'' * ''Plantaginaceae'', a family of flowerin ...

, palm produce,

cashew The cashew tree (''Anacardium occidentale'') is a tropical evergreen tree native to South America in the genus ''Anacardium'' that produces the cashew seed and the cashew apple accessory fruit. The tree can grow as tall as , but the dwarf cult ...

etc. There are a number of government farm settlements in Iseyin/Ipapo, Ilora,

, Ogbomosho, Iresaadu, Ijaiye, Akufo and

Lalupon Lalupon is a town on the outskirt of Ibadan, in the Lagelu, Oyo, Lagelu Local Government of Oyo State. Lalupon was founded by Iragberi royal warlords, headed by Gudugba Isioye, as a gateway town between Ibadan and Iwo, Osun, Iwo. Etymology Lalu ...

. There is abundance of clay,

kaolin Kaolinite ( ) is a clay mineral, with the chemical composition Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4. It is an important industrial mineral. It is a layered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet of silica () linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral ...

and aquamarine. There are also vast cattle ranches at Saki, Fasola and Ibadan, a dairy farm at Monatan in Ibadan and the statewide Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme with headquarters at Saki. A number of international and federal agricultural establishments are located in the state.

Local Government Areas

Oyo State consists of 33

Local Government Areas A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a state, province, division, or territory. The phrase i ...

. They are: *

Afijio Afijio is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarter is in the town of Jobele. It has an area of 722 km and a population of 134,173 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 211. In 1989, the then-Federal Mili ...

Jobele * Akinyele Moniya *

Atiba Atiba is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Offa Meta. It has an area of 1,757 km and a population of 168,246 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 203. Some of the areas under A ...

Ofa Meta *

Atisbo Atisbo is a Local Government Area in Okeogun, Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Tede. Atisbo local Government which is erroneously spelt as ATIGBO by many online pages was created by former Head of State Late Gen. Sanni Abac ...

Tede-Okeogun *

Egbeda Egbeda is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Egbeda. Egbeda local government was carved out Lagelu Local government in 1989. The postal code A postal code (also known locally in various English ...

Egbeda *

Ibadan North Ibadan North is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters stood at Agodi in Ibadan. The postal code of the area is 200. Demographics It has an area of 27 km and a population of 856,988 according to the Oyo State Govern ...

Agodi Gate *

Ibadan North-East Ibadan North-East (Yoruba: Ariwa-Ilaorun Ibadan) is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are on Iwo Road. The postal code A postal code (also known locally in various English-speaking countries throughout the world ...

Iwo Road *

Ibadan North-West Ibadan North-West is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are at Dugbe/Onireke. The postal code A postal code (also known locally in various English-speaking countries throughout the world as a postcode, post code, ...

Dugbe/Onireke *

Ibadan South-East Ibadan South-East is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are at Mapo Hall. The postal code A postal code (also known locally in various English-speaking countries throughout the world as a postcode, post code, PIN ...

Mapo *

Ibadan South-West Ibadan South-West is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are at Oluyole Estate in Ibadan. Its areas or districts includes Ring-Road, Oke-Ado, Oke-Bola Gege, Born-Photo, and Isale-Osi. It has an area of 40 km and a ...

Ring Road *

Ibarapa Central Ibarapa Central is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. The Ibarapa central consist of Igbo-Ora and Idere town. Its headquarter is in the town of Igbo-Ora. It has an area of 440 km and a population of 102,979 at the 2006 census. I ...

Igbo Ora *

Ibarapa East Ibarapa East is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria, made up of the Ibarapa people. Its headquarters are in the town of Eruwa. It has an area of 838 km and a population of 118,226 at the 2006 census. The postal code A postal c ...

Eruwa *

Ibarapa North Ibarapa North is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. It was created in 1996 from old Ifeloju L.G. Its headquarters are in the town of Ayete. Other notable towns in the LG are Tapa and Igangan. Each of the towns has quite a number of vil ...

Ayete *

Ido Ido () is a constructed language derived from Reformed Esperanto, and similarly designed with the goal of being a universal second language for people of diverse backgrounds. To function as an effective ''international auxiliary language'', I ...

Ido *

Irepo Irepo is a Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Kisi. It has an area of 984 km and a population of 122,553 at the 2006 census. The royal title of kisi kingdom is ...

Kisi-Okeogun * Iseyin Iseyin-Okeogun *

Itesiwaju Itesiwaju is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Otu. It has an area of 1,514 km and a population of 128,652 at the 2006 census. The postal code A postal code (also known locally in variou ...

Otu-Okeogun *

Iwajowa Iwajowa is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarter is in the town of Iwere Ile. Iwere-ile had been a powerful war town in the old Oyo empire, dreadful for many Oyo indigenes, as well as the Alaafin to attack. Iwere-ile beca ...

Iwereile-Okeogun *

Kajola Kajola is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Okeho. Other major towns in Kajola LG are Ilero, Imia, Ilua, Ayetoro-oke, Isemi ile, Iwere-oke, and Ilaji-oke. It has an area of 609 km and a popu ...

Okeho-Okeogun *

Lagelu Lagelu, ''-- Oro a pata maja'' ("Oro" in Yoruba means a sprite) -- was the founder of Ibadan, around 1829. A military legend and Yorubas' generalissimo from Ile Ife, he founded two of the three cities (Eba Odan and Eba'dan) that eventually became t ...

Iyanaofa *

Ogbomosho North Ogbomosho North is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are on Ilorin Road and currently headed by the chairman, Kabir Akanji. The local government serves as a home to one of Nigeria's best institution of learning, Ladoke ...

Ogbomoso * Ogbomosho South Arowomole *

Ogo Oluwa Ogo Oluwa is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ajaawa. It has an area of 369 km and a population of 65,184 at the 2006 census. The postal code A postal code (also known locally in variou ...

Ajawa *

Olorunsogo Olorunsogo is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Igbeti. It has an area of 1,069 km and a population of 81,759 at the 2006 census. The postal code A postal code (also known locally in ...

Igbeti-Okeogun *

Oluyole {{Unreferenced, date=June 2022 ''For the Local Government Area of Oyo State, see Oluyole, Nigeria.'' Chief Oluyole was a distinguished, dominating army commander from Oyo. He rose to fame as Bashorun, a title he subsequently made famous, and w ...

Idi Ayunre *

Ona Ara Abọ foto Ona Ara is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Akanran. It has an area of 290 km and a population of 265,059 at the 2006 census. The postal code A postal code (also known loc ...

Akanran *

Orelope Orelope is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Igboho. It has an area of 917 km² and a population of 104,441 at the 2006 census. The postal code A postal code (also known locally in vari ...

Igboho-Okeogun *

Ori Ire Ori Ire is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ikoyi. It has an area of 2,116 km and a population of 150,628 at the 2006 census. The postal code A postal code (also known locally in vario ...

Ikoyi *

Oyo East Anọ foto Oyo East is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Kosobo. It has an area of 144 km and a population of 123,846 at the 2006 census. The postal code A postal code (also known lo ...

Kosobo *

Oyo West Oyo West is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ojongbodu. It has an area of 526 km and a population of 136,236 at the 2006 census. The postal code A postal code (also known locally in vari ...

Ojongbodu *

Saki East Saki East is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ago-Amodu. It has an area of 1,569 km and a population of 110,223 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 203. Saki East Local Gove ...

Agoamodu-Okeogun *

Saki West Saki West is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Saki. Shaki, Nigeria is located at the extreme end of Oyo state. It has a ressetlement center of 2nd Mechanised division of Nigerian Army, The Oke-Ogu ...

Shaki-Okeogun *

Surulere Surulere is a residential and commercial Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Local Government Area located on the mainland of Lagos in Lagos State, Nigeria, with an area of . At the last census in the year 2006, there were 503,975 inhabitants, wi ...

Iresa Adu

Notable people

9ice 9ice, born Alexander Abolore Adegbola Akande (born 17 January 1980), is a Nigerian musician, songwriter and dancer. He is known for his powerful use of the Yoruba language in his music as well as his proverbial lyrics and unique style of deliv ...

(born Alexander Abolore Adegbola Akande, on 17 January 1980), musician *

Wande Abimbola Chief Ògúnwán̄dé "Wán̄dé" Abím̄bọ́lá (born 24 December 1932) is a Nigerian academician, a professor of Yoruba language and literature, and a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). He has ...

, retired academic, religious leader and politician *

Joseph Adebayo Adelakun Joseph Adebayo Adelakun (born June 12, 1949) is a Nigerian gospel singer, songwriter and televangelist. Early life Adelakun was born into the family of Salami Adebayo who was a Muslim. He hails from Saki a town situated in the northern part of Oy ...

, evangelist *

Lamidi Adedibu Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Akanji Adedibu (24 October 1927 – 11 June 2008) was an aristocratic power broker in Oyo State, Nigeria. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo described him as the "father of the PDP". Adedibu was born on October 24, 1927 at Oj ...

, aristocratic power broker *

Benjamin Adekunle Benjamin Adesanya Maja Adekunle (26 June 1936 – 13 September 2014) was a Nigerian Army Brigadier and Civil War commander. Early years and background Adekunle was born in Kaduna. His father was a native of Ogbomosho, while his mother was of the ...

, general *

Akinwumi Adesina Akinwumi "Akin" Adesina is a Nigerian economist, who is currently serving as the President of the African Development Bank. He previously served as Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Until his appointment as Minister in 2010 ...

, President African Development Bank, AfDB *

Lam Adesina Lamidi Ona-Olapo Adesina (20 January 1939 – 11 November 2012) was a Nigerian politician and educator who became governor of Oyo State in Nigeria on 29 May 1999 after winning the 1999 Oyo State gubernatorial election as a member of the Allianc ...

, former Governor Oyo State (1999–2003), Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria. *Otunba (Dr)

Christopher Alao-Akala Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala (3 June 1950 – 12 January 2022) was a Nigerian politician and police officer. He was once the Governor of Oyo State and a candidate of the ADP in 2019 Governorship election in Oyo State. Early years Born on 3 ...

, former Governor of Oyo State (2007-2011)] *Senator

Abiola Ajimobi Senator Isiaka Abiola Adeyemi Ajimobi (16 December 1949 – 25 June 2020) was a Nigerian politician from Oyo State, south-western Nigeria. He was formerly the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil and Chemical Marketing ...

, former Governor of Oyo State (2011-2019) *Oba

Lamidi Adeyemi III Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III (15 October 1938 – 22 April 2022) was the Alaafin, or traditional ruler, of the Yoruba town of Oyo and rightful heir to the throne of its historic empire. Early life and ancestry Alaafin Adeyemi III was born ...

, Alaafin of Oyo *Oba

Saliu Adetunji Saliu Akanmu Adetunji (; 26 August 1928 – 2 January 2022) was a Nigerian monarch who was the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan from his coronation in 2016 till his death in 2022. Life Saliu was born as the first of 17 children of Raji Olayiwola and Su ...

, the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan land *

Olaniyi Afonja Olaniyi Mikail Afonja (born 14 October 1974), well known as Sanyeri, is a Nigerian comedian, actor and film maker. Early life and education Born in Bola Area of Oyo town in Oyo State as the first child of his parents, Olaniyi had his formal edu ...

, actor and comedian *

Benjamin Akande Benjamin Ola Akande is a Nigerian-American academic, professor, and business leader. In May 2021, he was named Senior Vice President, Director Human Resources, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Stifel Financial, a wealth management and investmen ...

, academic *

Richard Akinjide Chief Osuolale Abimbola Richard Akinjide, SAN (4 November 1930 – 21 April 2020) was a Yoruba Nigerian lawyer and politician. He served as the minister of education in the First Republic and the minister of justice in the Second Republi ...

, lawyer and politician *

Oluyombo Awojobi Dr. Oluyombo Adetilewa Awojobi (March 1, 1951 – April 17, 2015) was a Nigerian Rural Surgeon, Researcher, Inventor and Humanitarian. He was best known for his services rendered at Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa (ACE) in Ibarapa East Local Government Are ...

, rural surgeon *

Ladoke Akintola Chief Samuel Ládòkè Akíntọ́lá, otherwise known as ''S.L.A.'' (6 July 1910 – 15 January 1966), was a Yoruba politician, aristocrat , orator, and a Yoruba Lawyer. He was one of the founding fathers of modern Nigeria, he served as ...

, politician, lawyer and orator *

Quadri Aruna Quadri Akinade Aruna (born 9 August 1988, in Oyo, Nigeria) is a professional Nigeria table tennis player. He competed for Nigeria at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals in the latter competition. He is ...

, table tennis player *

Adebayo Johnson Bankole Adebayo Johnson Bankole (born October 27, 1945), is a Nigerian politician who is a commissioner in Oyo State, Nigeria. He served as a commissioner under both Governor Alao Akala and Governor Kolapo Ishola’s administration. Early years Banko ...

, politician * Sikiru

Ayinde Barrister Sikiru Ololade Ayinde Balogun, MFR, (9 February 1948 – 16 December 2010) better known by his stage name Ayinde Barrister was a Nigerian-born Yoruba singer-songwriter, songproducer and music performer. He is regarded as a pioneer of Fuji and ...

, musician *

Abdulfatai Buhari Abdulfatai Omotayo Buhari is a Nigerian senator representing Oyo North Senatorial district. He was first elected during the 2015 senatorial elections and reelected at the 2019 senatorial elections. He has served as a commissioner for Local Gove ...

, senator *

Samuel Ajayi Crowther Samuel Ajayi Crowther ( – 31 December 1891), was a Yoruba linguist, clergyman, and the first African Anglican bishop of West Africa. Born in Osogun (in what is now Ado-Awaye, Oyo State, Nigeria), he and his family were captured by slave raide ...

, priest and historian *

Sunday Akin Dare Sunday Akin Dare (born 29 May 1966) is a Nigerian journalist and currently serves as the Nigerian Minister of Youth & Sports. He was formerly the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), an appoi ...

, journalist and politician *

Adebayo Faleti Adebayo Mosobalaje Faleti (26 December 1921 – 23 July 2017) was Africa's first newscaster, Africa's first stage play director, Nigeria's first film editor and librarian with the first television station in Africa - Western Nigeria Television ( ...

, actor, poet and writer * Toyin Falola, historian and academic *

Tade Ipadeola Tade Ipadeola (born September 1970 in Fiditi, Oyo State) is a Nigerian poet who writes in English and Yoruba. He is a practising lawyer. In 2013 his poetry collection ''The Sahara Testaments'' won the prestigious Nigeria Prize for Literature insti ...

, poet *

Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. The ''Oxford ...

, historian *Senator

Rasheed Ladoja Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja (born 25 September 1944) is a Nigerian businessman who became governor of Oyo State in Nigeria on 29 May 2003 as a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He was impeached in January 2006, but reinstated in Decembe ...

, former Governor of Oyo State (2003–2007) *

Kase Lukman Lawal Kase Lukman Lawal'(born June 30, 1954) is a Nigerian-born businessman who lives and works in the United States. Lawal was born June 30, 1954 in Ibadan. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Texas Southern University in 1976, and hi ...

, businessman *

Abass Akande Obesere Abass Akande Obesere (born January 20, 1965) also known by his stage name Omo Rapala, is a Nigerian artist, Singer and record producer who is a native of Ibadan, the largest city in Western Nigeria. A popular Fuji music, Fuji musician, Obesere ...

, Fuji musician and entertainer * Chief Akinpelu Obisesan, diarist, and founder of Cooperative Bank * Latunde Odeku, medical doctor, teacher and poet *Professor

Dibu Ojerinde Dibu Ojerinde is a Nigerian professor of Tests and Measurement, educational administrator and a former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB. Life and career He was born in Igboho, Oyo State, Nigeria. He attended Wes ...

, former registrar, Joint Matriculation Board of Nigeria *

Tunji Olaopa Tunji Olaopa, (born 20 December 1959 in Aáwé, Oyo State) is a Nigerian political scientist and public administrator. He is the Executive Vice Chairman of Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy, Bodija, Ibadan and a professor of Public Pol ...

, founder and executive vice chairman, ISGPP *Oba

Olasunkanmi Abioye Opeola, Kurunloju I Olasunkanmi Abioye Opeola, Kurunloju I (born 9 March 1961) is the Oniroko, or traditional ruler, of the Yoruba town of Iroko, Oyo State, Nigeria. He has ruled since 4 February 2011. Early life H.R.H Oba Olasunkanmi was born on 9 March 1961, i ...

, Oniroko of Iroko *

Saheed Osupa Akorede Babatunde Okunola (born 7 August 1969) also known by stage name Saheed Osupa or King Saheed Osupa (K.S.O) is a Nigerian Fuji musician, film actor, and Hip Fuji Creator. Early life Saheed Osupa was born in the Mosafejo area of Ajegunle ...

, Fuji and Hip-Pop artist *

David Oyelowo David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo ( ; born 1 April 1976) is a British actor, director and producer. His accolades include a Critics' Choice Award and two NAACP Image Awards as well as nominations for two Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, ...

, actor *

Afeez Oyetoro Afeez Oyetoro (born 20 August 1963) is a Nigerian comic actor, popularly known as "Saka". Early life and education Afeez Oyetoro was born on 20 August 1963, in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State southwestern Nigeria. Afeez obtained a B ...

, actor, comedian and Academic *

Sade Sade may refer to: People * Marquis de Sade (1740–1814), French aristocrat, writer, and libertine * Sade (singer) (born 1959, Helen Folasade Adu), British Nigerian musician and lead singer of the eponymous band * Sade Baderinwa (born 1969), WAB ...

, R&B/Soul artist, born in Oyo State * Senator (Rt. Hon.) Monsurat Sunmonu, first female Speaker OYHA and first female Senator from Oyo state * Ibrahim Taiwo, general and politician *

Bode Thomas Chief Bode Thomas (October 1919 – 23 November 1953) was a Nigerian lawyer, politician, statesman and traditional aristocrat. Thomas served as both a colonial minister of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria and a nobleman and privy counsello ...

, politician and Lawyer

References

External links

Oyo State Government Homepage

Oyo Begins Oral Interview For 7,000 TESCOM Applicants - NaijaNews247
{{Portal bar, Nigeria States of Nigeria States in Yorubaland States and territories established in 1976 1976 establishments in Nigeria