Ondo State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a
state
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State
* ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States
* ''Our S ...
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 ...
. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former
Western State. It borders
Ekiti State
Ekiti State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkìtì) is a state in southwestern Nigeria, bordered to the north by Kwara State, to the northeast by Kogi State, to the south and southeast by Ondo State, and to the west by Osun State. Named for the Ekiti ...
to the
north
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.
Etymology
The word ''north ...
,
Kogi State
Kogi State is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the west by the states of Ekiti and Kwara, to the north by the Federal Capital Territory, to the northeast by Nasarawa State, to the northwest by Niger State, to t ...
to the northeast,
Edo State to the east,
Delta State to the southeast,
Ogun State to the southwest,
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 Og ...
to the northwest, and the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
to the south. The state's capital is
Akure, the former capital of the ancient
Akure Kingdom. The State includes
mangrove-swamp forest
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
near the Bights of Benin.
Nicknamed the "Sunshine State", Ondo State is the 19th most populated state in the country, and the 25th-largest state by landmass. The state is predominantly
Yoruba, and the
Yoruba language
Yoruba (, ; Yor. '; Ajami: ) is a language spoken in West Africa, primarily in Southwestern and Central Nigeria. It is spoken by the ethnic Yoruba people. The number of Yoruba speakers is roughly 50 million, plus about 2 million second-languag ...
is commonly spoken. 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 ...
is dominated by the
petroleum industry
The petroleum industry, also known as the oil industry or the oil patch, includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transportation (often by oil tankers and pipelines), and marketing of petroleum products. The large ...
.
Cocoa production,
asphalt mining, and activities related to the state's extensive
coast
The coast, also known as the coastline or seashore, is defined as the area where land meets the ocean, or as a line that forms the boundary between the land and the coastline. The Earth has around of coastline. Coasts are important zones in ...
line also are part of the economy. It is the home to the
Idanre inselberg hills, playing host to the highest geographical point in the western half 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 o ...
at higher than 1,000 Meters in elevation.
Government and society
The state contains eighteen
local government areas, the major ones being
Akoko,
Akure,
Okitipupa
Okitipupa is a Local Government Area in Nigeria and part of the Ikale-speaking nation in Ondo State. Okitipupa Local Government headquarters is located in Okitipupa township with a university, Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OS ...
,
Ondo,
Ilaje,
Idanre and
Owo. The majority of the state's citizens live in
urban
Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to:
* Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas
* Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities
Urban may also refer to:
General
* Urban (name), a list of people ...
centers. The prominent government
universities
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, ...
in
Ondo state are the
Federal University of Technology Akure,
Akure Ondo State University of Science and Technology,
Okitipupa
Okitipupa is a Local Government Area in Nigeria and part of the Ikale-speaking nation in Ondo State. Okitipupa Local Government headquarters is located in Okitipupa township with a university, Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OS ...
University of Medical Sciences, Ondo,
Ondo and the
Adekunle Ajasin University
Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) is a state government owned and operated Nigerian university. The university is located in Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.
History
Adekunle Ajasin University was first established as Oba ...
,
Akungba Akoko.
Local government areas
Ondo State consists of 18
local government areas, they are:
*
Akoko North-East
Akoko North-East is a Local Government Area in Ondo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Ikare. Ikare consist of 15 districts or towns, namely: Okela, Okorun, Eshe, Odo, Ilepa, Okoja, Iku, Odeyare, Odoruwa, ...
(headquarters in
Ikare
Ikare is a city in the northern senatorial part of Ondo State, Nigeria.
Ikare-Akoko (Ikare for short), city in southwestern Nigeria, is located in the Northern Senatorial District of Ondo State. Ikare is about 100km from Akure, the Ondo State cap ...
)
*
Akoko North-West (headquarters in Okeagbe)
*
Akoko South-East (headquarters in Isua)
*
Akoko South-West (headquarters in
Oka)
*
Akure North (headquarters in Iju / Itaogbolu)
*
Akure South (headquarters in
Akure)
*
Ese Odo (headquarters in Igbekebo)
*
Idanre (headquarters in Owena)
*
Ifedore (headquarters in Igbara Oke)
*
Ilaje (headquarters in Igbokoda)
*
Ile Oluji/Okeigbo (headquarters in Ile Oluji)
*
Irele (headquarters Ode-Irele)
*
Odigbo
Odigbo is a Local Government Area in Ondo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ore.
It has an area of and a population of 230,351 at the 2006 census. The current census as of 2020 is over 600,000 as Ore Town continue to attract ne ...
(headquarters in Ore)
*
Okitipupa
Okitipupa is a Local Government Area in Nigeria and part of the Ikale-speaking nation in Ondo State. Okitipupa Local Government headquarters is located in Okitipupa township with a university, Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OS ...
(headquarters in
Okitipupa
Okitipupa is a Local Government Area in Nigeria and part of the Ikale-speaking nation in Ondo State. Okitipupa Local Government headquarters is located in Okitipupa township with a university, Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OS ...
)
*
Ondo East (headquarters in Bolorunduro)
*
Ondo West (headquarters Ondo Town)
*
Ose (headquarters in Ifon)
*
Owo (headquarters in
Owo Town)
Governor
Akeredolu Oluwarotimi Odunayo is the sitting governor of Ondo state. Governor
Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was sworn-in on February 24, 2017 as the successor of
Olusegun Mimiko.
The deputy governor of Ondo State is
Lucky Aiyedatiwa
Ethnic groups
The ethnic composition of Ondo State consists largely of
Yoruba subgroups of the
Idanre,
Akoko,
Akure,
Ikale,
Ilaje, Ondo, and
Owo peoples.
Ijaw people
The Izon people or Izon Otu, otherwise known as the Ijaw people due to the historic mispronunciation of the name ''Izon'', are an ethnic group majorly found in the Niger Delta in Nigeria, with significant population clusters in Bayelsa, in Delta ...
, such as the
Apoi and
Arogbo populations inhabit the southeastern swamps close to the Edo state border. A small population of people speak a variant of the
Yoruba language
Yoruba (, ; Yor. '; Ajami: ) is a language spoken in West Africa, primarily in Southwestern and Central Nigeria. It is spoken by the ethnic Yoruba people. The number of Yoruba speakers is roughly 50 million, plus about 2 million second-languag ...
similar to the
Ife dialect in
Oke-Igbo town close to the Osun state border.
The vast majority of the population are
Christians
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words '' Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ ...
; minorities practice Islam and traditional worship.
Languages
Languages of Ondo State listed by LGA:
Mineral resources in Ondo State
The following are mineral resources found in Ondo State:
* Bitumen
* Coal
* Dimension stones
* Feldspar
* Gemstones
* Glass/and
* Granite
* Gypsum
* Kaolin
* Limestone & oil/gas
Tertiary institutions
*
Adekunle Ajasin University
Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) is a state government owned and operated Nigerian university. The university is located in Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.
History
Adekunle Ajasin University was first established as Oba ...
,
Akungba Akoko
*
Achievers University, Owo
*
Adeyemi College of Education
*
Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin
* Federal College of Agriculture,
Akure
*
Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji
*
Federal University of Technology Akure
*
National Open University of Nigeria, Akure
*
Ondo State University of Science and Technology,
Okitipupa
Okitipupa is a Local Government Area in Nigeria and part of the Ikale-speaking nation in Ondo State. Okitipupa Local Government headquarters is located in Okitipupa township with a university, Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OS ...
*
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo
*
University of Medical Sciences, Ondo
*
Wesley University of Science and Technology
Wesley University, Ondo ormerly Wesley University of Science and Technology (WUSTO)is located in Ondo, Ondo State Nigeria. It was founded by the Methodist Church, Nigeria. The University was granted official license by the National Universities ...
Demographics
Notable people
*
Mo Abudu – media mogul
*
Gani Adams – activist and politician
*
Kayode Ajulo - Lawyer
*
King Sunny Adé
Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye (born 22 September 1946), known professionally as King Sunny Adé, is a Nigerian jùjú singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is regarded as one of the first African pop musicians to gain international s ...
– musician
*
Michael Ade-Ojo – business magnate
*
Adebayo Adefarati – former Governor Ondo State
*
Rotimi Adelola – former Secretary to the State Government
*
Tayo Adenaike – painter
*
Ilesanmi Adesida – physicist
*
Akintunde Aduwo
Chief Akintunde Aduwo (born 12 June 1938) is a retired Nigerian Navy Vice Admiral who served as Chief of Naval Staff from 1980 to 1983 and as military governor of the Nigerian Western State from July 1975 to August 1975 during the military reg ...
– former Governor Western Region/Navy Vice
*
Olusegun Agagu
Olusegun Kokumo Agagu (16 February 1948 – 13 September 2013) was a Nigerian politician who was Governor of Ondo State in Nigeria from 29 May 2003 until February 2009, when a court voided his re-election as governor on account of electoral ...
– former Governor Ondo state
*
Michael Adekunle Ajasin – Politician, Former governor of Ondo State
*
Rotimi Akeredolu – politician
*
Abayomi Akinruntan, politician
*
Akintunde Akinwande – engineering professor
*
Yemi Alade – musician
*
Funmi Aragbaye – gospel singer
*
Bamidele Aturu – human rights activist
*
Akinyelure Patrick Ayo – banker, politician
*
Reekado Banks
Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon (born 6 December 1993), better known by his stage name Reekado Banks, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He signed with Mavin Records in 2014 and left the label in 2018. He went by the stage name Spicy before his recor ...
– singer, songwriter
*
Robert Ajayi Boroffice – politician
*
Hosea Ehinlanwo – former Senator
*
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde ( ; born Omotola Jalade, 7 February 1978) is a Nigerian actress, singer, philanthropist and former model. Since her Nollywood film debut in 1995, Ekeinde has appeared in over 300 films, selling millions of copies. Omoto ...
– actress, singer
*
Chinko Ekun – singer, rapper
*
Olu Falae – banker, politician
*
Frederick Fasehun – medical doctor, activist and politician
*
Anthonia Fatunsin, Nigerian archeologist
*
Gani Fawehinmi – author, lawyer
*
Jimoh Ibrahim – lawyer, politician
*
T. B. Joshua – pastor, philanthropist
*
Adetokunbo Kayode – lawyer and politician
*
Boluwaji Kunlere – former Senator
*
Ayo Makun
Ayodeji Richard Makun, also known by his stage name A.Y, is a Nigerian actor, comedian, radio and TV presenter, writer, producer and film director. Born on 19 August 1971, he hails from Ifon, Ose local government in Ondo State. He is the host ...
(AY Show) – comedian, Entertainer
*
Nahzeem Olufemi Mimiko – educational administrator
*
Olusegun Mimiko – former Governor Ondo State
*
Bode Olajumoke
Wilfred Olabode Olajumoke (Bode Olajumoke) is a Nigerian politician who was a member of the Senate of Nigeria for Ondo State from 2007 to 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
Background
Bode Olajumoke was born in Lagos on 1 July 1944, of a Yoru ...
– politician
*
Chris Olukolade – army general
*
Sola Sobowale – actress, director
*
Omoyele Sowore – human rights activist
*
Adekunle Temitope (a.k.a. Small Doctor) – musical artist
*
Akinloye Tofowomo, performing musician
*
Waje – Musical Artist
Media houses in Ondo State
*Adaba 88.9FM
*ALALAYE 96.5FM
*Breeze 91.9FM
*Crest 87.7 FM
*Eki Radio 100.9 FM
*EMPIRE 104.5 FM
*FUTA Radio
*''The Hope Newspapers''
*INSIDE FUTA
*
KAFTAN TV
King Adebayo Film and Theatre Arts Network Television (KAFTAN TV) is a Nigerian independent 24-hour television channel. Established in December 2016, it is operated by KAFTAN TV Ventures, a trading and joint venture company headquartered in Ondo ...
*Kàkàkí Òndó FM
*
Nigerian Television Authority
The Nigerian Television Authority or NTA is a Nigerian government-owned and partly commercial broadcast station. Originally known as Nigerian Television (NTV), it was inaugurated in 1977 with a monopoly on national television broadcasting, after ...
(NTA)
*Orange 94.5FM
*OSRC Television
*Positive 102.5FM
*Remdel Television
*
RUGIPO 103.3 FM
*Suncity Radio 101.1FM
Gallery
Welcome to Ireakari market signpost, Afo, Ondo state2.jpg
Welcome to Etiaro, Akoko, Ondo state.jpg, Welcome to Etiaro, Akoko signpost
Welcome to Alayere town, Akure, Ondo state2.jpg, Welcome to Alayere town, Akure, Ondo state2.jpg
The Apostolic High School, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State.jpg, The Apostolic High School, Ilara-Mokin
St James Catholic Church, Ugbe-Afo, Ondo state3.jpg, St James Catholic Church, Ugbe-Afo, Ondo state3.jpg
St James Catholic Church, Ugbe-Afo, Ondo state.jpg, St James Catholic Church, Ugbe-Afo, Ondo state.jpg
References
External links
*
ondostatemoi.com
{{Portal bar, Nigeria
States of Nigeria
States in Yorubaland
States and territories established in 1976