Ondo () is a

state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

in southwestern

Nigeria Nigeria, 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 Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. Ondo

border Borders are generally defined as geography, geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by polity, political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other administrative divisio ...

s Ekiti State 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 (geometry), direction or geography. Etymology T ...

, Kogi State to the northeast for 45 km,

Edo State Edo State, Edo, officially known as Edo State, is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South, South-South Geopolitical zones of Nigeria, geopolitical zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As of 2024, the state was ranked as the List of Ni ...

to the east,

Delta State Delta is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South (Nigeria), South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State, on 27 August 1 ...

to the southeast for 36 km,

Ogun State Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It is bordered to the south by Lagos State and the Bight of Benin, to the east by Ondo State, and to the north by Oyo and Osun states while its western border forms part of the national borde ...

to the southwest for 179 km, Osun State to the northwest for 77 km, and the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...

to the south. The state's capital is

Akure Akure is a city in south-western Nigeria. It is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Ondo State. The city had a population of 403,000 as of the 2006 population census. Its current population is estimated at 774,000.ancient Ancient history is a time period from the beginning of writing and recorded human history through late antiquity. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, beginning with the development of Sumerian cuneiform script. Ancient h ...

Akure Kingdom. The State includes mangrove-swamp

forest A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, ...

near the Bight of Benin. Agadagba Arogbor River 02

Nicknamed the "Sunshine State", Ondo State is the 18th most populated state in the country, and the 25th-largest state by landmass. The state is predominantly Yoruba, and the

Yoruba language Yoruba (, ; Yor. ) is a Niger–Congo languages, Niger-Congo language that is spoken in West Africa, primarily in South West (Nigeria), Southwestern and Middle Belt, Central Nigeria, Benin, and parts of Togo. It is spoken by the Yoruba people. ...

is commonly spoken. Cocoa production, farming, asphalt mining, and activities related to the state's extensive

coast A coast (coastline, shoreline, seashore) is the land next to the sea or the line that forms the boundary between the land and the ocean or a lake. Coasts are influenced by the topography of the surrounding landscape and by aquatic erosion, su ...

line also are part of the economy. It is home to the Idanre inselberg hills, the highest geographical point in the western half of

at over in elevation.

Government and society

Departments, Agencies and Public Bodies

Source: *Secretary to the State Government *Administrative Commissions *Ministry of Works and Infrastructure *Constitutional Commissions *Deputy Governor's Office *Governor's Office *Ministry of

Agriculture Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...

*Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives *Ministry of Culture and Tourism *Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget * Directorate of Rural and Community Development * Ministry of Education, Science and Technology *Ministry of Environment *Ministry of Finance *Ministry of Information and Orientation *Ministry of Justice *Ministry of Lands and Housing *Ministry of Natural Resources *Ministry of Physical Planning and

Urban Development 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 peop ...

*Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties *Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development *Ministry of Youth and Sports Development The state contains eighteen

local government area 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 federated state, state, province, division (politica ...

s, the major ones being Akoko,

Akure Akure is a city in south-western Nigeria. It is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Ondo State. The city had a population of 403,000 as of the 2006 population census. Its current population is estimated at 774,000.Okitipupa, Ondo, Ilaje, Idanre and Owo. The majority of the state's citizens live in urban centers. The prominent government

universities A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...

Ondo State Ondo () is a States of Nigeria, state in Points of the compass, southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State (Nigeria), Western State. Ondo borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast fo ...

are the Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State University of Science and Technology Okitipupa, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo and the Adekunle Ajasin University,

Akungba Akoko Akungba Akoko, commonly called Akungba, is a town in Ondo State, south-western Nigeria Nigeria, 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 Guinea ...

Local government areas

Ondo State consists of 18

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 ph ...

, they are: * Akoko North-East (headquarters in Ikare) * Akoko North-West (headquarters in Okeagbe) *

Akoko South-East Akoko South-East is a Local Government Area in Ondo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in Isua-Akoko, Isua (Akoko). Akoko South-East is one of six Local Government Areas in the Northern Senatorial District of Ondo State Ondo () is a States ...

(headquarters in Isua) *

Akoko South-West Akoko South-West is a Local Government Area in Ondo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Oke-Oka. It has its area council at Oka Akoko. It has an area of 340 km and a population of 228,383 at the 2006 census. Ondo State Hou ...

(headquarters in Oka) * Akure North (headquarters in Iju / Itaogbolu) * Akure South (headquarters in

Akure Akure is a city in south-western Nigeria. It is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Ondo State. The city had a population of 403,000 as of the 2006 population census. Its current population is estimated at 774,000.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 (headquarters in Ore) * Okitipupa (headquarters in Okitipupa) * Ondo East (headquarters in Bolorunduro) * Ondo West (headquarters Ondo Town) * Ose (headquarters in Ifon) * Owo (headquarters in Owo Town)

Governor

Lucky Aiyedatiwa is the incumbent

governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

of Ondo state, as at 2024. He was sworn in on 27 December 2023 as the successor of Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu who was pronounced dead in the earlier hour of 27 December 2023 out of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

complications.

Politics

The State government is led by a democratically elected governor who works closely with members of the state's House of Assembly. The Capital city of the State is Akure.

Electoral system

The electoral system of each state is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of the State local government Areas. If no candidate passes the threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government Areas.

Ethnic groups

The ethnic composition of Ondo State consists largely of Yoruba subgroups of the Idanre, Akoko,

Ijaw people The Ijaw people, also known as the Izon people, are an ethnic group found in the Niger Delta region in Nigeria, with primary Population, population clusters in Bayelsa State, Bayelsa, Delta State, Delta, and Rivers State, Rivers. They also have ...

, 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

similar to the Ife dialect in Oke-Igbo town close to the Osun state border.

Religion

The vast majority of the population are

Christians A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words '' Christ'' and ''C ...

; minorities practice Islam and traditional Yoruba animist religion. The

Anglican Province of Ondo The Anglican Province of Ondo is one of the 14 ecclesiastical provinces of the Church of Nigeria. It comprises 12 dioceses. In 2021 the 12 dioceses and corresponding bishops were: *Anglican Province of Ondo; Archbishop: Simeon Borokini #Anglican ...

(2002?) within the

Church of Nigeria The Church of Nigeria is the Anglicanism, Anglican Church body, church in Nigeria. It is the second-largest Province (Anglican), province in the Anglican Communion, as measured by baptised membership (not by attendance), after the Church of Englan ...

includes the Dioceses of Akoko (2008) led by Bishop Jacob O.B. Bada (2019),

Akure Akure is a city in south-western Nigeria. It is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Ondo State. The city had a population of 403,000 as of the 2006 population census. Its current population is estimated at 774,000.Simeon Borokini (2013), also Archbishop of Ondo Province (2022), On the Coast (1995 as the Diocese of Ikale-Ilaje) led by Bishop Seyi Pirisola (2019), Idoani led by Bishop Adegoke Oludare Agara (2020), Ilaje led by Bishop Fredrick Idowu Olugbemi (2009), Ile-Oluji led by Bishop Abel Oluyemi Ajibodu (2017), Irele-Eseodo (2009) led by Bishop Joshua Sunday Oyinlola (2019), Ondo (1952) led by Bishop Stephen Adeniran Oni (2018), and Owo (1983) led Bishop Stephen Ayodeji Fagbemi (2017). 174,148 Catholics (2021) in the Diocese of Ondo (1943) a suffragan of Ibadan, with 60 parishes under Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade (2010).

Climate

Ondo has a tropical wet and dry or savanna climate. The city's yearly temperature is 28.42 °C (83.16 °F) and it is -1.04% lower than Nigeria's averages. Ondo typically receives about 1.711 millimeters (7.2 inches) of precipitation and has 266.26 rainy days (72.95% of the time) annually.

Languages

Languages of Ondo State listed by LGA:

Mineral resources in Ondo State

The following are mineral resources found in Ondo State: *

Bitumen Bitumen ( , ) is an immensely viscosity, viscous constituent of petroleum. Depending on its exact composition, it can be a sticky, black liquid or an apparently solid mass that behaves as a liquid over very large time scales. In American Engl ...

Coal Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other Chemical element, elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal i ...

Oil and gas A fossil fuel is a flammable carbon compound- or hydrocarbon-containing material formed naturally in the Earth's crust from the buried remains of prehistoric organisms (animals, plants or microplanktons), a process that occurs within geologi ...

Dimension stone Dimension stone is natural stone or Rock (geology), rock that has been selected and finished (e.g., trimmed, cut, drilled or ground) to specific sizes or shapes. Color, Texture (geology), texture and pattern, and surface finish of the stone are ...

Feldspar Feldspar ( ; sometimes spelled felspar) is a group of rock-forming aluminium tectosilicate minerals, also containing other cations such as sodium, calcium, potassium, or barium. The most common members of the feldspar group are the ''plagiocl ...

Gemstone A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, semiprecious stone, or simply gem) is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut or polished, is used to make jewellery, jewelry or other adornments. Certain Rock (geology), rocks (such ...

s * Glass/and *

Granite Granite ( ) is a coarse-grained (phanerite, phaneritic) intrusive rock, intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly coo ...

* Gypsum *

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

Limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

Tertiary institutions

* Adekunle Ajasin University,

* 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 * Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo * University of Medical Sciences, Ondo * Wesley University of Science and Technology

Transportation

Federal Highways are * A121 (TAH8: Trans-African Highway 8 Lagos-Mombasa) east from Ogun State via Ore to Edo State at Ofosu, * A122 southeast from Osun State at Igbara Oke via Akure to Edo State. Other major roads include: * the Ondo-Ife Rd northwest from Ondo to Osun State at Okeigo, * Ipetu-Ondo Rd north from Ondo to A122 at Ikeji Oke in Osun State, * Ondo-Owena Rd east from Ondo to Akure, * Igede Ekiti Oke Rd north from A122 at Ilawe to Ekiti State at Ibuji, * Oba-Ile Rd north from Akure to the Ijare-Akure Rd via Ilere and Ijare to Ekiti State, * Akure Ado Ekiti Rd north from Akure via Ilado and Iju to Ekiti State, * Owo-Emure Ile Rd north from A122 at Emure to Ekiti State, * Owo-Obra Rd north from A122 at Owo as the Ikare-Akoko-Ipeme Rd to Kogi State as the Kabba-Arigidi Rd, * Ipele-Kabba Rd from A122 at Ipele Junction to Kogi State at Akunnu, * Akure-Ala-Ajagbusi Rd south from Akure as the Igbatoro Rd to Edo State at Ogbesse. Airports: Akure Airport

Demographics

Notable people

* Mo Abudu, media mogul * Gani Adams, activist and politician * King Sunny Adé, musician *

Adebayo Adefarati Adebayo Adefarati (; 14 February 1931"Adefarati, AD Presidential candidate dies at 76", ''Vanguard'', 30 March 2007. – 29 March 2007) was a Nigerian politician who served as governor of Ondo State from 1999 to 2003. Life and career Adefa ...

, former governor of Ondo State * Rotimi Adelola, former Secretary to the State Government * Tayo Adenaike, painter * Ilesanmi Adesida, physicist * Akintunde Aduwo, former governor of Western Region/navy vice * Olusegun Agagu, former governor of Ondo State * Michael Adekunle Ajasin, politician, former governor of Ondo State * Kayode Ajulo, lawyer * Rotimi Akeredolu, former governor of Ondo State * Abayomi Akinruntan, politician * Akintunde Akinwande, engineering professor * Yemi Alade, musician * Funmi Aragbaye, gospel singer * Bamidele Aturu, human rights activist * Akinyelure Patrick Ayo, banker and politician * Tinuade Babalola, traditional ruler/monarch of the Iboropa-Akoko kingdom * Reekado Banks, singer-songwriter * Robert Ajayi Boroffice, politician * Emmanuel Daraloye, Nigerian music journalist * Hosea Ehinlanwo, former senator * Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, actress and singer * Chinko Ekun, singer and rapper * Gbenga Elegbeleye, politician, former Ondo State House of Representatives member * Olu Falae, banker and politician * Frederick Fasehun, medical doctor, activist and politician * Anthonia Fatunsin, Nigerian archeologist * Gani Fawehinmi, author and lawyer * Jimoh Ibrahim, lawyer and politician * T. B. Joshua, pastor and philanthropist * Adetokunbo Kayode, lawyer and politician * Boluwaji Kunlere, former senator * Ayo Makun (AY Show), comedian and entertainer * Nahzeem Olufemi Mimiko, educational administrator * Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo State * Bode Olajumoke, politician * Chris Olukolade, army general * Sola Sobowale, actress and director * Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist * Adekunle Temitope (a.k.a. Small Doctor), musical artist * Akinloye Tofowomo, performing musician * Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigerian politician, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is a member of the House of Representatives (Nigeria), representing Akoko North East/Akoko North-West Federal Constituency of Ondo State. * 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 *Kàkàkí Òndó FM * Nigerian Television Authority (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 State 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 State St James Catholic Church, Ugbe-Afo, Ondo state.jpg, St James Catholic Church, Ugbe-Afo, Ondo State

References

External links

*
ondostatemoi.com
{{Portal bar, Nigeria States of Nigeria States in Yorubaland States and territories established in 1976