Ogun State
Ogun is a state in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone.
- Capital
- Abeokuta
- Population
- 6.2M
- Total area
- 16,710 km²
- LGAs
- 20
- House Reps (total)
- 9
- IGR (2024)
- ₦194.9B
- Capital
- Abeokuta
- Population
- 6.2M
- 2023 estimate
- Land area
- 16,710 km²
- LGAs
- 20
- Senate seats
- 3
- IGR (2024)
- ₦194.9B
- internally generated revenue
Sub-national administrative units
Local government areas (20)
20 constitutional tier-3 units
Geopolitical synthesis
Ogun in the federation
Ogun is a state in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone.
Bordering territories & maritime boundaries
- Land bordersLagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo
- Southern littoralAtlantic Ocean
- International borderRepublic of Benin
Quick facts
- Date created
- 1976
- Known as
- Gateway State
- Population
- ~6,200,000
- Climate classification
- Tropical Wet & Dry (Aw)
- LGAs
- 20
- Distance to Abuja
- 459 km
Languages, stories and places to explore
Languages spoken
Major cities
Abeokuta · Sagamu · Ijebu-Ode
What to explore · learn
Ogun's nickname reflects its position bordering Lagos and Benin Republic, historically a corridor for trade between the coast and the interior.
Ogun State, particularly Abeokuta, produced several of Nigeria's most prominent 20th-century nationalist and political figures.
The Egba people settled at Abeokuta under Olumo Rock in 1830, using its caves as a wartime refuge; the rock remains the city's defining landmark.
Age-grade groups (Regberegbe) of Ijebu-Ode parade in matching regalia before the Awujale to pay homage, in one of Nigeria's largest Yoruba cultural events.
annualIjebu-OdeThe Awujale of Ijebuland is the paramount ruler of the Ijebu kingdom, seated at Ijebu-Ode.
Ijebu-OdeOsugbo is the Ijebu counterpart of the Ogboni fraternity, a council of elders with judicial and ritual authority that works alongside the Awujale.
Ijebu-OdeAgemo is a masquerade-linked festival celebrated in Ijebu and Remo towns, centred on the chameleon-linked Agemo cult.
annualIjebu-OdeThe Alake of Egbaland is the paramount ruler of the Egba, seated at Abeokuta beneath Olumo Rock.
AbeokutaEgba communities commemorate Lisabi, the folk hero credited with organising the Egba revolt against Oyo overlordship in the 18th century.
annualAbeokutaGelede honours the power of women, especially elders, through masked dance and oral performance. It is practised by Yoruba communities in Benin and Togo as well as Nigeria, and was proclaimed by UNESCO as a masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage.
Mar/Apr/May · annualIpokiaImeko-Afon
Cultural groups & homelands
Ijebuland
9 LGAsThe historic Ijebu and Remo LGAs of Ogun State, once the independent Ijebu Kingdom known for its trading networks and the Sungbo's Eredo earthworks.
Awori
5 LGAsAwori Yoruba sub-group of Lagos and south-western Ogun, indigenous to much of the Lagos mainland and Ota.
Egbaland (Abeokuta Metro)
5 LGAsOgun State's capital cluster, historic seat of the Egba people who settled under the Olumo Rock in the 1830s.
Yewaland (Egbado)
4 LGAsThe Yewa (historically Egbado) axis of western Ogun State bordering Benin Republic, home to the Yewa/Egbado Yoruba sub-group.
Major celebrations
- annualIjebu-Ode
- annualIjebu-Ode
- annualAbeokuta
- Mar/Apr/May · annualIpokia · Imeko-Afon
Cultural institutions
The Awujale of Ijebuland is the paramount ruler of the Ijebu kingdom, seated at Ijebu-Ode.
Ijebu-Ode
Osugbo is the Ijebu counterpart of the Ogboni fraternity, a council of elders with judicial and ritual authority that works alongside the Awujale.
Ijebu-Ode
The Alake of Egbaland is the paramount ruler of the Egba, seated at Abeokuta beneath Olumo Rock.
Abeokuta