Ondo State
Ondo is a state in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone.
- Capital
- Akure
- Population
- 5.2M
- Total area
- 15,079 km²
- LGAs
- 18
- House Reps (total)
- 9
- IGR (2024)
- ₦31.3B
- Capital
- Akure
- Population
- 5.2M
- 2023 estimate
- Land area
- 15,079 km²
- LGAs
- 18
- Senate seats
- 3
- IGR (2024)
- ₦31.3B
- internally generated revenue
Sub-national administrative units
Local government areas (18)
18 constitutional tier-3 units
Geopolitical synthesis
Ondo in the federation
Ondo is a state in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone.
Bordering territories & maritime boundaries
- Land bordersDelta, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Ogun, Osun
- Southern littoralAtlantic Ocean
Quick facts
- Date created
- 1976
- Known as
- Sunshine State
- Population
- ~5,200,000
- Climate classification
- Tropical Wet & Dry (Aw)
- LGAs
- 18
- Distance to Abuja
- 323 km
Languages, stories and places to explore
Languages spoken
Major cities
Akure · Ondo · Owo
What to explore · learn
Ondo's nickname reflects its coastal-to-forest geography and status as one of Nigeria's leading cocoa-producing states.
Ondo's coastline was the site of some of Nigeria's earliest offshore oil exploration activity.
Owo's annual Igogo festival is listed by the Federal Ministry of Information among Nigeria's ancestral festivals.
Sep · annualOwoAriginya, meaning local wrestling, is one of the foremost traditional festivals of Ikare-Akoko.
annualIkare-AkokoBiripo is a major traditional music of the Ilaje, Apoi and Ikale peoples, used to teach peace, unity and productivity.
Irokute is a traditional festival of Ikaleland, studied at Okitipupa.
annualOkitipupaA cultural form reported as unique to the Ilaje people. Details still to be confirmed with local sources.
IlajeA cultural form reported as unique to the Ilaje people. Details still to be confirmed with local sources.
IlajeA cultural form reported as unique to the Ikale people. Details still to be confirmed with local sources.
OkitipupaThe state's three best-known royal thrones sit at Akure, Ondo and Owo, each heading an old Yoruba kingdom.
AkureOndoOwo
Cultural groups & homelands
Akoko
4 LGAsHill-country Yoruba sub-group of north-eastern Ondo State organised in many small kingdoms (Ikare, Oka, Ikaram and others).
Ondo Kingdom and neighbours
4 LGAsYoruba communities around the Ondo Kingdom under the Osemawe of Ondo and Ile-Oluji.
Ikale
2 LGAsYoruba sub-group of southern Ondo State centred on Okitipupa and Irele, in Ikaleland.
Ilaje
2 LGAsRiverine and coastal Yoruba sub-group of southern Ondo State, fishing and oil-region communities of the Atlantic coast.
Owo-Ose Cluster
2 LGAsThe historic Owo Kingdom axis of Ondo State, known for its distinctive Yoruba-Benin hybrid art and bronze-casting tradition.
Major celebrations
- Sep · annualOwo
- annualIkare-Akoko
- annualOkitipupa
Cultural institutions
The state's three best-known royal thrones sit at Akure, Ondo and Owo, each heading an old Yoruba kingdom.
Akure · Ondo · Owo
Metro areas
Akure Metropolis
Ondo State's capital cluster, seat of the Deji of Akure and the state's administrative and commercial hub.