South WestPace-Setter State

Oyo State

Oyo is a state in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone.

Afijio · selected

Sub-national administrative units

Local government areas (33)

33 constitutional tier-3 units

Geopolitical synthesis

Oyo is a state in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone.

Quick facts

State overview

Ibadan · Ogbomoso · Oyo

Oyo's nickname dates to the old Western Region era, reflecting a self-image as an early mover in education and infrastructure among Nigerian states.
The state takes its name from the historic Oyo Empire, once one of the largest and most powerful West African states, with its former capital's ruins preserved within Old Oyo National Park.
Ibadan, Oyo's capital, was home to WNTV, the first television station in Africa, launched in 1959.
The World Sango Festival in Oyo honours Sango, the deified third Alaafin and Yoruba god of thunder. UNESCO inscribed it in 2023, and it marks the Yoruba traditional new year.
Aug · annualOyo town
The Alaafin is the ruler of Oyo, successor to the emperors of the Oyo Empire.
Oyo town
Ibadan's Olubadan is not chosen by a single royal house; chiefs rise by seniority through the civil (Otun) and military (Balogun) lines until they reach the throne.
Ibadan
An Ibadan festival held at Oke'Badan hill, tied to the city's founding story.
Mar · annualIbadan
Egungun masquerades embody ancestors returning to visit the living and are among the most widespread Yoruba traditions, with strong local calendars in Oyo State towns.
annual
The Soun is the paramount ruler of Ogbomosho.
Ogbomosho
The Aare Ona Kakanfo was the commander-in-chief of the Oyo Empire's army, a title revived in the modern era.
Iseyin is a leading centre of Aso-Oke, the hand-woven Yoruba cloth used for weddings and ceremonies.
Iseyin

Oke-Ogun
10 LGAs
The savanna plain of north-western Oyo State, home to Oyo-Yoruba communities such as Saki, Igboho and Iseyin, the last known for Aso-Oke weaving.
Oyo (Alaafin's Kingdom)
4 LGAs
Heartland of the historic Oyo Empire around present-day Oyo town, seat of the Alaafin of Oyo.
Ibarapa
3 LGAs
The Ibarapa Yoruba towns (Igboora, Igangan, Tapa and neighbours) on the western edge of Oyo State.

The Alaafin is the ruler of Oyo, successor to the emperors of the Oyo Empire.
Oyo town
Ibadan's Olubadan is not chosen by a single royal house; chiefs rise by seniority through the civil (Otun) and military (Balogun) lines until they reach the throne.
Ibadan
The Soun is the paramount ruler of Ogbomosho.
Ogbomosho
The Aare Ona Kakanfo was the commander-in-chief of the Oyo Empire's army, a title revived in the modern era.

Ibadan Metropolis
The eleven LGAs forming greater Ibadan, once West Africa's largest city by area and Nigeria's colonial-era administrative and commercial capital of the west.
Ogbomoso Metropolis
The Ogbomosho North and South LGAs forming Oyo State's second-largest urban centre, historically a major Yoruba war-era stronghold and cotton/tobacco trading town.