Ondo State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. On February 3rd, 1976, it was formed from the previous Western State. In addition to the Atlantic Ocean, it has boundaries with Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to the southeast, Ogun State to the southwest, and Osun State to the northwest. Akure, the old seat of the ancient Akure Kingdom, serves as the state’s capital. The State is home to a mangrove-swamp forest close to the Benin Bights.
Ondo State, sometimes known as the “Sunshine State,” is the 25th-largest state in terms of land mass and ranks 19th in terms of population. The Yoruba language is widely spoken in the state, which has a high Yoruba population. The petroleum sector dominates the state’s economy. The state’s economy also includes enterprises connected to its wide coastline, mining for asphalt, and cocoa manufacturing. It is the location of the Idanre inselberg hills, which are more than 1,000 meters above sea level and serve as the highest point in the western part of Nigeria.
Government and society
The state has eighteen local government areas, with Akoko, Akure, Okitipupa, Ondo, Ilaje, Idanre, and Owo being the most significant ones. Urban areas are where the bulk of the state’s residents reside. The Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo, and the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko are some of the well-known public institutions in Ondo state.
Governor
Akeredolu Currently serving as governor of Ondo state is Oluwarotimi Odunayo. On February 24, 2017, Olusegun Mimiko’s successor, Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was sworn in. Lucky Aiyedatiwa is the deputy governor of Ondo State.
Politics
A democratically elected governor who works closely with the state’s house of assembly members is in charge of the state government. Akure serves as the state’s capital.
Electoral system
A modified two-round procedure is used to choose each state’s election system. A candidate must earn the majority of the vote and more than 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of the State local government Areas in order to be elected in the first round. The top contender and the next candidate to win a majority of votes in the most local government Areas will compete in a second round if no candidate clears the threshold.
Ethnic groups
Ondo State’s population is mostly made up of the Yoruba peoples’ Idanre, Akoko, Akure, Ikale, Ilaje, Ondo, and Owo subgroups. Ijaw people live in the southeasterly wetlands adjacent to the Edo state boundary, including the Apoi and Arogbo communities. In the Oke-Igbo settlement near the Osun state border, a small number of individuals speak a Yoruba dialect resembling the Ife dialect. The majority of people are Christians, however certain minority also follow traditional religions.
Climate
The climate of Ondo is tropical wet and dry or savanna. The city’s average annual temperature is -1.04% lower than Nigeria’s averages at 28.42°C (83.16°F). Ondo generally has 266.26 wet days (72.95% of the time) yearly with average precipitation of 182.94 millimeters (7.2 inches).
Languages
- Akoko South East Yoruba (Ao), Uhami, Ukue
- Akoko South West Yoruba (Akoko, Ekiti)
- Akoko North East Yoruba (Akoko), Arigidi, Ayere
- Akoko North West Yoruba (Akoko, Ekiti), Abesabesi, Arigidi, Ayere
- Akure North Yoruba (Ekiti)
- Akure South Yoruba (Ekiti)
- Ese-Odo Yoruba (Apoi), Izon
- Idanre Yoruba (Ondo, Ekiti)
- Ifedore Yoruba (Ekiti)
- Ilaje Yoruba (Ilaje)
- Ile Oluji/Okeigbo Yoruba (Ondo, Ife)
- Irele Yoruba (Ikale)
- Odigbo Yoruba (Ikale, Ondo)
- Okitipupa Yoruba (Ikale)
- Ondo East Yoruba (Ondo)
- Ondo West Yoruba (Ondo)
- Ose Yoruba (Ogho, Ao), Owan (Ora)
- Owo Yoruba (Ogho)
Mineral resources in Ondo State
The following are mineral resources found in Ondo State:[28]
- Bitumen
- Coal
- Dimension stones
- Feldspar
- Gemstones
- Glass/and
- Granite
- Gypsum
- Kaolin
- Limestone & oil/gas
Tertiary institutions
- Adekunle Ajasin University, 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
- Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo
- University of Medical Sciences, Ondo
- Wesley University of Science and Technology
Notable People
- Mo Abudu – media mogul
- Gani Adams – activist and politician
- Kayode Ajulo – Lawyer
- King Sunny Adé – 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 – former Governor Western Region/Navy Vice
- Olusegun Agagu – former Governor Ondo state
- Michael Adekunle Ajasin – Politician, Former governor of Ondo State
- 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.
- Jamiu Abiola Alapoowo – Entrepreneur, Public Figure
- Gbenga Elegbeleye – Politician, Former Ondo State House of Representatives member.
- 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 – singer, songwriter
- Robert Ajayi Boroffice – politician
- Hosea Ehinlanwo – former Senator
- Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – 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 (AY Show) – comedian, Entertainer
- Nahzeem Olufemi Mimiko – educational administrator
- Olusegun Mimiko – former Governor Ondo State
- Bode Olajumoke – 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
