Ondo: The facts and figures

Ondo State (Yoruba: Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria DUBBED as the Sunshine State, Ondo, which was created on February 3, 1976, has a population of 3,441,024 persons (2006 census) distributed across 18 local councils within a land area of 14,788.723 Square Kilometres. Located in the South-West geo-political zone of Nigeria, Ondo State is bounded in the North by Ekiti/Kogi states; in the East by Edo State; in the West by Oyo and Ogun states, and in the South by the Atlantic Ocean. It borders 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, Osun State to the northwest, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The state’s capital is Akure, the former capital of the ancient Akure Kingdom. The State includes mangrove-swamp forest near the Bights of Benin.

Nicknamed the “Sunshine State”, Ondo State is the 19th most populated state in the country, and the 25th-largest state by landmass. The state is predominantly Yoruba, and the Yoruba language is commonly spoken. The state economy is dominated by the petroleum industry. Cocoa production, asphalt mining, and activities related to the state’s extensive coastline also are part of the economy. It is the home to the Idanre hills, playing host to the highest geographical point in the western half of Nigeria at higher than 1,000. 

Ondo State is a multi-ethnic state with the majority being Yoruba while there are also the Ikale, Ilaje, Arogbo and Akpoi, who are of Ijaw extraction and inhabit the riverine areas of the state.

The state plays host to 880 public primary schools, and 190 public secondary schools and a number of tertiary institutions including the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure and Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo.

Arguably, Ondo is one of the most resource-endowed states of Nigeria. It is agriculturally rich with agriculture contributing about 75 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The main revenue yielding crops are cocoa, palm produce and timber. Ondo region is now the core of the Nigerian cocoa belt accounting for about 60 per cent of Nigeria’s annual output.

Other tree crops include kola, rubber, coffee, oilpalm and exotics especially Tectona grandis and Gmelina arborea.

Arable crops like rice, cassava, maize, yam, pepper, beans, tomatoes and a host of other vegetables are cultivated mostly in the northern part of the state.

The creeks and coastlands of the state are rich in prawns and lobsters and the state is said to have reserve for stock fish.

Ondo is also blessed with mineral resources such as petroleum, tar sand (bitumen), kaolin clay, iron ore, granite and quartz sands.