Ondo State

Ondo (, Yoruba: Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. Ondo borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast for 45 km, Edo State to the east, Delta State to the southeast for 36 km, Ogun State to the southwest for 179 km, Osun State to the northwest for 77 km, 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 Bight of Benin. Nicknamed the "Sunshine State", Ondo State is the 18th 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. Cocoa production, farming, asphalt mining, and activities related to the state's extensive coastline also are part of the economy. It is home to the Idanre inselberg hills, the highest geographical point in the western half of Nigeria at over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in elevation. Government and society Departments, Agencies and Public Bodies Source: Secretary to the State Government Administrative Commissions Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Constitutional Commissions Deputy Governor's Office Governor's Office Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives Ministry of Culture and Tourism Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget Directorate of Rural and Community Development Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Ministry of Environment Ministry of Finance Ministry of Information and Orientation Ministry of Justice Ministry of Lands and Housing Ministry of Natural Resources Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development Ministry of Youth and Sports Development The state contains eighteen local government areas, the major ones being Akoko, Akure, Okitipupa, Ondo, Ilaje, Idanre and Owo. The majority of the state's citizens live in urban centers. The prominent government universities in Ondo State are the Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State University of Science and Technology Okitipupa, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo and the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko. Local government areas Ondo State consists of 18 local government areas, they are: Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is the incumbent governor of Ondo state, as at 2024. He was sworn in on 27 December 2023 as the successor of Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu who was pronounced dead in the earlier hour of 27 December 2023 out of cancer complications. Politics The State government is led by a democratically elected governor who works closely with members of the state's House of Assembly. The Capital city of the State is Akure. Electoral system The electoral system of each state is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of the State local government Areas. If no candidate passes the threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government Areas. Ethnic groups The ethnic composition of Ondo State consists largely of Yoruba subgroups of the Idanre, Akoko, Akure, Ikale, Ilaje, Ondo, Ese Odo, Owo and Ose peoples. Ijaw people, such as the Apoi and Arogbo populations inhabit the southeastern swamps close to the Edo state border. A small population of people speak a variant of the Yoruba language similar to the Ife dialect in Oke-Igbo town close to the Osun state border. Religion The vast majority of the population are Christians; minorities practice Islam and traditional Yoruba animist religion. The Anglican Province of Ondo (2002?) within the Church of Nigeria includes the Dioceses of Akoko (2008) led by Bishop Jacob O.B. Bada (2019), Akure led by Bishop Simeon Borokini (2013), also Archbishop of Ondo Province (2022), On the Coast (1995 as the Diocese of Ikale-Ilaje) led by Bishop Seyi Pirisola (2019), Idoani led by Bishop Adegoke Oludare Agara (2020), Ilaje led by Bishop Fredrick Idowu Olugbemi (2009), Ile-Oluji led by Bishop Abel Oluyemi Ajibodu (2017), Irele-Eseodo (2009) led by Bishop Joshua Sunday Oyinlola (2019), Ondo (1952) led by Bishop Stephen Adeniran Oni (2018), and Owo (1983) led Bishop Stephen Ayodeji Fagbemi (2017). 174,148 Catholics (2021) in the Diocese of Ondo (1943) a suffragan of Ibadan, with 60 parishes under Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade (2010). Climate Ondo has a tropical wet and dry or savanna climate. The city's yearly temperature is 28.42 °C (83.16 °F) and it is -1.04% lower than Nigeria's averages. Ondo typically receives about 1.711 millimeters (7.2 inches) of precipitation and has 266.26 rainy days (72.95% of the time) annually. Languages Languages of Ondo State listed by LGA: Mineral resources in Ondo State The following are mineral resources found in Ondo State: Bitumen Coal Oil and gas Dimension stone Feldspar Gemstones Glass/and Granite Gypsum Kaolin Limestone 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 Transportation Federal Highways are A121 (TAH8: Trans-African Highway 8 Lagos-Mombasa) east from Ogun State via Ore to Edo State at Ofosu, A122 southeast from Osun State at Igbara Oke via Akure to Edo State. Other major roads include: the Ondo-Ife Rd northwest from Ondo to Osun State at Okeigo, Ipetu-Ondo Rd north from Ondo to A122 at Ikeji Oke in Osun State, Ondo-Owena Rd east from Ondo to Akure, Igede Ekiti Oke Rd north from A122 at Ilawe to Ekiti State at Ibuji, Oba-Ile Rd north from Akure to the Ijare-Akure Rd via Ilere and Ijare to Ekiti State, Akure Ado Ekiti Rd north from Akure via Ilado and Iju to Ekiti State, Owo-Emure Ile Rd north from A122 at Emure to Ekiti State, Owo-Obra Rd north from A122 at Owo as the Ikare-Akoko-Ipeme Rd to Kogi State as the Kabba-Arigidi Rd, Ipele-Kabba Rd from A122 at Ipele Junction to Kogi State at Akunnu, Akure-Ala-Ajagbusi Rd south from Akure as the Igbatoro Rd to Edo State at Ogbesse. Airports: Akure Airport Demographics Notable people Media houses in Ondo State Adaba 88.9FM ALALAYE 96.5FM Breeze 91.9FM Crest 87.7 FM Eki Radio 100.9 FM EMPIRE 104.5 FM FUTA Radio The Hope Newspapers INSIDE FUTA KAFTAN TV Kàkàkí Òndó FM Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Orange 94.5FM OSRC Television Positive 102.5FM Remdel Television RUGIPO 103.3 FM Suncity Radio 101.1FM Gallery References External links Media related to Ondo State at Wikimedia Commons Official website ondostatemoi.com