Ondo state is one of the thirty-six states in Nigeria. The capital of Ondo state is Akure. It is one of the most popular cities in the state. Ondo is located in the western part of the country and one of the six western states. The other western states include Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Oyo, and Ekiti.
The above is one of the common answers you will get on the internet. The question is, how well do you know Ondo state? If you don’t know much about this place, don’t worry, we have got you covered. Below are 13 things you should know about Ondo state.
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History of Ondo State
It is important we start with the history of Ondo state. This way, you will probably learn a thing or two about the state. Did you know that Ondo is part of the Niger Delta region? The Niger Delta is a collection of mostly crude-oil producing states. The list includes Abia, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers and Imo states.
February 3rd, 1976, Ondo state was created under the regime of General Murtala Mohammed. It was formerly part of the defunct Western State. As at 1960, Ondo state was among the Western Region. The Western Region, on the other hand, was one of the then three regions in the country until 1963.
1963 witnessed the creation of a new region which was formed out of the Western Region. It was called the Mid-Western Region. Though Ondo State remained part of the Western Region.
The 1966 coup which enthroned Major General Aguiyi Ironsi brought about the replacement of the regions into provinces. Therefore, the four regions became provinces. Despite the change from regions to province, Ondo state remained in the Western Province.
In 1967, the counter-coup which led to the reign of General Yabuku Gowon brought about the replacement of the provinces. It was replaced with a twelve state structure. Among the twelve states created, Ondo state was under the Western State.
However, the state was later on its own in 1976 after the Murtala led regime saw to the creations of new states. The then Western State was split into three – Ogun State, Oyo State, and Ondo State.
The Government of Ondo State
The form of government in Ondo state is similar to what is being practised all over the country. That is, the Ondo State Government is made up of three arms – executive, legislative and judiciary.
The Ondo state government’s executive arm is headed by the governor. Rotimi Akeredolu is the current executive governor of the Ondo state. He is, however, supported by the commissioner which were appointed to head the ministries in the state.
The Ondo state House of Assembly is host to the legislative arm of the state’s government. It is located at Akure and is made up of twenty-six members from different constituencies. The Ondo House of Assembly is headed by Bamidele Oloyelogun, who is the current speaker of the house.
Lastly, the judicial arm of the state is headed by the Chief Judge. Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu is the Chief Judge of Ondo State.
The Population Of Ondo State
The population of Ondo State is estimated above 3.4 million according to the 2006 census. It is actually 18th on the list of the most populated states in the country.
Ondo State Local Governments
Ever wondered how many local governments are in Ondo State? There are 18 local government areas in Ondo state. Below is the list of the 18 local government areas:
- Akoko North-West
- Akoko North-East
- Akoko South-West
- Akoko South-East
- Ose
- Owo
- Akure North
- Akure South
- Ifedore
- Idanre
- Ondo East
- Ondo West
- Odigbo
- Irele
- Ile Oluji/Okeigbo
- Ese-Odo
- Okitipupa
- Ilaje
However, it is important to note that the Ondo State local government areas are further divided into three units/senatorial districts. They are the Ondo North, Ondo Central and Ondo South. The list below is a compilation of each local government area under their units or senatorial district.
Ondo North: Akoko North-West, Akoko North-East, Akoko South-West, Akoko South-East, Ose and Owo.
Ondo Central: Akure North, Akure South, Ifedore, Idanre, Ondo East and Ondo West.
Ondo South: Odigbo, Irele, Ile Oluji/Okeigbo, Ese-Odo, Okitipupa and Ilaje.
The Culture & Language Of Ondo State
Ondo state shares a similar culture with most of the Western states in Nigeria. This particular part of the country is largely occupied by the Yorubas. There are, however, a number of languages between them. This list includes the Akure, Apoi, Idanre, Ijaw, Ikale, Ilaje, Ondo, Owo and Akoko.
Ondo state, like Nigeria itself, is blessed with an abundance of industrious and hospitable people. It is also one of the many states in Nigeria that can publicly boast of its educated sons and daughters. However, with a population of over 3.4 million, the majority of the Ondo people are traders, fishermen and farmers.
Though most of the areas in Ondo state can be regarded as urban areas, it is not uncommon to see bits of culture in their daily activities. It is one thing that is common in the lifestyle of everybody you meet in the state. This includes the way they dress, eat, dance and the kind of jobs they do.
Also, the sights of antiquities and artefacts are very common in the state. Some which are preserved in the palaces of the traditional rulers. Due to the geographical position of Ondo state, it shares boundaries with a number of states. Ekiti and Kogi are at the north; east of Edo; west of Oyo and Ogun states, and south of the Atlantic Ocean.
Weather In Ondo State
The weather in Ondo State is very much the same as everywhere else in the country. That is, the tropical climate in the state consist of the two main season in Nigeria – rainy and dry season. The rainy season is mostly around the periods of April to October. While the dry season is usually from November to March.
The temperature is often between 21 °C to 29 °C throughout the year and the humidity is relatively high. The rainfall varies from 2,000mm in the south of Ondo state and 1,150mm in the north. In the southern part of the state, there is an abundance of rich vegetation in the rainforest and sub-savannah forest in the north.
There is also a good number of creeks, rivers and lakes in and around Ondo State. Some of the major ones include Oluwa, Oni, Awara, Ogbese, Ose, Ala and Owena. Significantly, places like Ilaje, Ese-Odo and Okitipupa which are coastal areas experience land rises to the highlands toward the north.
Fun Places In Ondo State
So, what is a visit to Ondo State without the adventure? It is no longer news that the state is home to one of the top tourist attractions in the country. The “sunshine state” does not fall short of expectations when it comes to entertainment and fun things to do.
There are a number of good tourist attractions in the state. However, most of this places are located within the state capital. That is, Akure is definitely the hub of fun. Though there are fun sites in places like Idanre among others.
Significantly, a number of discoveries have been made in this part of the country. There is the rock which was engraved since the Mesolithic period. Also, some Homo Sapien’s fossils (the oldest in West Africa) were discovered here.
Below are some of the fun places to go in order to have the best adventure experience:
Deji of Akure Palace
If you recall, we spoke earlier about the cultural heritage of the people of Ondo State. The Deji of Akure’s palace is definitely the place to go if you want to learn more about the culture and history of Ondo. The palace is located in Akure and its home to the town’s traditional ruler.
Over the years, the palace has been host to tourists and visitors who seek in-depth knowledege of the people. There are also historical monuments that explain how Ondo state came to be.
Idanre Hills
Idanre Hills. This arguably the most popular place in Ondo state. It is the most visited tourist attraction in the state. It is often referred to as “Oke Idanre” mostly by the locals. Though Ondo state is home to many hills, Idanre remains the one with the most beautiful landscapes.
According to history, Idanre hill was home to the entire population of people living in Idanre close to a millennium. A visit to this place will open you to a number of myths, folklore and legend. Ensure that you are taken around by an experienced tour guide.
Aside from the amazingly beautiful landscape that Idanre Hills provides, there are also a number of wonders attached to the hill. Some of which include the Agboogun’s footprint, the 660 steps, the Thunder water among others.
Igbo Olodumare
Igbo Olodumare is another interesting place in Ondo state you can visit. The direct translation of the name is the “Forest of the Almighty”. The Igbo Olodumare is also the title of D.O Faguwa’s book. The forest is located in Oke-Igbo near Ile-Iluji.
Fun things to do in the forest range from camping, shooting a movie, picnic, bird watching among other things. You can also read more on the top fun places in Ondo State.
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Ondo state is one of luckiest area in the world