South West · Capital: Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State
Governor: Biodun Oyebanji
Population
2,384,212
Land area
6,353 km²
Created
October 1, 1996
Governance
Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (APC) has served as Governor of Ekiti State since October 2022, re-elected to a second term in 2026 on his 'Prosperity' agenda. He previously served as Secretary to the Ekiti State Government.
History
Ekiti State was created on 1 October 1996, carved from the former Ondo State. Nicknamed the 'Fountain of Knowledge,' it has built a national reputation for producing teachers, academics, judges, and other professionals, and remains one of Nigeria's most politically competitive states. Its official 2006 census population was 2,384,212.
Tourism
Best known for Ikogosi Warm Springs, a rare natural site where warm and cold springs meet and flow side by side.
- Ikogosi Warm Springs
- Fajuyi Park, Ado-Ekiti
Agriculture
Farming remains a major livelihood, with cocoa as the leading cash crop.
Cocoa · Cassava · Yam · Maize · Rice · Plantain · Oil palm
Investment
The Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) is attracting tech and research firms, while a new Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) opened in 2026 to process cassava and maize for export.
Education & knowledge economy · Agro-processing · Technology · Tourism
Infrastructure
Education
Ekiti State University · Federal University Oye-Ekiti · Bamidele Olumilua University of Education