South West · Capital: Akure
Ondo State
Governor: Lucky Aiyedatiwa
Population
3,460,877
Land area
15,500 km²
Created
February 3, 1976
Governance
Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa (APC, born 12 January 1965) has served as Governor of Ondo State since December 2023, first as acting governor following Governor Rotimi Akeredolu's death, then winning a full term in the late-2024 election. He previously served as Deputy Governor from 2021.
History
Ondo State, the 'Sunshine State,' was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It holds 75 kilometres of unbroken Atlantic coastline, the longest in Nigeria. Its official 2006 census population was 3,460,877.
Natural Resources
Bitumen
Commercial-scale bitumen deposits in the Irele and Agadagba-Obon axes, under active extraction partnerships as of 2026.
Crude oil
An estimated 4 billion barrels of reserves, per the state government's own figures.
Tourism
Home to the Idanre Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, alongside Atlantic beaches and the Owo Museum.
- Idanre Hills (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Owo Museum
- Araromi Beach
Agriculture
Nigeria's largest cocoa producer, with Idanre LGA as the leading production hub, now backed by a dedicated Cocoa Processing Zone.
Cocoa
Investment
Holds an estimated 4 billion barrels of crude oil reserves. The Port of Ondo, a deep-sea port project in Ilaje LGA with an adjacent 2,771-hectare Free Trade Zone, anchors the state's 'Blue Economy' strategy to bypass congested Lagos ports.
Oil & gas · Cocoa & agro-processing · Ports & logistics · Bitumen mining
Infrastructure
Education
Federal University of Technology, Akure