Ondo State

Ondo State was created in 1976 from the former Western State and it originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was carved out in 1996 by late General Sanni Abacha. The state covered the total area of the former Ondo Province, created in 1915 with Akure as the provincial headquarters. Ondo State took off formally on 1st April 1976, consisting of the nine administrative divisions of the former Western State, which then were Akoko, Akure, Ekiti Central, Ekiti North, Ekiti South, Ekiti West, Okitipupa, Ondo and Owo.

The state is predominantly occupied by the Yorubas who speak various dialects of the language such as the Akoko, Akure, Apoi, Idanre, Ijaw, Ikale, Ilaje, Ondo and the Owo. Ondo State, which is indeed a microcosm of the Nigerian nation, is blessed with resourceful, industrious, and hospitable people. Her crop of educated elite has led to its being classified as one of the most educationally advanced states in Nigeria. With a population of 3,441,024 comprising 1,761,263 males and 1,679,761 females, the people of the state are mostly subsistence farmers, fishermen and traders.

The life patterns of the people represent an embodiment of culture, ranging from the local foodstuff to the mode of dressing, dancing, wood crafts, such as, carved house posts and decorated doors. The culture of the Ondo State people speaks volumes. Antiquities and artifacts are also preserved in palaces of traditional rulers some of which have been declared as National Monuments. Ondo State which has a land mass of about 14,788.723 Square Kilometres (km2) and it geographically lies entirely in the tropical belt. The state is bounded in the north by Ekiti and Kogi States; in the east by Edo State; in the west by Oyo and Ogun States, and in the south by the Atlantic Ocean.

Weather/Climate
The tropical climate of the state is broadly of two seasons which are the rainy season between April and October and dry season between November and March. A temperature throughout the year ranges between 21 °C to 29 °C and humidity is relatively high. The annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm in the southern areas to 1,150mm in the northern areas. The state enjoys luxuriant vegetation with high forest zone (rain forest) in the south and sub-savannah forest in the northern fringe.

There is a maze of numerous rivers, creeks, and lakes in and around Ondo State with very prominent rivers like Owena, ala, Oluwa, Oni, Awara, Ogbese and Ose. Generally, the land rises from the coastal part of Ilaje, Ese-Odo and Okitipupa areas to highlands and inselbergs to the northern parts of the state.

 

Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, or Rotimi Akeredolu, (born 21 July 1956) is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who is also the Governor of Ondo State,  Nigeria and also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who became president of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008.  Akeredolu was also a Managing Partner at the Law Firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu,  a Law Firm he co-founded with Chief Akin Olujinmi, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice in Nigeria. On 21/07/20 he was declared as the Ondo governorship primary election under the platform of APC

Ondo state government house

The Ondo State Government House is the official quarters of the executive members of the Ondo State Government. The government house is located in Alagbaka, a town in Akure, the capital of Ondo State southwestern Nigeria. The Ondo State government house serves as the Official home to the state governor or chief state executive of the state and their families. It is the official venue for events such as the state's executive council meetings, government conferences, swearing in of cabinet members and of course the Governor's official business. It can also be used as receptions and functions hosted by individuals; some arms of the state government also have offices at the state government house.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy,Agriculture and the chief products are cotton and tobacco from the north, cacao from the central part, and rubber and timber (teak and hardwoods) from the south and east; palm oil and kernels are cultivated for export throughout the state. Ondo is Nigeria's chief cocoa-producing state.

  • Bitumen
  • Kaolin
  • Gemstone
  • Gypsum
  • Feldspar
  • Granite
  • Clay
  • Glass-sand
  • Dimension stones
  • Coal
  • Bauxite
  • Oil
  • Natural Gas
  • Gold
  • Marbel
  • Lignite
  • Diorite
  • Cocoa

1. Mechanized Farming

Ondo state can boast of having one of the most fertile farming lands in Nigeria; hence farmers struggle less to cultivate their crops. There are several Agric plantations that you can start in Ondo state with the aid of tractors and other machines for farming. The truth is that, if you start your banana, plantain, or cocoa plantation in any part of Ondo state, you are sure of making good returns on your investment. Most food merchants travel to Ondo to buy their Agric produce and they transport it to other parts of the country.

2. Timber Merchant

Ondo state is one of the hotspots for timber merchants in Nigeria simply because they get varieties of trees that are suitable for furniture making, construction and paper making. So, if you are looking for a thriving and profitable business to start in Ondo state, then you should consider going into logging business. But before you launch this type of business, you must secure the required license from both the Federal government of Nigeria and the Ondo state government. You can visit any government office to make enquiries on how to secure the required license.

3. Day-care and School Business

Day-care and School business is yet another thriving business an entrepreneur can setup in Ondo state. There are loads of working-class parents who need the service of a day-care centre for their children. Hence, all you need to do is to ensure that you follow due process to get your school and day-care registered under the government, and also ensure that you locate the business in a place that people can locate easily.

4. Food Processing Business

There are several fruits and crops that are cultivated in Ondo state on a large scale hence the state is highly suitable for industries like Food Processing Plant. If you are interested in the food industry, then you should consider establishing your own food processing plant in Ondo state. Just ensure that you conduct your feasibility studies to be sure of the type of food to process.

5. Restaurant and Bar

Restaurant and bar are yet another viable and highly profitable business an entrepreneur can establish in Ondo state. If you have ever travelled by road via Lagos – Benin expressway, then you would realize how booming restaurant business is in Ondo state- especially in Ore. So, if you are interested in food business, then you can consider setting up your own standard restaurant and bar in Ore, Ondo state. No doubt you are going to make huge profits from this business especially if it is located in an area prone to vehicular traffic.

6. Motel Business

Motel business is one of the businesses that an entrepreneur can successfully start in Ondo state and recoup his or her money within the shortest time possible. Loads of travellers sometimes prefer to break their journey in Ondo and then continue the following day. Therefore, all you need is to build a motel along the areas where travellers can easily access, and you will have loads of customers.

7. Mobile Phones, Computers and Accessories Shop

Another easy to setup but yet highly profitable business to establish in Ondo state is mobile phones, computers and accessories shop. The market for this type of goods is large in Ondo state. The bottom line is that you must ensure that you choose a good location for your shop. You can as well add the sale of recharge cards of various telecommunication companies in Nigeria and their SIM card as well.

8. Auto Mechanic Workshop

Auto mechanic workshop is another highly thriving business an entrepreneur can establish in Ondo state. The truth is that loads of transporters and even private car owners ply Ondo state and sometimes they might need the service of a mechanic once their car breakdown. So, ensure that you position your auto mechanic workshop close to a major road and you won’t struggle to attract customers.

9. Petrol Filling Station

Although petrol filling station requires huge start-up capital, but the truth remains that it is one of the coolest ways to make money. If you have the financial capacity and you are looking towards starting a business in Ondo state, then you should consider starting your own petrol filling station.

10. Satellite TV Merchant

The Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) has announced that the country will be going on digital TV throughout the federation in 2015. One of the ways to position for this opportunity is to become a satellite TV merchant in Ondo state. All you need is to rent an office, and then negotiate with Satellite TV companies like Mulitchoice, StarTimes, DaarSat and Consat et al to be their agent in Ondo state.

  • Cassava processing plant
  • Completion of rural electrification of scheme in 32 communities in Ondo State
  • Construction of 13KV transmission line and 132/33KV Substation at Okitipupa, Ondo
  • Patching of potholes, pavement strengthening, repairs of failed sections and general maintenance works along Ore-Okitipupa Road