Ondo

Ondo — also affectionately known as Ode Ondo — ranks as the second largest city in Nigeria’s Ondo State. Yoruba oral tradition traces its founding to around 1510, when Queen Pupupu, believed to be a daughter or granddaughter of the mythical Oduduwa, arrived in these forested lands after being exiled from the Oyo court for giving birth to twins. Settling with her entourage, she became the first monarch to bear the title of Osemawe in 1516, making Ondo one of the rare Yoruba kingdoms established by a female sovereign.

For centuries, Ondo functioned as a bustling agricultural and commercial hub in the region, trading in yams, cassava, cotton, tobacco, and later cocoa. The late 19th century brought British missionaries and colonial administrators, who established schools and churches and negotiated a trade treaty with the reigning Osemawe in 1889. This agreement linked Ondo to the Lagos protectorate, cementing its role as a key administrative and economic center in the southwestern hinterland.

Today, Ondo remains a vital center of learning, culture, and commerce. It hosts Adeyemi College of Education, Wesley University of Science and Technology, and the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration. The city is renowned for its Aso Oke weaving tradition and serves as a major cocoa-producing and trading post. With its steadily growing population and blend of deep-rooted Yoruba heritage with modern development, Ondo continues to hold a distinctive place among Nigeria’s historic cities.