By religion, Ondo State people are mostly Christians (present day) while a sizable number of Muslims can be found in Ikare, and other parts of the state. The state however does not boast of the number of Muslims that can be found in places like Oyo State and Osun. There are also traditional worshipers who are the custodians and devotees of the various deities of the Yoruba religion, chief of which are Ogun (god of Iron) Ifa oracle, Sango (the god thunder), Esu (Devil) Osanyin, Olofin, Egungun (like Onibobo above – egunguns are believed to be the spirit of dead parents, especially males) and Orisa-nla (the supreme god). The Yorubas of Ondo state has strong belief in the supreme god, which they call OLODUMARE. They believe Olodumare is superior to other deities and cannot be worshiped directly. Hence, the Yoruba of Ondo state like other Yorubas worship Olodumare through other lesser gods earlier stated (as hinted, this has gradually given way to Christianity and the people today believe that JEHOVAH or El Shadai, the God of the Christians is the same as the OLODUMARE.

 The Yoruba religion is tied to fecundity, major festivals being related to agricultural productivity and the mortification wrought in the environment through religion.

TABOOS

The people also believe in taboos or a set of rules on issues/actions that were considered forbidden. In modern times, it is gradually being discovered that a lot of taboos were actually meant to preserve order and ethics in the society while some were meant to promote good hygiene etc. In fact, some taboos seem to have nothing to do with the occult. A very interesting taboo is that which forbid pregnant women from going out at odd hours. Aside any spiritual significance, it can be argued today that the elders formulated this to prevent young husbands from overstretching their wives so that the later could have the needed rest – more so that the prescribed odd hours included nights and afternoons! So, you’d got to let her off the tedious farm works.

Ondo is a state in Nigeria.

Official Name
Ondo State of Nigeria

Appellation
Sunshine State

Date of Creation
February, 1976

State Capital
Akure

Festivals
Ogun, Olokun, Igogo, Egungan, Ajagbo, Orosun, Arigiya, Boat Regatta and Mare.

Population
3,460,877 comprising 1,745.057 Male and 1,715,820 female(as at 2006)

Languages
Yoruba, Ijaw and English (Official Language) and several dialects of the sub-groups.

People
The indigenes are predominantly Yoruba namely: the Akoko, Akure, Apoi, Idanre, Ijaw, Ikale, Ilaje, Ondo and the Owo. Ondo crop of educated elites has led to its being classified as one of the most educationally advanced states in Nigeria. The people are mostly subsistence farmers, fishermen and traders.

The life pattern of the people represents an embodiment of culture, ranging from the local foodstuff to the mode of dressing, dancing, wood crafts, such as carved house post and decorated doors. The Culture of Ondo State people speaks volume. Antiquities and artifacts are also preserved in palaces of traditional rulers some of which have been declared as National Monuments.

Location
The state lies between longitudes 4″30″ and 6″ East of the Greenwich Meridian, 5″45″ and 8″ 15″ North of the Equator. This means that the state lies entirely in the tropics.

18 Local Government Areas
Ondo State, made up of 18 Local Government Areas is located in the South Western Zone of Nigeria.

Boundaries
Ondo state is bounded in the North by Ekiti/Kogi State; in the East by Edo State; in the West by Oyo and Ogun States and in the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

Land Area:
14,788.723 square kilometers.

Vegetation
The state enjoys generally, luxuriant vegetation. A high forest zone (or rain forest) is found in the south, while the northern fringesis mostly sub- savannah forest.

Climate
The climate is tropical with two distinct seasons viz the rainy season (April-October) and the Dry season (November-March). The temperature through out the year ranges from 21C-29C while humidity is relatively high. The annual rain fall varies from 2.000mm in the southern parts to 1150mm in the northern areas. The rainfall decreases in amount and distribution from the coast to the hinterland.

Natural resources
Extensive fertile soil suitable for agriculture with sub- savannah forest suitable for cattle gazing in the Northern fringes. Vast forest resources, variety of timber species e.g Teak, Gmelina, Masionia e.t.c. Ondo State is the largest producer of Cocoa in Nigeria. Other cash crops grown in the state include rubber, cashew, kolanut, palm oil etc.

Mineral resources
Oil and Gas; Ondo State produces 12% of Nigeria’s total output, other mineral resources found in the state are quartz sand, clay, granite, limestone talc, kaoline, coal, columbite, rock, tin, bitumen. ( the second largest deposit in the world ) many rivers, ocean fronts, and the longest coast line in Nigeria.

Tourism sites
Idanre hill tourism centre at idanre Mountain Climbing and cultural festival (Mare) that holds every December in idanre. Ebomi lake at Ipesi in Akoko South East Local Government Area, coast creeks and canals, Igb Olodumare at Oke igbo, iho-Eleeru (cave of ashes) at Isarun in Ifedore Local Government Area

System of government
Constitutional democracy in a Federal Republic with elected Executive and Legislature and an Independent Judiciary.