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Oyo State is a state located in southwestern Nigeria with a rich history as a center of Yoruba culture and civilization. It matters as an important economic and cultural region in Nigeria, known for its historical significance and contributions to the country's development.
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Oyo (Listen)(Yoruba: Ìpínlẹ̀ Ọ̀yọ́ [ìk͡pĩ́lɛ̀ ɔ̀jɔ́]) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Its capital is Ibadan, the third most populous city in the country and formerly the second most populous city in Africa. Oyo State is bordered to the north by Kwara State for 337 km, to the southeast by Osun State for 187 km, partly across the River Osun, and to the south by Ogun State, and to the west by the Republic of Benin for 98 km. With a projected population of 7,976,100 in 2022, Oyo State is the sixth most populous in Nigeria.
The vast majority of Oyo State residents are Yoruba. Nicknamed the "Pace Setter State", present-day Oyo State sits on territory formerly ruled by the Oyo Empire. The Oyo Empire was a powerful Yoruba empire that ruled much of Oyo state and by extension major parts of Yoruba lands from c. 1300 to 1896. Built in the 1830s, the modern city of Oyo "New Ọyọ" (Ọ̀yọ́ Àtìbà) is considered a remnant of the imperial Oyo era to distinguish itself from the former capital to the north, 'Old Oyo' (Ọ̀yọ́-Ilé). Although the medieval great Oyo empire collapsed in 1835, The Alaafin (owner and custodian of the palace) continues to serve a ceremonial role in the new city of Oyo in present Oyo state.