Capital of Ekiti State — Ado-Ekiti

The Ekiti people are a distinct subgroup of the Yoruba nation, occupying the highland interior of what is today southwestern Nigeria. Their name derives from the Yoruba word "Okiti" meaning hills or hillocks, a direct reference to the granite inselbergs and undulating terrain that characterise their homeland. Ekiti people trace their origins to Oduduwa, the mythological progenitor of the Yoruba, a

First governor: Brigadier Oluwole Rotimi (as military administrator)

Read full Ekiti State history →

The economy of Ekiti State is mainly driven by agriculture, education, and small-scale trade. Key agricultural products include cocoa, yam, cassava, and rice. The state also benefits significantly from its large student and academic population.

As capital, Ado-Ekiti concentrates civil service employment and administrative services that support the wider Ekiti economy.

Ado-Ekiti is the political and administrative centre of Ekiti State in Nigeria’s South West zone. Government House, the State House of Assembly and core ministries are based here.

Ekiti State, known as “Fountain of Knowledge”, relies on Ado-Ekiti as its primary seat of government.

For census totals, growth rates and LGA breakdowns, use the dedicated Ekiti population page — this capital page focuses on the seat of government, not state-wide demographics.