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Akure

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Akure is a large, busy city in south-western Nigeria.

Welcome to Akure, Ondo State
Welcome to Akure, Ondo State

It serves as the capital of Ondo State. The city is located in a tropical rainforest zone. This means the land is often warm and wet. Many people live in Akure. A census in 2006 counted 403,000 people. Today, an estimate says there are 774,000 people living there. The city sits north of Lagos State and southwest of Abuja.

History in this region goes back a very long time. Scientists found the oldest Homo sapiens fossil in West Africa near Akure. This fossil is about 11,000 years old. Rock engravings from even older times have also been found nearby. The Akure Kingdom is one of sixteen ancient Ekiti kingdoms. Oral stories say a person named Alakure founded the area. Later, a man named Omoremilekun Asodeboyede established the modern kingdom. He was a descendant of a leader named Oduduwa from Ile-Ife.

The king of Akure is called the Deji. His palace sits right in the center of the town. The old palace was built way back in 1150 AD.

This palace is a national monument. It has over 16 courtyards, which are large open areas. Each courtyard has a special job. One is for naming ceremonies. Another is for the town hall. Some are for religious ceremonies or for priests to meet. The Oba's Market, or Oja Oba, is very close to the palace.

Akure is a place where many things are grown. It is a trading center for a big farming region. Farmers grow cocoa, yam, cassava, and maize. They also grow tobacco and cotton. Cotton is used to weave cloth. People eat grains like rice, beans, and millet for energy. The weather helps these plants grow. The average temperature is 25.8 °C. It has a wet season and a dry season. September is usually the wettest month.

Life in the city includes many different activities. There are many schools for children and big universities for students. People also enjoy sports. Akure has a stadium that can hold 16,000 people. A local football team called the Sunshine Stars plays there.

Flag of Nigeria
Flag of Nigeria

The city is also a place of many faiths. Most people follow Christianity, Islam, or traditional Yoruba religion. People live together peacefully in the city. There are even many radio and television stations to share news and music.

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🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:Flag of Nigeria.svg
Flag of Nigeria.svg
File:Welcome to Akure, Ondo State.jpg
Welcome to Akure, Ondo State.jpg
Short oral history of Akure in Akure...
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