Oyo usually referred to as Oyo State to distinguish it from the city of Oyo, is an inland 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, to the east by Osun State, and to the southwest by Ogun State and the Republic of Benin. With a projected population of 7,840,864 in 2016, Oyo State is the fifth most populous in Nigeria.
The vast majority of Oyo State residents are Yoruba, and the Yoruba language remains dominant. Nicknamed the “Pace Setter State”, present-day Oyo State sits on territory formerly ruled by various kingdoms and empires.