Why visit Ilaro
Townapedia lists 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro.
Weather in Ilaro
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Ilaro
Ilaro is a town in Ogun State, Nigeria. It was founded in the 18th century by Aro, a warrior who migrated from Oyo, and its name is derived from Ilu Aro, meaning the settlement of Aro.
From the Wikipedia article Ilaro (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Ilaro on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do1
Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro
School · 3.5 km
Public polytechnic in Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria
Churches and places of worship1
Gas and EV charging1
History
Ilaro was founded in the 18th century by the warrior Aro, who migrated from Oyo, Nigeria and settled in Igbo Aje, a small hill (situated where the centre of the town would later be). From there, he and his warriors could watch for enemies (mostly slave traders from the neighbouring Benin republic, known then as Dahomey. Ilaro took its name from Ilu Aro, meaning the settlement of Aro, which later became Ilaro for ease of pronunciation.
The people of Ilaro fought against people from Dahomey. Legend says that the warrior Orona sunk into the ground, leaving a chain that could be used to pull him back up if he is needed. The Orona Shrine was built where he was said to have rested. It is the location where the coronation of every new traditional ruler of the town is performed, and the Orona Ilaro Festival is celebrated annually in his honor.
During the Nigerian Civil War, Ilaro acted as the headquarters of the Egbado who fought on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These include General Olurin, Brigadier General Samuel Adegoriola Oniyide, Major Onifade and Major Ibikunle Armstrong.
From the History section of Ilaro on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Map of Ilaro
3 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Murtala Mohammed International Airport (LOS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 49 km away.
- Ifo 22 km east, about 22 min by car
- Ilogbo 25 km southeast, about 25 min by car
- River Atuwara 27 km southeast, about 27 min by car
- Agege 47 km southeast, about 47 min by car
- Abeokuta 47 km northeast, about 47 min by car
- Ikeja 49 km southeast, about 49 min by car
- Shomolu 56 km southeast, about 56 min by car
- Surulere 57 km southeast, about 57 min by car
- Lagos 64 km southeast, about 1 h by car
- Obalende 66 km southeast, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Abandoned, Ilaro ogun state, Asokeretope, CC BY-SA 4.0
- A aerial view of preserved vegetation separated from a settlement by a boundary line located in ilaro, ogun state, Ayorinde Ogundele, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Preserved and sustained natural landscape bordering a settlement in Ilaro, Ogun state, Ayorinde Ogundele, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Vast landscape of vegetation within the town of ilaro in Ogun State, Nigeria, Ayorinde Ogundele, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built November 3, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.