Ilorin, Nigeria
Ilorin is a regional capital of 1,080,000 people in Kwara State, Nigeria, founded in 18.
Why visit Ilorin
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 91 parks and trails, 34 places to eat, 37 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Kwara State Polytechnic, University of Ilorin, UNILORIN Zoo and Kwara State Stadium.
Weather in Ilorin
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Ilorin
Ilorin () is the capital city of Kwara State located in the Western region of Nigeria. Although Ilorin is classified under the North-Central geopolitical zone, the city is considered a Yoruba city by all historical and sociological standards. As of the 2006 census, it had a population of 777,667, making it the 7th largest city by population in Nigeria.
From the Wikipedia article Ilorin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Ilorin on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do4
University of Ilorin
School · 14.3 km
Federal university in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Museums and landmarks2
Emir of Ilorin’s Palace, Surulere Road, Ilorin, Nigeria
Monument and historic site · 0.9 km
Parks, trails and playgrounds91
Igbesi Street, Ogooluwa Area, Tanke
Park · 4.9 km
6, behind abdulsalam street off F five
6 Igbesi, Ilorin
6, Igbesi Street,off f Division, Tanke
Park · 8.1 km
6 Igbesi Street Off f Division, Ilorin
Ajar Street Junction
Park · 7.5 km
Ajar Street Junction Along Ogo Oluwa Baptist Church, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Maraba, Muritala Muhammed road
Park · 2.9 km
Murtala Muhammad Road, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
79 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes34
Elite Tranquit Hotel
Bar and pub · 3.9 km
Offa Road, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Chicken Republic - GRA, Ilorin, Umaru Audi Road, Oko Erin, Nigeria
Restaurant · 5.3 km
Chicken Republic - MM Way, Ilorin, Muritala Muhamed Way, Oko Erin, Nigeria
Restaurant · 5.0 km
FRIENDS EATERY, Muritala Muhamed Way, Oko Erin 240101, Kwara, Nigeria
Restaurant · 5.6 km
22 more on the map.
History
Ilorin was founded by the Yoruba, one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, in the late 18th century. It became a provincial military settlement within the Oyo Empire until 1817, when the local Kakanfo (field marshal) named Afonja rebelled, supported by the Fulani Shehu Alimi, an itinerant Islamic preacher and teacher. Their alliance eventually broke down over the promise made by Afonja to Shehu Alimi during his quest to overtake the Oyo Empire and make Shehu Alimi the overseer of the Ilorin territory. However, Alimi's son Abd al-Salam eventually became the first ruler after the Demise of Afonja and Shehu Alimi and pledged allegiance to the Sokoto Caliphate in 1823. The Oyo Empire and its Borgawa allies marched against Ilorin circa 1835, trying to reclaim its former glory, but were decisively defeated; this marked the end of Oyo. Abd al-Salam led the jihad toward the sea but was ultimately stopped at Oshogbo in 1840 by the army of Ibadan.
Throughout the 19th century, Ilorin served as a major trade node between the Hausa/Fulani and the Yoruba. It strongly resisted British rule, but was occupied by the Royal Niger Company in 1897 and its lands were incorporated into the British Northern Nigeria Protectorate in 1900. With the subdivision of the country’s administrative regions in 1967, Ilorin became part of West Central (later Kwara) state.
From the History section of Ilorin on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay37
ADAP HOTEL SUITES, Otin Close, Agbabiaka Road, Oko Erin, Nigeria
Motel and hotel · 6.2 km
Agbonna Logde & Suit. Adewole, Ilorin Kwara State. Nigeria
Motel and hotel · 3.2 km
Big Stuff Guest House, oloje street, Basin Area, off Taoheed road, Oko Erin, Nigeria
Motel and hotel · 7.6 km
Blue Bubbles Guest House, off Ganmo Area, Ganmo, Nigeria
Motel and hotel · 10.8 km
Churches and places of worship47
Ahmadiyya Mosque, Akérébìátá Ilorin, kwara state., Onituwo street, off okiki model school, behind U-Sanda filling station, Oko Erin, Nigeria
Place of worship · 2.9 km
Akorede mosque, Tanke Primary school, Ilorin, Tanke Road, Oko Erin, Nigeria
Place of worship · 7.0 km
Atiku-Olohunsogo Mosque, Atiku Abubakar Rd, Oko Erin, Nigeria
Place of worship · 4.0 km
Shopping20
Ipata Oloje Old Spare Part Market, Anifowoshe Street, Ilorin, Nigeria
Shop · 3.0 km
Challenge shopping complex, Muritala Muhamed Way, Oko Erin, Nigeria
Grocery · 2.8 km
Emirate Mall Ilorin, Airforce base street, off Lagos-Ogbomosho road, Ilorin, Nigeria
Shopping center · 6.6 km
Gas and EV charging16
38 Emirs Rd, adjacent Total Filling Station, Post Office, Oko Erin 240103, Kwara, Nigeria
Gas station · 2.4 km
Along Harmony, GHC7+2JH, behind Toplad Filling Station, Oko Erin 240101, Kwara, Nigeria
Gas station · 3.5 km
Best life fuelling station, Osin olatunji, Asa-Dam Road, Ilorin, Nigeria
Gas station · 7.5 km
Habeeb Global Oil Ventures, Along Jebba Road, Sango, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Gas station · 4.9 km
Schools, colleges and libraries57
Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Nigeria., Al Hikmah University, Adeta Road, Ilorin, Nigeria
School · 4.3 km
Balogun Nursery & Primary School Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Ilorin, Nigeria
School · 1.8 km
Healthcare29
Anchormed Hospital, Tanke Tipper Garage, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Hospital · 6.7 km
Aromokeye Pharmacy, Muritala Muhamed Way, Oko Erin, Nigeria
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.5 km
Crescent Gc Hospital, Olufunmilayo Street, Tanke, Ilorin, Kwara, Nigeria
Hospital · 7.6 km
FIOLU PHARMACY LTD Pharm Awotuyi G127, Isale, Gambari Rd, Oko Erin 240101, Kwara, Nigeria
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.5 km
Fiolu Pharmacy Ltd, Gambari Road, Oko Erin, Nigeria
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.5 km
Gbagba Alagbado Behind Sobi Specialist Hospital, Illorin, Nigeria
Hospital · 3.8 km
Map of Ilorin
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ilorin International Airport (ILR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 8 km away.
- Alapa 22 km northwest, about 22 min by car
- Ajasse Ipo 42 km southeast, about 42 min by car
- Offa 43 km southeast, about 43 min by car
- Ogbomoso 52 km southwest, about 52 min by car
- Igbeti 53 km northwest, about 53 min by car
- Oyan 55 km southeast, about 55 min by car
- Bode Saadu 56 km northeast, about 56 min by car
- Ila Orangun 67 km southeast, about 1 h by car
- Ikirun 66 km south, about 1 h by car
- Ejigbo 71 km south, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
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
- Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin6, Jamie Tubers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- A view of the Ilorin Centre Mosque, Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ilorin Centre Mosque, Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- KOFAR SHEIK ABDULSALAM I - ONE OF THE ENTRANCE INTO ILORIN'S PALACE, Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Entrance to Ilorin Emir's Palace, Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ilorin Ancient Mosque, Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Emir Palace Ilorin Entrance, MubarakahSidiq, CC0
- Ilorin Central Mosque 2 Oja Oba, MubarakahSidiq, CC0
- Ilorin Central Mosque Oja Oba, MubarakahSidiq, CC0
- Tambari Drum of the Ilorin Emirate, Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The surface of the Tambari Drum of the Ilorin Emirate, Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dogarai Sarkin Ilorin (Emir of Ilorin security's outfits), Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ilorin Emirate Administrative Hierarchy, MubarakahSidiq, CC0
- District in Ilorin Emirate, MubarakahSidiq, CC0
- Ilorin Emirate Royal Seat (Covered in the absence of the emir), Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ilorin image, Banji Ayodabo, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chapel of the Light, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria 02, Liberty22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Picture of someone on bridge walk at UNILORIN Zoo 01, James Moore200, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ALHIKMAH UNIVERSITY, Micheal Oluwaseun Fatade, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kwara state stadium entrance, Major Lyte, CC BY-SA 4.0
- مسجد الأكبر فى ولاية إلورن, Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Centre Mosque, Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ANCHoR Project 2025 IMG 046, Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Emit Palace Mosque, MubarakahSidiq, CC0
- Taba (A square in front of the Emir palace), MubarakahSidiq, CC0
- Shaykh Alimi ablution spot, Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Emir Ablution spot, MubarakahSidiq, CC0
- Frame from Emir Palace premises, MubarakahSidiq, CC0
- Emir Palace Tefsir Mosque 2, MubarakahSidiq, CC0
- Emir Palace seating spot, MubarakahSidiq, CC0
- ANCHoR Project 2025 IMG 045, Albakry028, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Young female potter, Tosin1234, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ipata Street, Ayyuha Sideeq, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ipata market street, Ayyuha Sideeq, CC BY-SA 4.0
- A trader at Ipata market selling Groundnut oil, Pmanofficial, CC BY-SA 4.0
- A trader at Ipata Market selling Kulikuli, Pmanofficial, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ipata market Gate, Ayyuha Sideeq, CC BY-SA 4.0
- A market woman selling garri at Ipata market, Ee nn yy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- A hawker at Ipata market, Ee nn yy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gains and food stuff seller, Ayyuha Sideeq, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built November 3, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.