AKURE

town, capital of Ondo state, southwestern Nigeria. It lies in the southern part of the forested Yoruba Hills and at the intersection of roads from Ondo, Ilesha, Ado-Ekiti, and Owo. Akure is an agricultural trade centre for the yams, cassava, corn (maize), bananas, rice, palm oil and kernels, okra, and pumpkins grown by the Ondo branch of the Yoruba people. Although cocoa is by far the most important local commercial crop, cotton, teak, and palm produce are also cultivated for export. The town's industries include electronics manufacturing, soft drink bottling, weaving, and pottery making. Akure is the site of a federal university of technology (founded in 1981). Pop. (1993 est.) 150,500.