Ile-Ife is an ancient African City that can be found in the State of Osun in the Southwestern section of Nigeria with the coordinates at Latitudes 7°28′N and 7°45′N and longitudes 4°30′E and 4°34′E. The Time Zone is the West Africa Standard Time (GMT+1). Ile-Ife is considered as the cradle of the Yoruba race, no wonder it is situated right in the heart of Yorubaland making it less than two hours’ drive to at least about twenty urban centers in Osun, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti and Lagos States in the region. Vehicular use of road is the common means of transportation. The closest Airport to Ife are in Lagos, Ibadan and Akure
Known as the oldest Yoruba city, the history of Ile-Ife dates back to around 500 B.C. The city is renowned for its terracotta, stone and bronze artistic works archeologically dated to have been created between 700 A.D. up till about 1600 A.D. when the Ife Kingdom began to decline in leadership, as a military power and in wealth. At the end of the protracted Yoruba civil war (1877-1893) fortune smiled again on the city and it regained its prime position as the political and spiritual leader of the Yoruba race.
Ile-Ife City has a projected population of about 500,000. Education, Agricultural produce processing and merchandise, Wood processing, trading and service rendering are the basic pre-occupation of the people. The Ife Kingdom is comprised of adjourning urban, sub-urban and farm settlements that are essential to the economy of the city. There are large markets where various items can be procured.
Yoruba, English and Pidgin English (Nigerian Patois). Other Nigerian languages are spoken and translators for German, Portuguese and Spanish languages are available.
The city is in the Tropical Rain Forest zone where there are two distinct seasons, the Raining season (March to October) and the Dry season (October to March). The Raining season is often wet and temperate while the Dry season is somewhat warm. The midday temperature rarely surpass 35°C (95°F) but the nights are relatively cooler.
The Country telephone code is +234 and all Nigerian mobile networks are functional (MTN, GLO, 9Mobile and Airtel).
Several banks are available in Ile-Ife. Notably Fidelity Bank, Diamond Bank, Access Bank, GT Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank, Eco Bank, Stanbic-IBTC Bank, Polaris Bank and Union Bank. Master, VISA and Verve Debit Cards are acceptable. Naira is the Nigerian legal tender but all major international currencies are convertible locally with Banks and currency dealers