Osogbo is the capital of Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria. It is some 88 kilometers by road Northeast of Ibadan. It is also 100 kilometers by road South of Ilorin and 115 kilometers Northwest of Akure.

It is situated on Latitude 9.7°N and on Longitude 4.5°E. Osogbo city seats the Headquarters of both Osogbo Local Government Area (Osogbo South) and Olorunda Local Government Area (Osogbo North).

Osogbo is situated on a raised land which is well over 500 meters (800 feet) above the sea-level and is drained by the Osun River and its tributaries. The climate is less humid although the effects of the harmattan winds are strongly felt in the dry season.

Geologically the land is made up of Precambrian rocks, the so-called basement complex from which the fairly fertile clayey loam of the surrounding district is derived.

Farming is the traditional and major occupation of the people of Osogbo. The locals grow various food crops including yam, maize, vegetables, fruits etc. Poultry farming and fish farming are also undertaken. They also grow some cash crops like cocoa and kolanuts.

Osogbo became a commercial town with the arrival of railway in 1907 which brought the colonial government of then to the threshold of the town. Osogbo is now a highly commercial town. The busiest and most commercial parts of the town are Ayetoro area, Ajegunle area and the area along and around the Station Road. The commercial activities, which are enhanced by the provision of infra-structural facilities, include trading in building materials, vehicles, cloths, plastic-wares and metal-wares etc.

Apart from the above-mentioned major businesses, Osogbo people are famed for their commercial activities in handmade, traditional woven cloth "Aso Oke" and Batiks, same with cloth-dyeing, embroidery, pottery, goldsmithing. In addition Osogbo people are renowned, worldwide, for their unique creations of art works of different cadre; Painting, Carving, Bead-works, Sacred artworks and even performing arts. Need to say this ever-increasing fame in contemporary African arts has shot Osogbo to a prominent spot in the world map -as far as Arts and Antiques collections is concerned.

Osogbo had been made an industrial center by both the Federal Government and Oyo State Government even before Osun State was created with Osogbo as the State Capital. A number of big industries have been established in Osogbo. They are the Nigeria Machine Tools, the Osogbo Steel Rolling Company and the Industrial Development Center. Others include Wire and Nails Industry, Printing Presses, Garment Industry, Sanitary Pad and allied products and a Canning factory.

There are many voluntary agencies and private individuals actively involved in providing qualitative elementary and post-elementary education in Osogbo. There are about a total of 30 Secondary / Post-elementary Schools in Osogbo. Among these are; Osogbo Grammar School (which is the oldest in Osun Division), Saint Charles' Grammar School and Fakunle Comprehensive High School etc. There is also a Government Technical College, a school of Nursing and Midwifery, a teaching hospital of the jointly-owned (Osun state with Oyo State) Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital. Plans are underway to found a City University to further complement the already existing higher institutions in the neighboring cities and to satisfy the ever-increasing yearning of the indigenous Osogbo people for a competitive and quality higher education.

Apart from the State Hospital which also serve as a teaching hospital for the Osun & Oyo states jointly owned Ladoke Akintola University in Osogbo there are numerous private hospitals, clinics, dispensaries and chemists shops, prominent among them are Fasina Memorial Hospital, Oyawoye Hospital, Biket Hospital, Oroki Hospital and a handful chains of certified Pharmacies like the Boorepo Chemists, Oroki Chemists, Akinola Chemist etc.

Osogbo is an important Railway Station. The establishment of the Railway Station is perhaps the most important single factor in the tremendous developments of Osogbo. Apart from the railway there are postal services and telecommunication services. There are facilities for quality potable water.

Osogbo city also has an Airdrome in which a long term plan is underway to transform into a full fledge commercial airport for the use of people willing to fly straight into Osogbo.

There are over thirty Banks of different banking interests and desiginations located in Osogbo. These also play a big role in the financial life of the city from simple individual mortgage to big real estate finance and small business initiatives.