It has a total area of approximately 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres)[a] and is located between latitudes 7°16' and 7°18' N and longitudes 5°9' and 5°11' E.[4] Akure Ofosu is of great importance for the conservation of the chimpanzee population in Nigeria.

[7] The discussions from a workshop on the conservation of West African chimpanzees conducted in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire in September 2002 served as the foundation for that regional plan.

Chimpanzee populations in western Nigeria were poorly understood, considered to be seriously threatened, and in need of a conservation strategy.

In Akure Ofosu forest reserve, the woods serve as the source of raw materials for numerous industries, promote job creation, improve the quality of the environment, and greatly contribute to food production.

Current forestry management strategies that restrict accessibility to the preserves have been identified as a major driver of household poverty within the forest communities.