The capital was occupied by the Royal Niger Company in 1897 and its lands were incorporated into the British colony of Northern Nigeria in 1900, although the emirate continued to perform ceremonial functions.

Founded in the late 18th century by Yoruba people, it became the capital of a kingdom that was a vassal state of the Oyo empire.

Oyo’s commander at Ilorin, Kakanfo (Field Marshal) Afonja, led a rebellion in 1817 that destroyed the unity of the empire.

Afonja was double-crossed by the Fulani, and, upon his assassination, Alimi’s son, Abd al-Salam (Abdul Salami), became emir of Ilorin and pledged allegiance (c. 1829) to the Sokoto caliphate.

[20] Ilorin operates a relatively well-developed intra-city public transport system, and the major roads within the metropolis are well constructed.

Ilorin's central location makes it easily accessible to all parts of the country by air, road and rail.

The state has a good network of roads, rail and air transportation facilities linking it with Nigeria's other industrial and commercial centres.

Ilorin offers reliable road transport services to Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Kogi, Niger, Kaduna and Plateau States.

Ilorin is served by the railway and highway from Lagos (160 miles south-southwest), via Ibadan, which intersect in the city, and it has an international airport.

The city is a confluence of cultures, populated by the Yoruba, Fulani, Nupe, Bariba, Kanuri, Igbo and Hausa ethnicities across Nigeria, as well as foreign and nationals.

There are large Christian and Islamic populations, and many ceremonial activities, mostly with religious aspects, take place in the city throughout the year.

[24] The first Ilorin central mosque was founded in 1820 in the Agbarere Area, popularly known as "Ile-Elewa", under the leadership of Sheik Imam Muhammad Munab'bau.

On 30 April 1977, the foundation was laid for the new mosque by the Emir of Gwandu on behalf of the Sarki Musulmi, Sultan Abubakar III.

Planning for the rehabilitation, refurbishment and redecoration of the Central Mosque started in 2007 when Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu Gambari, CFR, the eleventh Emir of Ilorin, with assistance from Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Turaki of Ilorin, and the former Governor of Kwara State, set up a technical committee headed by Alhaji Shehu Abdul-gafar on the rehabilitation and enhancement of the central mosque.

The committee has invited expertise from specialists in mosque construction from around the world, especially from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Nigeria.

The city also has a range of tourist attractions such as the Sobi Hill which is said to have offered protection to natives during intertribal wars in ancient times.

They are located in the Dada area of Okelele, Eletu in Oju-Ekun, Okekura, Oloje, Abe Emi and Ita Merin.

In Ilorin City, on 18 September 2019, a flood caused by a heavy downpour ruined valuables worth millions of naira.

According to information obtained by The Nigerian Tribune, inhabitants of the state capital experienced great difficulty and losses as a result of the deluge, which began at 5:00pm and lasted until about 9:00pm.

Additionally, it was learned that many residents of the impacted buildings along Obbo and Unity roads in Ilorin remained inside until 19 September 2019 afternoon because they were unable to leave the water that had engulfed their structures.

The bins, stationed at designated points across the city, were full to the brim, thereby forcing residents to dump refuse by the roadside and walkways.

Health services include a number of government, private, and religious hospitals and a nursing home for the elderly.