This is a list of notable Yoruba people.
Politics and administration
Politics
- Abayomi Kinyomi (1992–1993), Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Third Republic
- Adebayo Salami (1951–2021), Senator, chieftain of All Progressives Congress
- Adekunle Fajuyi (1926–1966), first military governor of Western Region, Nigeria
- Adeyemo Alakija (1884–1952), lawyer, politician, businessman, president of Egbe Omo Oduduwa
- Akinwunmi Ambode (b. 1963), Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria from 2015 to 2019
- Ayodele Fayose (b. 1960), Governor of Ekiti State
- Babajide Sanwo-Olu (b. 1965), Governor of Lagos State from 2019
- Babalola Borisade (1946–2017), Federal Minister of Nigeria
- Babatunde Fashola (b. 1963), lawyer and politician, former Governor of Lagos State
- Benjamin Adekunle (1936–2014), Nigerian Army Brigadier
- Bola Ige (1930–2001), lawyer and politician
- Bola Tinubu (b. 1952), national leader of All Progressives Congress
- Bukola Saraki (b. 1962), 13th President of the Senate of Nigeria
- Christopher Omoworare Babajide (b. 1968), Nigerian politician
- Desmond Elliot (b. 1974), Nigerian actor, director and politician
- Dolapo Osinbajo
- Dipo Dina (1960–2010), politician, philanthropist, administrator
- Ernest Shonekan (1936-2022), Nigerian lawyer and statesman
- Femi Fani-Kayode (b. 1960), Nigerian politician, essayist, poet and lawyer
- Femi Gbaja Biamila (b. 1962), Nigerian lawyer
- Femi Hamzat (b. 1964), Nigerian politician
- Folorunsho Coker (b 1965) Nigerian politician
- Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi (b. 1952), Nigerian senator and retired custom officer
- Frederick Fasehun (1935–2018), Nigerian medical doctor, hotel owner and politician
- Funsho Williams (1948–2006), politician from Lagos State
- Gbenga Daniel (b. 1956), Nigerian politician, Governor of Ogun State from 2003 to 2011
- Gboyega Oyetola (b. 1954), 9th Governor of Osun State
- Herbert Macaulay (1864–1946), Nigerian nationalist, politician, surveyor, engineer, architect, journalist and musician
- Ibikunle Amosun (b. 1958), Nigerian politician, Governor of Ogun State from 2011 to 2019
- Joseph Fadahunsi
- Kayode Fayemi (b. 1935), Nigerian politician, Governor of Ekiti State
- Kofo Abayomi (1896–1979), Nigerian ophthalmologist and politician
- Lawan Gwadabe (b. 1949), Military Administrator of Niger State from 1987 to 1992
- Lola Young
- M.K.O. Abiola
- Mudashiru Obasa
- Nicolas Grunitzky
- Oladipo Diya
- Obafemi Awolowo
- Olu Falae
- Oluremi Tinubu
- Olusegun Aganga
- Olusegun Mimiko
- Olusegun Obasanjo
- Olusegun Oni
- Yemi Osinbajo
- Oyinkansola Abayomi
- Rauf Aregbesola
- Rotimi Akeredolu
- Samuel Akintola
- Seyi Makinde
- Thomas Boni Yayi
- Alhaji Abdul Azeez Kolawole Adeyemo
- Tunde Idiagbon
- Bode Thomas
- Rotimi Akeredolu
- Olusegun Mimiko
- Victor Adebowale (b. 1962), People's peer, current chair of the NHS Confederation
- Yemi Osinbajo (b. 1957), Nigerian lawyer and politician, Vice-President of Nigeria since 2015
Robert Adeyinka Adebayo officer of the Nigerian Army(Governor of Western Region)
Adeniyi Adebayo(Politician and first Governor of Ekiti State,Minister of the federal Republic of Nigeria)
Administration
Aristocrats
Monarchs
- Abdul-Lateef Adeniran Akanni Ojikutujoye I (b. 1958), Olofin Adimula of Ado-Odo
- Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida Afunbiowo II (1950–2013), traditional ruler of the Akure Kingdom
- Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III (b. 1943), Alake of Egbaland
- Adeniji Adele (1893–1964), Oba of Lagos
- Adesoji Aderemi (1889–1980), Ooni of Ife
- Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (b. 1974), Ooni of Ile-Ife
- Adeyinka Oyekan (1911–2003), second Christian Oba of Lagos
- Ajaka, Oyo Emperor
- Ajimudaoro Aladesanmi I (r. 1886–1910), Ewi of Ado Ekiti
- Daniel Aladesanmi II (1902–1983), Ewi of Ado Ekiti
- Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III (1941–2019)
- Fredrick Kumokun Adedeji Haastrup (1820–1901), Oba Obokun of Ilesa, first Christian Oba of Yorubaland
- Ladapo Ademola (1872–1962), Alake of Abeokuta
- Lamidi Adeyemi (b. 1938–2022), Alaafin of Oyo
- Moremi Ajasoro (12th century), legendary queen and folk heroine of the Yoruba people
- Oba, Orisha of the river Oba
- Oduduwa, divine king, according to tradition, first Ooni of Ife (r. c. 1100 AD), ancestor of many dynasties
- Olagbegi Atanneye I (r. 1913–1938), paramaunt ruler of Owo Kingdom
- Olagbegi Atanneye II
- Olateru Olagbegi I (r. 1913–1938)
- Olateru Olagbegi II (1910–1998)
- Olubuse II (1930–2015), traditional ruler of Ife
- Oranyan, legendary founder of Oyo
- Orompoto (16th century), female Alaafin of Oyo
- Oshun
- Osupa
- Oya
- Oyekan I
- Rilwan Akiolu
- Rufus Aladesanmi III
- Samuel Akinsanya
- Shango
- Sikiru Kayode Adetona (b. 1934), Awujale of the Ijebu Kingdom
Chiefs and princes
*
Abibatu Mogaji (1916–2013), business magnate
- Abiola Dosunmu
- Adeniran Ogunsanya
- Afe Babalola
- Bisoye Tejuoso
- Christopher Sapara Williams
- Efunroye Tinubu
- Efunsetan Aniwura (c. 1820s - 1874), second Iyalode of Ibadan, slavetrader
- G.B.A. Coker, (1917-1991), Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
- Gaha (fl. 18 century), leader of the military in the Oyo Empire
- Gani Adams (b. 1970), activist, politician and the 15th Aare Ono Kakanfo of Yorubaland
- Henry Fajemirokun, (1926-1978), trade unionist, industrialist and philanthropist
- H.O. Davies (1905-1989), lawyer, journalist, trade unionist, thought leader and politician
- John Otunba Payne (1839–1906), Nigerian sheriff, administrator and diarist
- MKO Abiola
- Moses Majekodunmi
- Oluyole
- Oguntola Sapara
- Richard Akinjide
- Roseline Osipitan
- Sara Forbes Bonetta
- Sunday Igboho
- Tejumade Alakija
- T.O.S. Benson
- Yemi Elebuibon
- Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon
Religion
Christianity
Anglican
Catholic
Pentecostal
Other
Islam
Yoruba Religion
