Traditionally, the predominant occupation of the people of Ede is agriculture. Okro (ila), cassava, maize and yam are major agricultural produce that the people produced.

This is evident in the number of market centers that dotted Ede today. Oja Timi: Typical of most local markets across Yorubaland, Oja Timi as the name implies is located beside the palace of the Timi of Ede. This is a very large market that serves the various needs of locals and visitors alike. Oja Timi is an everyday market where various consumable and non-consumable goods are traded. It has for a very long time been a space for commercial activities and continues to grow in terms of popularity and visits. Though stalls have been erected around the market for easy storage and transaction of businesses, many traders prefer to place their wares along the road which often cause severe human and traffic gridlock. Oja Timi represents the symbol of Ede’s commercial history and holds a very symbolic and important place in the history of Ede.

Another notable market is Oje Alaso: The market operates every 17 days and serves as a hub for large scale trade in local fabrics. Though situated in Ede, the market is home to different ethnic groups who come from as far as the North and Eastern parts of the country. Others are Oja Sekona: One of the fastest growing communities in Ede today is Sekona. Established in the 1930s, Sekona is now the headquarters of Ede-East Local Council Development Area. It is located at the intersections of Ife and Lagos-Ibadan Express Road. This strategic location has contributed in no small measure to the thriving commercial activities of the community. Basically, the major occupation of the people is agriculture. Thus, Sekona becomes a strategic commercial centre for other surrounding communities. Today, Sekona Market is one of the leading markets in Ede, notable for cash and food crops, fruits and other farm products which are always available at  reasonable prices. It is a periodic market that attracts assemblage of market men and women from far and near . Oja Owode: As one of the sprawling local markets in Ede located along the Owode-Osogbo road, the Owode market comes up every five days of the week which witnesses large turnout of people from near and adjoining villages and towns in Osun State. It is not a very large market but it provides all kinds of commercial and personal needs of the people. The market brings together people from different ethnic groups who sell items such as vegetables, perishable fruits, yams, cereals, yam flour, and kitchenware’s among others. Both sides of the road are often occupied by market women and men while makeshift stalls/stores also line up the road. Oja Owode often generates massive gridlocks as a result of roadside sellers. Oje Olobi (Kolanuts Market): Oje Olobi is a periodic market of five days interval. Its name is derived from its major commodity, Obi (Kolanuts). Located along the station road, the market today has expanded from its initial spot, Total Filling Station to include, Elerin, Sabo, Amunifosun, Idi Ose, Old Bank among others. Basically, for food items, indeed, the market has developed to include other market commodities of all sorts. Oje Olobi receives beehive of market men and women from across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

Cocoa Processing Industry, Ede

Cocoa is one of the notable cash crops commonly produce in Ede and its environs. This facilitated the establishment of cocoa processing industry in the early 1980s. indeed, it is one of the notable infrastructural facilities in Ede that also contributed to economic activities of the people. Located at Erinle Water Corporation, this multi-million-naira company was commissioned on October 17, 1982. At inception, the industry was headed by an expatriate, Mr. K.W. Sheldon. It was the modest efforts of Sheldon that enabled the firm footing of the company. Meanwhile, the company encountered rough times among its management teams which led to the legal battle between two prominent legal icons. Interestingly, it was under the leadership of the first Executive Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke that sanity was restored when the Worldwide Industrial Ventures Limited took over the management of the company.

In spite of the efforts of the government to put a lasting solution to the legal dispute, Delami Nigerian Limited once again returned to court but the issue was eventually settled during the administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. It will interest you to note that at inception, the company was the largest of its kind in the entire West Africa. It produces several kinds of beverages and these products were well circulated. Unexpectedly, this company would thereafter witness another crisis and this lingered on for many years afterwards. Sadly, the continued challenges facing the company drastically affected the revenue generation of the state and individuals working with the company. A number of workers were laid off.

This once moribund industry is today back to life. The credit for this resuscitation goes to the Aregbesola administration. One remarkable development about the CPI is that it is now headed by a renowned entrepreneur, Sir Adewale Adeeyo. Under the leadership of Adewale Adeeyo, the company has secured a favorable agreement with a giant Chinese Company, Golden Monkey to bring about the repositioning of the company to its pride of place. Indeed, the company has repaid the people of Osun State in good faith, the confidence repose in it. It is to the glory of the leadership of Rauf Aregbesola, Sir Adewale Adeeyo and Golden Monkey that the management of Cocoa Processing Industry, Ede has roared back to life and now functioning. The resuscitation of the company has opened another vista of opportunities for cocoa farmers in the state and beyond.

In recent time, investments in education, hospitality and culture have created a shift in the economic potential of Ede. The establishment of institutions of higher learning – Adeleke University, Redeemer’s University, Federal Polytechnics, Ilori College of Education and the booming private nursery, primary and secondary schools are huge economic potentials for investors. In addition to this, are transformation of formal villages – Owode, Sekona, Loogun, Ologobi, Alajue among others into new settlements in response to the rapid urbanization that is taking place in Ede. Afin Ilu (Palace of Drums), a cultural center under the leadership of Prince Adewale Laoye has also created economic opportunities in the cultural sector. Today, visitors across the world find delight at Afin Ilu as they are exposed to world of drums, entertainments and the significance of indigenous knowledge.