Experiencing Ibadan and Abeokuta

Visiting Ibadan was a very spontaneous decision. First stop was the Cultural Center in Mokola,  designed by Demas Nwoko, a brilliant architect and artist.  Though mostly deserted and out of use, the cultural center has an interesting structural appeal complimented with an old shade of baby pink on some walls, abstract art and beautiful wall sculptures. We took a short walk around, seeing old ticket offices, faded movie posters and a great space not being put to good use.

Ibadan is quite hilly, the landscape is vast, and as a first-timer people will most likely recommend you visit the highest point or the tallest building. And so, we made our way to Premier Hotel, said to be the first hotel built in Ibadan and apparently the tallest. It gives you a generous view of the city, and it was from that height we spotted our next stop, Agodi Gardens.

Agodi garden is like an oasis in Ibadan; quite different from the general city scape and offering an amazing relaxation space for almost anything; from swimming to picnics to a fair share of natural elements.

A quick drive through University of Ibadan (UI) to get some food introduced me to a more serene environment compared to the University of Lagos which I’m used to. Our last stop for the day was a suya spot which was applauded for selling the ‘sickest suya’ in Ibadan. My verdict? It’s just hype.

On Sunday morning we drove over to Bower’s Tower and as I keep discovering, Ibadan has a rich history. Bower’s tower, known as the highest point in Ibadan, was erected in honor of Captain Robert Lister Bower, the first British man to settle and ‘bring peace to Ibadan without cocking a single gun. The tower was a display of gallantry because he succeeded in what others failed by using common sense’, a direct quote by the Professor whose house I stayed in.

Unlike other countries and cities like Rome or Paris, Ibadan doesn’t have a lot of tourist activity or monumental centers to rave about, but in its subtlety it boasts of some really great architecture, serene environment and rich history.

The next morning, I packed my bags, said goodbye to Ibadan, its archaic scenery, bookshops and headed to Abeokuta. It was a short visit, I arrived at 2pm and left at 6pm, but between that time we visited Olumo Rock, which had a proper system set up for tourists.

Olumo Rock is a very peculiar place. It bares ancient traditions and elements for all to see. For example, we came upon a small door covered in feathers. Our guides said it was a shrine whose inside can only be seen by the chief priest and one of the rulers. They also mentioned that every year, on the 5th of August, a big black cow is sacrificed there to thank the gods for keeping the Egba people safe throughout the war. I found that shocking, the fact that sacrifices was still being made to gods in this time and age.

Next, we learned that some of the Egba women, one who was already over a 100 years old still lived on the rock, though no one ever crossed over to their territory. After about 20 minutes, during which we actually got to climb through a few places where stairs couldn’t be built, we made it to the top.

It was breathtaking, the view was amazing, and I was proud of myself for giving into spontaneity and not backing down.

So if I learned one thing about travel, it’s this: sometimes, don’t overthink it, once you confirm that where you want to go is safe, just pack your bags and GO. Be open to discover as you explore, be ready to engage and learn, be positive about the journey, and that mindset will help you in having a good experience.

This trip got me curious about the numerous stories that make up Nigeria, I began to see travel as an avenue to learn, uncover and discover things that might have otherwise eluded me. I realized how little I knew about my country because I had always been too involved in my immediate Lagos and Anambra environments that I was hardly aware of everything else.