Ibadan is the capital of Oyo state, Nigeria. Ibadan is also the most popular and populous city in Oyo state. The population of Ibadan is over 3 million inhabitants, no wonder it is among the top largest cities in Nigeria. Ibadan is located in the southwest of Nigeria, sharing boundaries with Ogun state and Osun state.
Ibadan often referred to as Oluyole, is arguably one of the most important cities in Nigeria. It is the most popular transit points for travelling in and out of Lagos to other parts of the country. It is important to note that like most cities in Nigeria, Ibadan has its rich history.
Before now this part of Oyo was part of the old Oyo empire, which also consist of the now Osun state. Ibadan, however, came into existence after the collapse of the Oyo empire. Also, Ibadan was the most populous and largest city in Nigeria before the 1960 independence. As at that time, it was only second to Cairo of Egypt.
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History of Ibadan
As mentioned earlier, Ibadan is the capital of Oyo state but was is often not said is the full meaning of its name. Ibadan is a derivative of two words – Eba Odan which translates the original name Ilu-Eba-Odan as “the edge of the savannah”.
Ibadan was formed around 1829 after the collapse of the Oyo Empire. Since then, it is has become one of the most prominent cities in the country. The truth is, a lot has been written about this place; from the natives to the set up of the city.
Hence, this article is not planned to be a repeat of the things you might have heard or known. The crux of the matter is, is Ibadan known for its brown roof alone?
Over the years, Ibadan has been referred to as “the brown roof city”. A phrase that was further cemented as a synonym of the city with the poem “Ibadan” by JP Clark of 1965. The poem till date is one of the most popular JP clark poems. In his poem, he gave what many refer to as the vivid image of what Ibadan is today:
Ibadan,
running splash of rust
and gold-flung and scattered
among seven hills like broken
china in the sun.
– J.P. Clark
The brown roof has since been a symbol of Ibadan. It is also important to note that other poems have been written about this place. One of which is the poem of the same title Ibadan by Wole Soyinka. Each of the writings about Ibadan tends to evaluate its rich culture and history.
Ibadan has grown beyond the colours of its roofs and has become one of the fastest growing cities in Nigeria. It is arguably the next city in line in terms of its industrious nature in the southwest. Yet it has been able to main the rich heritage of the past with a stronghold on the future.
University Of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is definitely the oldest university in Nigeria. The University of Ibadan was established in 1948, though it dates far back as 1932. Its origin dates back to the old Yaba College of 1932 which was later transferred to Ibadan. It then became the University College of Ibadan in 1948.
This means the University of Ibadan is the only university in the country that was established before independence. It is also the first university with the first indigenous Vice-chancellor. Kenneth Onwuka Dike was the first indigenous Vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan. The University library is named after him.
There are many other things that make the University of Ibadan standout from other universities in the country. It will interest you to know that its hall of residence is not identical.
Over the years, the University of Ibadan has been an important part of the city. This is vivid as to the number of notable alumni the school has produced. Some of the University of Ibadan notable alumni include Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Christopher Okigbo, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Kole Omotosho, Niyi Osundare among others.
Due to the number of notable alumni from the institution and its impact on education in the country, the institution is one of the most sorts after in Nigeria.
The Polytechnic Ibadan
The Polytechnic Ibadan was established in 1970. Today, it is regarded as one of the best polytechnics in Nigeria. The Polytechnic was established to replace the former technical college, Ibadan. The Polytechnic Ibadan is often referred to as Poly Ibadan.
Before now, the Polytechnic of Ibadan had satellite campuses in other parts of Oyo state – Eruwa and Saki, while the campus at Ibadan operated as the main campus. Today, there is only one campus which comprises both the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma. The other satellite campuses are now individual polytechnics – The Ibarapa Polytechnic and The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic.
There are five faculties in The Polytechnic Ibadan; Engineering, Science, Environmental Studies, Financial and Management Studies and Business and Communication Studies. The majority of the students live off campus as the school only has four hostels.
The number of students who apply for admission in the institution continues to increase every year. It is not surprising as the polytechnic remains one of the best in the country.
Popular & Fun Places In Ibadan
The city of Ibadan is like every other place in Nigeria and in the world. There are popular landmarks in which people tend to identify a city. The brown roof city does not fall short of expectations either. From Challenge to Mokola to Dugbe and all the way UI gate. These are widely known places within the city.
Below are some of the fun and popular places in Ibadan that you can visit:
Mapo Hall
Mapo Hall is one of many landmarks in Ibadan. It is located on one of the cities seven hills – Oke-Mapo, which happens to be the most popular among the hills. The Mapo hall, because of the height and geographical position, is considered to be at the centre of Ibadan. It is visible from all corners of the city.
Mapo as an area in Ibadan derived its name from the pillars built during the colonial era. Opo is the Yoruba translation of Pillars. The construction of Mapo Hall didn’t start until June 1925 under the supervision of Capt. W.A Ross (The Resident, Oyo Province). After its completion, it was declared open by Sir Graeme Thomson.
Today, the building stands as one of the relics of the colonial era. It has also had its share of societal and political celebrations over the years. This is definitely one of the places in Ibadan you really want to see. It is regarded as one of the most visited tourist attractions in Ibadan.
UI Zoo
UI is another name for the University of Ibadan, while the UI Zoo is actually within the institution premises. Over the years, this particular place has been host to both local and foreign tourists. The presence of wildlife makes it one of the go-to places; mostly for students who come here for excursions. It is definitely one of the most visited places in Ibadan.
Ventura Mall
The Ventura Mall is one fun place any fun seeker should go. This is practically the hub for everything fun from shopping, best foods, getting your hair done, seeing a movie etc. Ventura Mall is located along the Sango-UI road. The Mall is no doubt a household name in the city of Ibadan.
If you are in Ibadan, thinking of a place to hang out with friends, see a movie, get your hair done or shop for new wear, Ventura Mall is the perfect spot for you.
Cocoa House Ibadan
One of the fun things you can do in Ibadan is to go sightseeing. There are plenty of things to see on the streets of Ibadan. The Cocoa House Ibadan should definitely be on your list of things to see.
The Cocoa House is the first skyscraper in Nigeria, it was completed in 1965. The 26-storey building with a height of 105 metres is home to some of the top firms and media outfits in Ibadan.
Agodi Gardens
Agodi Gardens is another household name in the city of Ibadan. It is the go-to place for people seeking quality family time. There are several attraction spots in this part of the city like the waterpark, picnic spots, restaurant area, a mini zoo among other things.
Agodi Gardens is ten minutes drive from the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan. It was created in 1967 and formerly called Agodi Zoological and Botanical Gardens until the recent change of name.
Hotels In Ibadan
Ibadan is definitely one of the leading cities in Nigeria. It is often regarded as the go-to place to ease the stress of Lagos. Unlike Lagos which is synonymous to traffic and high price of transportation, things are relatively cheap in Ibadan. In fact, it is one of the top places for real estate investment in Nigeria. There are a good number of lands for sale in Ibadan as well as houses for sale in Ibadan.
This part of the country is also home to a number of tourist attractions and fun spots. Hence, there are chances you are in Ibadan for the fun and need where to stay for the moment. You don’t need to worry as there are several hotels in Ibadan.
It is important to note that there are both luxurious and cheap hotels in Ibadan. It all depends on the comfort you seek and of course, your budget. Whichever you have chosen, we got you covered with a list of hotels in Ibadan.
Some of the hotels include Owu Crown Hotel Ibadan, Midetel Ibadan, Labod Hotel, Da 411 Hotel, E-exclusive Guest Inn, Easyreach Court Hotel, New Waves Guest House, Carlton Gate Xclusive Hotel Agodi Ibadan, Palms 77 Hotel, His Grace Hotel, Premier Hotel, Koltol Paradise Inn, Horizon Suite Oluyole Ibadan, Check Inn Hotel Agodi Ibadan, Royal Resorts Ibadan, Hail Henrietta Hotel, La Maison Hotel, Orchard Hotel, Capital Inn Ibadan, T Exclusive Hotel etc.
So, we discussed the hotels in Ibadan, University of Ibadan, The Polytechnic Ibadan, popular and fun places in Ibadan. Now over to you, kindly share your view(s) and experience(s) of Ibadan with fellow PropertyPro.ng readers.
