If you should find yourself in Nigeria any time soon, you would have a great experience if you stop by in Ibadan. This is because you would be visiting a city that combines the old African environment with the modern day advancement.
Location
It is located in the South West of Nigeria. It is about a hundred kilometers (an hour's drive), from Lagos, the main seaport and commercial capital of Nigeria.
Geography
Ibadan is the largest city in Nigeria, West Africa and third largest in Africa. It is predominantly a forested hilly area.
History
Ancient
The name “Ibadan” was derived from the Yoruba phrase “Eba Odan” meaning “Near the grassland”.
Ibadan was settled by Yoruba warriors in the 18th Century as a military base. As time went on, many more powerful individuals, their families and their slaves added to the numbers.
Also, because the warriors won several wars, they appropriated several lands which led to the great expansion of Ibadan. At its peak in the late 19th Century, Ibadan had the most powerful army in Yoruba land.
The advent of the British Colonialists in the 19th Century halted the spate of Inter-tribal wars and Ibadan's dominance faltered.
Modern
When Nigeria was divided into regions namely: Northern, Southern, Western and Lagos (as the Federal Capital Territory), Ibadan became the capital of the western region .This region covers the whole of the present Yoruba states and the present Edo and Delta States of Nigeria.
Also with the breakdown of the regions to states, Ibadan became the capital of Oyo State. It is the capital of Oyo State to date.
Present Day
Ibadan in the modern day offers some unique attractions to visitors. It has some modern structures like the first sky-rise building in Nigeria, “Cocoa House”.
The premier university in Nigeria, University of Ibadan, is also located in Ibadan .There is Trans Amusement Park for fun-seeking people .There are life-size statues of some great warriors who made the city great in the olden days.
There are the several hills dotted around the city which give interesting landscape view. Lots of residential buildings occupy the hills and the view is sure to take the breath away from any visitor. There are many more attractions to make the visitor's stay unforgettable.
Mixture of Old and New. Scenery showing old buildings with modern cars and roads.
