19 Fascinating Ibadan Facts that You Might Know

Welcome to Ibadan, the vibrant city of Nigeria!

From its captivating natural landscapes ⛰️to its rich cultural heritage, it offers fascinating facts for you to discover!

This article will offer some amazing facts about Ibadan that will amaze you!

Let’s begin this exciting journey!

Interesting Ibadan Facts

Ibadan City: It has no “ancestral father, or founder

Do you know 🙄this interesting secret about Ibadan City?

Ibadan is that it has no founder or “ancestral father.” The city only maintained an indirect connection with Ile-Ife. 

It was believed to be the most of the older states as their original home or orirun, from which their princes received the beaded crown or the ade ileke. 

This crown 👑symbolized their right to rule, and from that, they even developed a spirit of brotherhood that connected together a number of Yoruba rulers.

Ibadan City: Know the secrets of the city  that is built on hills

I am quite fascinated by the truth that the city of Ibadan is built on seven hills. Quite interesting, right!?

In 1750, the city was founded by the Yoruba people. Later, it became the headquarter of the Yoruba military in 1829. In the year 1893, it came under British rule as a part of the Niger River Delta Protectorate.

The city even served as a temporary settlement and also a war camp or budo Ogun for the allied armies of Oyo, Ijebu, and Ife, who had gone to take part in the Owu War.

Oluyedun: Know about the first leader of Ibadan

The city of Ibadan was ruled by the famous leader Oluyedun. 

He was a distinguished warrior who took the title of Aare-Ona-Kakanfo, which meant the Oyo war general. His subordinates and lieutenants were selected according to their valor 👏. 

The commander-in-chief of the ad hoc army of the city, Lakanle, then acclaimed “the bravest of the brave.” 

He became the Otun Kakanfo, while Oluyole, who was famous as the next most powerful man, was made the city’s Osi Kakanfo.

Ibadan City: A city that did not have any palace

If you love history like me, then you will surely love Ibadan!

There was no palace or aafin in the central region of the town as there was no Oba. Hence, the different compounds were not constructed to look towards the direction of the compound of any rulers.

 In that case, in older towns, houses were constructed to face the palace 🏰as much as possible. 

Instead, those constructions were built on slopes of hills to face whatever direction the house owner found convenient and to avoid the areas where flooding and erosion could wash their houses away.

Basorun Oluyole: Meet the powerful military leader of the city

Have you heard this fascinating secret about Ibadan City?

From the mid-1830s to 1847, the reign of Basorun Oluyole displayed the power and control of a powerful military leader.

He was feared by his chiefs and subjects due to his toughness and firmness, which was often extreme and bordered on wickedness and oppression. 

In fact, he succeeded so well that the city came to be famous as Ilu Oluyole or the town of Oluyole, even decades after his ruin, and still today.

The Ife, Egba, and Oyo: Meet the original inhabitants of the city of Ibadan

The Ife, Egba, and Oyo were the original inhabitants 👏 of the city of Ibadan. 

Egna people left in 1829 for Abeokuta, while Oyo expunged the people of Ife under the leadership of Maye Okunade in the year 1833. 

They eventually became the sole inhabitant of the land.

Location of Ibadan: Perfect for trading activities

I am amazed to know that Ibadan City that is perfect for trading activities. 

The state has the economic advantage of being situated on a network of communication routes. 

It could be easily connected with the ports in Porto Novo, Lagos, and Badgry through the Egbado, Egba, and Ijebu territories and also the older Yoruba states.

These three ports were vital because of the lucrative trade in slaves and also in agricultural products with the people of Europe on the coast.

Ibadan succeeded in using this favorable location to establish trade relations with many other parts of Yorubaland.

Town Gates: These are vital parts of Ibadan City

Let us take a look at this interesting 😲part of Ibadan City! 

To facilitate the movement of traders, the town hall had 16 gates, all in the direction of the 16 highways that enter the town.

Four of the town gates were vital because of the traffic 🚌 on them and also the significance attached to them to their security and maintenance. 

These were the gates that led to Ijebuland, Abeokuta, Iwo, and Oyo. 

Both Ijebu and Abeokuta gates connected the city with the coast, while the others linked the people with their relatives in Oyo-Yoruba villages and towns.

Central Market at Ojaoba: Take a stroll through this economic nerve center of the city

Oh! The main market of this Nigerian city! I really wish to explore this!

Though the people of the town were predominantly farmers, some still engaged in trading. 

The central market 🛍️at Ojaoba was actually the economic nerve center of the entire town. 

Traders from several neighboring nations of the Ijebu and Egba attended the market in the city, bringing different kinds of local goods, like dried fish, salt, and even European commodities. 

Also, female indigenous traders left the town to attend the markets in Ikire, Apomu, and some other villages in the Ife kingdom.

Ibadan City: It attracted people from different countries 

This beautiful Nigerian city, the city of Ibadan, maintained an open-door policy even to strangers. 

This means it attracted and welcomed different types of people irrespective of their places of origin.

Thus, by around the year 1850, the city of Ibadan became an interesting urban center with a population of almost 60,000 to 100,000 people residing within the town, covering about sixteen square miles.

It even established a recognizable political, social, and economic structure that sustained it for several decades.

Modern Ibadan: Meet the modern Ibadan City

I am quite curious to know about modern Ibadan City! What about you?

Modern Ibadan is the capital of Oyo state and also the second-largest city in the country of Nigeria by population after Lagos.

It is also the largest city in the country by geographical area. It is larger than Abia, Ekiti, Imo, Ebonyi, and Anambra.

On October 1, 1960, at the independence of Nigeria, the city of Ibadan was the most populous and also the largest in Nigeria. 

Ibadan is even the third city in the entire African continent, just after Cairo and Johannesburg.

Ibadan City offers an adequate amount of entertainment and recreation

Young fun lovers, if you are like me, then you will feel quite entertained while exploring this interesting secret about Ibadan City! 

It is a busy city in Nigeria; however, it still accommodates an adequate amount of relaxation 💃 and entertainment. 

There are many lounges, bars, and nightclubs to enjoy, including the “KOKO Dome” owned by the Lebanese. It is the oldest nightclub in the city that dates back to the mid-90s.

Ibadan’s Cocoa House: Explore the first ‘skyscraper’ in the country

Oh! Cocoa! I really wish to enjoy some hot cocoa! You too…right!?

The first ‘skyscraper’ 🌆 in the country, known as Cocoa House, is actually located at the city of Ibadan. 

In fact, it is the headquarters for the Oodua Investment Company, which is co-owned by all southwestern states. 

Some other tall buildings in the city include the CBN building, Femi Johnson glass house, Oxford building, United Bank for Africa, etc.

The Government of Ibadan: Meet the head of modern Ibadan

The city of Ibadan has 11 local government areas. 

Those areas consist of five urban local governments in Ibadan and six-semi urban governments in the lesser city.

The climate in Ibadan: This beautiful Nigerian city has a tropical climate

Little weather experts, wondering how is the weather of this beautiful Ibadan City??

Ibadan City has a tropical dry and wet climate, along with a long-term wet season and almost constant temperatures throughout the year.

The wet ☔season of the region continues from March to October, while November to February experiences dry season.

The mean total rainfall of Ibadan is about 48 inches, falling for over 123 days.

Rivers in Ibadan: Meet the main rivers of the city

The four main rivers of Ibadan City are the Ogbere River 🌊 towards the east, the Ona River in the North and West, the Kudeti River 🌊 in the central region, and the Ogunpa River that flows through the city.

The Bower’s Tower: It can offer a great view of the city

Little nature lovers, have you heard about the Bower’s Tower on Ibadan City!?

Located to the east on Oke Are or Aare’s Hill and built in 1936, it an amazing tower which can be seen from literally any place in the city. 

Also, it offers an excellent view of the entire city from the top. 

This tower got its name from Robert Lister Bower and is even known as “Layipo”, a testament to the monument’s spiral staircase. 

Ibadan Golf Club: Enjoy the 18-hole golf course in the city

I really like to explore this sporty secret about the city of Ibadan! 

In Ibadan, we will get to see the Ibadan Golf Club, which is a large 18-hole challenge and the Barracks course has been extended to 18 holes. 

Here we can see the 9-hole IITA Golf Club as well that occupies a land of almost 1000 hectares.

Stadiums in the city: Know about some great structures in Ibadan

The city of Ibadan has the country’s first standard stadium😲, known as the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium.

 It was previously famous as Liberty Stadium as well as the Lekan Salami Stadium.

It is the home of 3SC Shooting Stars football club, which was the team the won the first international trophy for the country. 

Summing up

So little knowledge hunters, now you know that Ibadan is a city that proudly celebrates its stunning natural beauty, rich history, and modern advancements.

From the famous Cocoa house and central market to the stunning stadium and golf club, what in Ibadan attracts 😲you more?

Wait till we bring you some more facts about other places!!