History and Facts of Ibadan (Yoruba: Ìbàdàn or fully Ìlú Ẹ̀bá-Ọ̀dàn, the town at the junction of the savannah and the forest), the capital of Oyo State, is the second largest city in Nigeria by population after Lagos and the largest in geographical area.
At independence, Ibadan was the largest and the most populous city in Nigeria and the third in Africa after Cairo and Johannesburg.
It is located in south-western Nigeria, 128 km inland northeast of Lagos and 530 km southwest of Abuja, the federal capital and is a prominent transit point between the coastal region and the areas to the north. Its population is 2,550,593 according to 2006 census results, including 11 local government areas.
The population of central Ibadan, including five LGA:s, is 1 338 659 according to census results for 2006, covering an area of 128 km.
Ibadan had been the centre of administration of the old Western Region, Nigeria since the days of the British colonial rule, and parts of the city’s ancient protective walls still stand to this day. The principal inhabitants of the city are the Yoruba people.
History and Facts of Ibadan explain the city as the second largest and arguably one of the most robust indigenous cities in the country. With an enormous population of about 3,800,000, Ibadan came into existence after the collapse of the Yoruba Oyo Empire, when several Yoruba renegades began settling in the area towards the end of the 18th century.
Facts About Ibadan Nigeria:
Here’re few peculiar History and Facts of Ibadan that you may not know about Ibadan. Hopefully these things will help you along your next adventure or aid in sight-seeing around the historically rich town.
1. Located at the hub of Ibadan’s commercial centre, Cocoa House is the first skyscraper in Nigeria.
2. Ibadan has several well stocked libraries for all of the bookworms and information lovers who still prefer a book in hand as opposed to reading from screens and monitors. One of the most famous is Kenneth Dike Library in the University of Ibadan.
3. Rich in agriculture, Ibadan has a zoological garden and several botanical gardens
4. The golf course at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is said to be the best golf courses in Nigeria.
5. Ibadan is home to the first television station in Africa.
6. The Bower Memorial Tower to the east on Oke-Aare (Hill) can be seen from practically any point in the city. It also provides an excellent view of the whole city from the top. Try taking a trip up there as well as capturing the scenery through pictures.
7. The adire (“tie-dye”) cloth dyed locally in large pots of indigo is popular in the city.
8. Of the city’s six parks, the most important is Agodi Garden.
9. Okebadan Festival is an age-long festival observed by the people of Ibadan to celebrate unity where they sing humorous songs that portray the history of Ibadan people like;
- Baba to nlo-Hey old man going
- Jawajawa epon -You are with dangling scrotum
- Kiki sooki-Full of chalk
10. Ibadan is the second largest city in Nigeria and the capital of Oyo State. It has a population of 3,300,000.
11. Local industries include food processing and cigarette manufacture.
12. Ibadan was founded by the Yoruba in 1750. It became a Yoruba military headquarters in 1929 and came under British rule in 1893 as part of the Niger River Delta Protectorate.
13. It is host to Nigeria’s first university, the University of Ibadan which was founded in 1948 as part of the University of London. Nearby there is the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture. Sport: Ibadan has a 40,000 capacity stadium and a footbal professional team, The 3SC Footbal club.
14. Company in ibadan include Afprint Nig, Africola, Globacom,NTC Ibadan, Nigeria breweries, Coca Cola breweries, Nigeria tobacco company, west africa print e.t.c Television and radio station in Ibadan include, NTA Ibadan, Galaxy Television Ibadan, Oyo state Televison, Bcos, Fm Ibadan, Radio Nigeria Ibadan. Hotels in Ibadan include Lafia Hotel – Ibadan, Davies Hotel, Premier Hotel Oremeji Mokola, Trans Nigeria Hotel,Summit Hotel,Kakanfo Inn Hotel, D’Rovans Hotel e.t.c A new University is now in Ibadan, call City University Ibadan.
15. Ibadan has an Airport, and could be use to get to anywhere in the world. Ibadan has an airport and is on the railway linking Lagos with Kano.
