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Ibadan (, ; ) is the Capital city and most populous city of Oyo State, in Nigeria. It is the third largest city by population in Nigeria with a total population of roughly 3,649,000 as of 2021, and nearly 2 million within its metropolitan area. At 3,080 square kilometres it is the country's largest city by land area. At the time of Nigeria's independence in 1960, Ibadan was the largest and most populous city in the country, and the second-most populous in Africa behind Cairo. Ibadan is ranked one of the fastest-growing cities in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the UN Human Settlements Program (2022). It is also ranked third in West Africa in the tech startups index. Ibadan joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2016. During the 19th century, Ibadan was the capital of the Ibadan Republic, one of the most powerful states of contemporary Yorubaland.
Ibadan is located in southwestern Nigeria, inland northeast of Lagos and southwest of Abuja, the federal capital. It is a prominent Public transport point between the coastal region and areas in the hinterland of the country as well as one of Nigeria's most important commercial and research centres. Ibadan was the administrative centre of the old Western Region since the early days of British Empire 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, as well as various communities (notably Igbo people, Hausa people, Edo, Ebira people, Igede people, Igala people, Ibibio people etc.) from other parts of the country.
Ibadan thus had initially begun as a military state and retained its martial character until the last decade of the 19th century. Between the 1860s and 1890s, the city-state became the center of an empire extending over much of northern and eastern Yorubaland. It was appropriately nicknamed idi-Ibon or "gun base", because of its unique military character.
While most Yoruba cities practiced hereditary forms of kingship, Ibadan has been described as a Ibadan Republic by historians. The city was administered by four 'chiefs': three of whose offices were attainable by all freeborn males, and one of which was reserved for female residents. The warrior 'class' were the dominant population of the city, as well as the most important economic group, and military success offered significant opportunity for individual progression. Ibadan's unusual organization earned it the derision of other Yorubas.
Ibadan grew into an impressive and sprawling Urban area center, such that by the end of 1829, Ibadan dominated the Yoruba region militarily, politically and economically. The military sanctuary expanded even further when refugees began arriving in large numbers from northern Oyo following raids by Fula people warriors. After losing the northern portion of their region to the marauding Fula people, many Oyo indigenes retreated deeper into the Ibadan environs. The Sokoto Caliphate attempted to expand further into the southern region of modern-day Nigeria, but was decisively defeated by the armies of Ibadan in 1840, which eventually halted their progress. In 1852, the Church Missionary Society sent David and Anna Hinderer to found a mission. They decided to build the mission and a church in Ibadan when they arrived in 1853.Martin Lynn, 'Hinderer, Anna (1827–1870)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 18 March 2017
The colonial period reinforced the position of the city in the Yoruba urban network. After a small boom in rubber business (1901–1913), cocoa became the main produce of the region and attracted European and firms, as well as southern and northern traders from Lagos, Ijebu-Ode and Kano State among others. The city became a major point of bulk trade. In 1893, the Ibadan area became a British Protectorate after a treaty signed by Fijabi, the Baale of Ibadan with the British acting Governor of Lagos Colony, George C. Denton on 15 August.
Its central location and accessibility from the capital city of Lagos were major considerations in the choice of Ibadan as the headquarters of the Western Provinces (1939) which ranged from the northernmost areas of Oyo State to Ekeremor, Bomadi and Patani, which were regions transferred from the old Delta province in the Old Western region and later Mid-west to the old Rivers state and later Bayelsa, in the redistricting of Nigeria carried out by the Yakubu Gowon administration shortly before the Nigerian Civil War.
In 2024, Ibadan was the site of a failed coup attempt by Yoruba separatists.
The city of Ibadan is naturally drained by five rivers with many tributaries: Ona River in the North and West; Ogbere River towards the East; Ogunpa River flowing through the city and Kudeti River in the Central part of the metropolis. Ogunpa River, a third-order stream with a channel length of 12.76 km and a catchment area of 54.92 km2. Lake Eleyele is located at the northwestern part of the city, while the Osun River, Asejire Lake bounds the city to the east and the fifth rivers boundary Ibadan with other Oke-Oguns towns, witch call Ogun River Rivers across Lagos State, Ogun State, Osun State State, Iseyin and Eruwa Town boundary to Ibadan.
- Out of Ibadan North Local Government area, Aare Latosa LCDA and Irepodun LCDA were created. - Out of Ibadan North East Local Government area, Ibadan East LCDA was created. - Out of Ibadan North West Local Government area, Oke'Badan North LCDA was created. - Out of Ibadan South East Local Government area, Ibadan South LCDA was created. - Out of Ibadan South West Local Government area, Ibadan West LCDA was created.
From the Ibadan Semi-urban Local Government areas, the following LCDAs were created. - Out of Akinyele Local Government area, Akinyele South LCDA and Akinyele East LCDA were created.
Dugbe district is the commercial nerve centre of Ibadan. This is where many banks have one or more branches. The south west regional office of the Central Bank of Nigeria is at Dugbe. Also at Dugbe is the Cocoa House, Nigeria's first skyscraper and the first sky scrapper in West Africa designed by Onafowokan Michael Olutusen. It is one of the few skyscrapers in the city and is at the hub of Ibadan's commercial centre. The Cocoa house is the headquarters for the Oodua Investment Company co-owned by all southwestern states. Other tall buildings around Dugbe axis include Femi Johnson glass house, CBN building, United Bank for Africa, Oxford building, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria's Building, among others.
There is a museum in the building of the Institute of African Studies, which exhibits several remarkable pre-historic bronze carvings and statues. The city has several well stocked libraries, and is home to the first television station in Africa. The city has two zoological gardens, one located within the University of Ibadan and another at Agodi Gardens which also contains a botanical garden.
The Layipo, built in 1936, is to the east on Oke Aàre (Aare's Hill) ("Aare" in Yoruba means commander-in-chief or generalissimo), which can be seen from practically any point in the city; it also provides an excellent view of the whole city from the top. It is named after Robert Lister Bower, and is sometimes called "Láyípo"- a testament to the spiral staircase in the monument.
Other buildings include Mapo Hall – the colonial style city hall – perched on top of a hill, "Oke Mapo", Mapo Hill ("oke" is hill in Yoruba, the cultural centre Mokola and the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium). The first citadel of higher learning, University of Ibadan (formerly the University College of Ibadan), the Obafemi Awolowo Hall in the University of Ibadan is said to be one of the tallest and largest hostel in West Africa. The first teaching hospital in Nigeria, University College Hospital, were both built in this ancient city.
There are also numerous public and private primary schools and secondary schools located in the city and its suburbs. Other noteworthy institutions in the city include the University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH), which is the first teaching hospital in Nigeria, and the internationally acclaimed International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) headquartered in the city. Established in 1967, it focuses on the agricultural and developmental needs of tropical countries, with several research stations spread across Africa. The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), The Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, The National Root Crops Research Institute, and The Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), The Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, the Nigerian Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), all under the auspices of The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria.
In 1853, the first Europeans to settle in Ibadan, Reverend David and Anna Hinderer, started Ibadan's first Western schools. They built churches and Anna taught at the new school. They built the first two-storey building in Ibadan, which can still be found today at Kudeti. The first pupils to attend an elementary school in Ibadan were Yejide Olunloyo (female) and Akinyele Olunloyo (male) – the two children of an Ibadan high chief.
The main economic activities engaged in by the Ibadan populace include Agriculture, Trade, Public service employment, Factory work, Service sector/Tertiary production, Etc. The headquarters of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have extensive grounds for crop and agricultural research into key tropical crops such as bananas, plantains, maize, cassava, soybean, cowpea and yam. According to a report, Ibadan is the 3rd cheapest Nigerian city to live in.
The city has the first standard Nigerian stadium, The Obafemi Awolowo Stadium formerly Liberty Stadium as well as The Lekan Salami Stadium which is the home of 3SC, Shooting stars football club, the team that won Nigeria's first international trophy, The African Cup Winners' Cup in 1976 by defeating Tonnerre Yaoundé of Cameroon 4 – 2 on aggregate points.
Modes of transport include cabs & taxis, taxi-vans commonly called Danfos, and in more recent times mass-transit buses have commenced operations to reduce the hardship of students and workers commuting from various suburban areas to the city centre, private/personal/family cars, scooters commonly known as Okadas, Coach (bus) services, more commonly known locally as "luxurious busses", such as Alakowe Bus, ABC Transport, Cross Country ltd Etc., which operate To and Fro services linking Ibadan and all other major destinations in the country and beyond, as well as pedestrian walking.
Since 2021, there is a new railway connection (standard gauge), which brings passengers to Lagos in less than three hours. It leaves at 8:00 and 16:00 every day (on time). The new railway line came with a new railway station.
Phase 1 of the Ibadan circular road, a 110 km road that encircles Ibadan, as at April 2023 is under construction
The radio stations in Ibadan are increasing in number compared to 5–10 years ago, when only 3 operated.
Today, there are:
There are also online communities of Ibadan residents such as CONNECTIBADAN, Ibadan247, IBpulse and WhatsupIbadan. They help the public connect with news, event and people in Ibadan and Oyo State as a whole.
==Gallery==
Economy
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State, the third largest state economy in Nigeria, after Lagos State and Rivers State respectively, and the second largest non-oil state economy in Nigeria after Lagos state. With its strategic location on the railway line connecting Lagos to Kano, the city is a major centre for trade in cassava, Cocoa bean, cotton, timber, rubber, and palm oil. The city and its environs is home to several industries such as Agro allied, Textile, Food processing, Health Care and Cosmetic, Tobacco processing and Cigarette manufacturing, Leatherworks and furniture making Etc. There is abundance of clay, kaolin and Aquamarines in the city environs, and there are several cattle ranches, a Dairy farming as well as a commercial abattoir in Ibadan. There are dozens of banks and Insurance firms spread out across the cityscape that service the city's millions of inhabitants.
Entertainment and recreation
Ibadan is a busy city but also accommodates an adequate amount of entertainment and relaxation.
Sports and recreation
There are various sport centres and facilities within the city limits of Ibadan. The Ibadan recreational club established 1902 in the Sabo area of the city is one of the oldest of such clubs in the country. It offers a swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, snooker, squash courts, darts corner, and a relaxation bar. The city is also host to dozens of football academies where soccer talents are groomed. The Agodi Gardens of Oyo State has been completely refurbished to contain a Botanical Garden, Zoo, Swimming pool, Guest house, Bar and Restaurants. In addition, there are the Ibadan Polo Club at Eleyele and the Ibadan Golf Club in the Onireke reservation Area.
Public spaces and parks
Transport
The city of Ibadan is a major Nigerian transport hub with freeways linking it with Lagos in the South South West, Ijebu Ode and Shagamu in the South, Abeokuta in the West, Oyo, ogbomosho, Offa and Ilorin in the North, Ife, Ado Ekiti, Osogbo, Ilesha, Akure, Okene, Auchi and other cities towards the East. The city is also served by an airport, the Ibadan Airport, which operates daily flights to Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Ilorin etc. through major airlines in Nigeria. The city is a major terminus railway station on the main railway line linking Lagos with Kano in the North of the country. Nearly all the major roads are dualized (Double carriage roads), such roads include the Ojoo-Sango-Mokola road that passes in front of the University of Ibadan, others include Ring road-Orita-Challenge-New Garage ways and the recently completed Dugbe-Eleyele-Jerico Road. There are various roundabouts, intersections and flyovers within the city, the latest being the Mokola flyover built to reduce persistent traffic gridlock being experienced in the Mokola axis of the city.
Media
The city hosted the first TV station in Africa, NTA Ibadan, which was established as Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) in 1959. The oldest surviving Nigerian newspaper is the Ibadan Tribune, which was founded by chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Premier of Western Nigeria. The first private TV station, Galaxy TV in Oyo State, also started in the city. As at 2014 the city is home to several media outlets including
Galaxy TV
Satellite channels are provided by
Notable people
Twin towns – sister cities
Ibadan is twinned with:
See also
Sources
https://oyoaffairs.net/un-research-ranks-ibadan-as-2nd-fastest-growing-city-in-2022/
Bibliography
External links
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