From The Horses’s Mouth – Ibadan

Horse of the day – Mr Davies

Location – Ibadan (Oyo State)

Nickname – Ile Oluloye/Ilu Ogunmola (Oluloye’s land/Ogunmola’s Village) Age Range – 30s-40s

Occupation – Electrical Technician

Brief background – Just recently moved to Lagos but goes to Ibadan as often as possible | Has worked in a bank | Married with Children | Loves old school music

What is Ibadan like?

It is peaceful and serene. There is a very big difference between Ibadan and Lagos. You are able to take your time to do things. No rush rush. Roads are good, there’s no traffic except on the weekends. There are a lot of relaxation centres, zoological gardens etc.

What has been your favourite experience in Ibadan?

I had left Ibadan for 5 years and then went back. I forgot about the lifestyle there. I wanted to get a bus and was waiting at the bus stop. When the bus came I started running after it because that’s what happens in Lagos. Everyone was staring and laughing at me, they thought I was a mad man. It was a funny experience.

What are your top 5 recommendations of things to do or see in Ibadan?

1. Agodi gardens – It is an amusement park.

2. Zoological Garden at the university of Ibadan

Baboon at Zoological Garden Ibadan

3. Cocoa House – It is a 25 storey building and the first one in West Africa. It was built by Obafemi Awolowo.

Cocoa House by John Thomas Didymus

4. NTA House – This was the first TV station in Africa. It used to be known as WNTV – Western Nigeria Television.

5. Liberty Stadium (Now known as the the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium) – Pioneer Stadium in the whole of West Africa and sits 35,000 people.

6. Mapo Hall – It is a town hall built by the British Colonial masters on top of a hill. It is part of the first house of chiefs because Ibadan was the first capital city of Western Nigeria.

Mapo Hall by John Thomas Didymus

Bonus: UCH (University College Ibadan) – This is the first teaching hospital in Nigeria