TOURISM PLANNING:A TOUR TO OLUMO ROCK, ABEOKUTA

The tour to Abeokuta with the tourism planning student of the department of urban and regional planning students of the federal university of technology,Akure started at a meeting point at physics car pack obakekere, and the departure time was 7:23am. The journey was made through Ore-Sagamu road via Akure-Ore road. We arrived Abeokuta at around 11:30am. We went straight to refresh at the secretariat. We arrived Olumo rock at around 1:12pm and was granted access to the complex around 1:18pm.
The site see of the rock was at first disappointing but later on became a thing of interest. There was a pot of life at the centre of the complex which was said to grant wishes if requests are made with a piece of coin. Several pictures were taken at the point.
There was also a garden called ‘PANSEKE’ garden which was named after a flamboyant tree. We later moved to the ‘ORISA OLUMO’ chamber where different worships are made to different gods every year. The shrine is usually opened every first week in August of every year. There are five different kings that makes sacrifices at the shrine; they include:
 ALAKE OF EGBA
 OLOWU OF OWU
 OSILE OF OKE-ONA
 ONIBARA OF IBARA
 AGBURA OF GBAGBURA
Olumo Rock is an Igneous Rock.
There is medicinal water that flows out of the rock. It is said to cure various skin diseases. The water is formed when rain falls and it is then stored in the rock for 6-7 days after which native doctors come to take it to cure different types of diseases.
There is also a tomb of Chief Ajimatakunje that died in 1956 and was buried at the back of his house according to the tradition of the Egba people.
The rock was said to be the hiding place of the Egba people during the war between 1830 and 1833 with the Oyo Empire.
A man called ‘ADAGBA’ was the person that discovered the rock and he was and hunter. Under the, the cave there has five rooms in which four has collapsed an one is still left standing.
Another historical thing about the rock is that no casualties have been recorded there in history.
After the end of the war, the people consulted the IFA oracle and it revealed to them not to return to their former land that they should stay near the rock.
There are different meaning giving to olumo rock, they include:
i. OLUWA MǪ meaning God moulded
ii. OLUWA FIMǪ meaning where God put an end to our wandering and suffering.
The real translation of Abeokuta is Under the Rock. The rock is approximately 137 meters above sea level.
There are two major routes to the peak of the Rock. They are :
a. The Ancient Route which is rough and not easy to navigate. It is very risky.
b. The modern alternative route which has stairs and elevation which makes it easily accessible.
There were also tow deities at the entrance to the ancient route. They are the LISABI and ALATISE deities. The two men were warriors that led to the victory of the Egbas against the Benin People.
There is a point at the peak of the rock labeled AT3 which was blasted by the white people in the 18th century who wanted to explore the rock for minerals like diamond or gold. Blood and pulse came out from the point and they all got blind.
There are different historical buildings around the rock. They are :
• The first church in Abeokuta built by Henry Tansel in 1844
• Iroko tree living on he rock for over 250 years.
• MKO Abiola Family House
• Former Baptist Boys High School
• NTA Building
Ogun river flowed through four states which are; oyo, ondo, Ogun and Lagos State. The mane of the rock was after the name of the state.
There are various meaning to Ogun, they are:
 Ogun -medicine
 Ogun -war
 Ogun un -climb
 Ogun -Twenty and inheritance
 Oogun -Sweat
 Ogun -Longevity
 Ogun God of Iron
We departed olumo rock at about 3:05pm.
We then went to university of Abeokuta and then headed straight to the hotel.
The next morning was a meeting with the permanent secretary in the ministry of Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Olayinka Kukoyi and later moved to the conference room where we had a discussion with the commissioner of Tourism and Culture in person of Chief Olu Adeyemi. He was accompanied by the director in tourism Mrs Ronke Peters, director of Admin and Supply, Mrs. Moji Akinlagbe.
Different questions were asked he Commissioner.
i. Which other Tourist Centres are within Ogun State?
ii. What are the challenges facing tourism
iii. What other steps are being taken to develop tourism within the state.
He then responded with the following answers,
Without olumo rock there is no Abeokuta. He also said that the government loved tourism and culture which is the reason why he established the ministry of culture and tourism which makes it the maiden ministry.
He also said that the ministry will develop one tourism centre each within the three senatorial district within the state to a standard level. He said olumo rock will be developed into a ranch. The road to the rock will be upgraded.
He said some of the challenges faced by the ministry is fund. He said the budget is large but with the support of the state government and international bodies, they will achieve more.
He said all the tourist centres have great potentials and can generate huge revenue to the state if they are completed.
Some of the tourist centres within the State include:
• YEMOJI (natural swimming pool)
• Ota healing water at oke itoku
• Alake palace
• Centenary hall, ake
• Oldest bible in Nigeria at ake palace
• Mudasiru tomb at ijaiye
• Birikisu sungbo Tourist centre at Yemoji-Ijebu e.t.c.
We then left the office and embark on our journey back to Akure but branched at Erinjesa water Fall at Erin Ijesa where we spent a little time to relax.
We got back to Akure at around 6:35pm and came back straight to school and we the departed for our various homes.