Ibadan's hills and the long memory of Oyo
Oyo State was created on 3 February 1976 from the Western State, with Ibadan as capital — Nigeria's largest historic inland city by many accounts, a nineteenth-century war camp that became a university and political powerhouse. The state takes its name from the Oyo Empire, whose old capital (Oyo-Ile) lies in ruins in the north, while the Alaafin sits at Oyo town (New Oyo). Osun State was excised in 1991.
Ibadan is famous for Mapo Hall, Cocoa House (once West Africa's tallest, a standard civic boast), the University of Ibadan (1948, Nigeria's first university), and a warrior-civil tradition of Ibadan chiefs. Soun of Ogbomoso, Olubadan of Ibadan, and the Alaafin structure a triangular royal map. The Pace Setter slogan nods to schools, media, and political firsts of the old Western Region, many of them Ibadan-centred.
Heritage is imperial memory plus megacity energy. Old Oyo National Park protects wildlife and the ruined capital's landscape. The living city writes new chapters faster than any museum can caption.
Ibadan is famous for Mapo Hall, Cocoa House (once West Africa's tallest, a standard civic boast), the University of Ibadan (1948, Nigeria's first university), and a warrior-civil tradition of Ibadan chiefs. Soun of Ogbomoso, Olubadan of Ibadan, and the Alaafin structure a triangular royal map. The Pace Setter slogan nods to schools, media, and political firsts of the old Western Region, many of them Ibadan-centred.
Heritage is imperial memory plus megacity energy. Old Oyo National Park protects wildlife and the ruined capital's landscape. The living city writes new chapters faster than any museum can caption.