Holiday in Ibadan

About Ibadan

Ibadan is the third largest city in Nigeria and the capital of Oyo State. Historically, the city was the largest city in Africa south of the Sahara and remains one of the most extensive cities on the continent. Ibadan is the intellectual center of Nigeria — the University of Ibadan, founded in 1948, is the oldest and most prestigious university in the country. The cityscape is characterized by the famous rusty rooftops, which stretch over endless hills: a view that gives Ibadan its unique visual character. The Mapo Hall, an imposing colonial building on the highest hill in the city, offers a panoramic view over this sea of rooftops. The Bower's Tower (Layipo Tower) on Oke-Are Hill is the oldest observation tower in Nigeria, built in 1936: From here, one overlooks the entire old town. The Old Oyo ruins (140 km away) were once the capital of the powerful Oyo Empire, one of the most significant Yoruba kingdoms. The Agodi Gardens is an expansive botanical garden with a zoo, artificial lake, and hiking trails — the green lung of Ibadan. The Trans-Amusement Park and Ventura Mall complement the city's recreational offerings. The Cocoa House, a skyscraper from the 1960s, was West Africa's first skyscraper and a symbol of the cocoa boom that established Ibadan's prosperity. Nigeria was once the largest cocoa producer in the world, and Ibadan was at the heart of this trade.