As a local guide every opportunity to travel is an opportunity to share information about my experience and hence guide intending travelers and tourists. On one of such occasions I visited and explored the city of Abeokuta. For your information Abeokuta is the capital Ogun state, one of the south western states of Nigerian. The city of Abeokuta is synonymous to the rock town as it derives its name from the popular Olumo rock. In the Yoruba language the name Abeokuta means ‘under the rock’. So bacically Abeokuta town is sitting at the base of the olumo rock such that on the top of the rock one can have an unrestricted view of the ancient and rusty town of Abeokuta. The history and tradition of the Abeokuta revolves round the olumo rock. Hence it is always said that a visit to Abeokuta without visiting the olumo rock is incomplete. In my own words it is the rock town city.
No doubt the Olumo rock is a popular tourist attraction but there are other places of interest to visit while one is in Abeokuta. It is an interesting place to visit with so many attraction sites spread across the city.These include the OOPL – Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library along the presidential boulevard. It is a state of the art edifice that houses the largest library and research center in Africa. Beside it is the Green heritage courtyard, a three star cozy hotel with world class facilities and beside it is an Amusement park for fun lovers delight. One can also visit the M.K.O stadium a major sporting centre in Abeokuta. There is also the June 12 cultural centre Kuto, having a convention centre, a swimming pool, an amusement park and a cinema for viewing movies.
At the centre of the town is the Abeokuta museum which houses the relics of the culture and tradition of the Egba people. Another point of interest in Abeokuta is the family house of the Kuti’s. This is the native home of the late Afrobeat maestro Fela Anikulapo kuti and now it is under the maintenance of the ogun state government. The popular Itoku market is another historical landmark cum popular tourist destination in Abeokuta. It is home to the thriving tie and dye indigenous fabric – (adire) industry. In the adire market visitors can watch the intrigues of the processes of adire making.
Another superlative point of interest is the underground railway tunnel though it is still under construction. It crosses the presidential boulevard near the Nigeria immigration office around the oke misan axis of Abeokuta. In case one is need of accomodation there are arrays very nice hotels among them is the popular Gateway hotel. Abeokuta is a quite and serene neighbourhood. The people are nice and friendly, and ready to assist. Abeokuta has more to offer as I just visited for only three hours and had to go back to Lagos. So to experience all that Abeokuta has to offer you must add it to the list of places may want to visit.