Ikogosi warm spring: A decayed tourist centre begging for attention

In Ekiti State, the Ikogosi Warm Spring tourist attraction is in dire need of attention after many years of neglect.

The spring, located at the Ikogosi town, is actually a mix of warm and cold waters meeting at a confluence, each maintaining its thermal properties.

According to Wikipedia, Ikogosi spring was brought into public focus in 1952 by a Southern Baptist Missionary, Reverend John S. McGee, who travelled from his mission base in the nearby Ekiti town of Igede to the source of the hot and cold springs after he had heard about their unusual natural mix.

Villagers were said to have discouraged McGee from visiting the spring as, the villagers told him, some deities responsible for creating the strange feature there would kill him if he did.

According to Rev. McGee’s own written account, “After seeing it, I felt that it could be used for a good purpose. I discussed the possible use of it with some Mission and (Nigerian Baptist) Convention friends.”

McGee, with support from the Nigerian Baptist Convention, secured 28 acres of land for the original camp at the spring site. In the 1960s, the Convention erected 16 structures, comprising the swimming pool (built in 1962), which was fed by the warm spring; a dining hall; a large kitchen and storage areas; eight small cabins, each of which could house 16 persons, with sleeping, bath and toilet facilities; a Baptist Mission residence, which was occupied by the McGees from the middle 1960s until October 1973; and a chapel.

In 1971, the government saw possibilities of developing the camp into a commercial, tourist resort and began showing interest. In December 22, 1973, it opened its guest house and in January 18, 1974, it took over control of the swimming pool, which was the Baptist Camp’s featured attraction, from McGee. Since then, quality maintenance of the structures has been declining.

McGee’s contribution to the creation and development of the Ikogosi springs camp was well appreciated though after he had retired from Nigeria in July, 1977. On 1 July 1977, the Loja of Ikogosi Ekiti installed him as Chief Akorewolu (harbinger of bliss) of Ikogosi.

Wikipedia wrote, “Unfortunately, for the future of the Baptist Warm Springs Camp at Ikogosi, when the McGees left, there was no Mission or Convention person available or willing to manage the camp, and in 1978, the entire property was sold to the Nigerian government by the Nigerian Baptist Convention for N300.

“Within a matter of less than 10 years, when the McGees very briefly visited Igede and Ikogosi in 1985, the camp had been covered with bush.”

That has since been the sad story of what was once a beautiful scenery of a tourist attraction, although the incumbent state governor, Kayode Fayemi, made efforts to address the rot when he was governor of the state between 2010 and 2014.

Our correspondent, who visited the tourist centre last week, reports that many sections in the separate cold and warm water sections, like the chalets, swimming pool, amphitheatre and the wooden walkways, were already caving in, while the general centre was in a very disappointing state of decay.

During his visit to the tourist centre after he assumed duties for a second term in 2018, Gov Fayemi expressed his displeasure at the state of a place he described as “once the hub of tourism” when he was governor in his first term.

A tour guide and indigene of Ikogosi, Mrs Adeyeye Ruth, recalled that both the warm and cold waters of the spring, when it was a beauty, were “transparently clean”. Not anymore.

Ruth added, “In the cold water, one would see small fishes, crabs, frogs and toads. We have two trees; a palm tree and an Iroko, whose roots are intertwined. Palm trees usually stand alone, but this one with its root joined to the root of another tree, is surely symbolic to the spring. To everything of this nature, there is always a story.”

The tour guide said Ikogosi history believes that a man called Awopereige and his two wives, together with his son, were the elements that transformed to the two types of warm and cold water.

“The Awopereige water is warmer than that of his son, Olosun, and where they both met is the point called warm and cold water in Ikogosi. The cold water happens to be the two wives of Awopereige, who turned to cold water together the same day, according to history. The first wife of Awopereige is called Awele Otutuboosun, while the second wife is called Aina Orosun. Both wives are the cold water, while the son and the father are the warm water.

“The meeting point of the cold and warm waters in Ikogosi is referred to as the point of “romantic embrace, point of unity, point of harmony or the point of love where the four of them exchange pleasantries,” she said.

The proprietress of Great Minds School, Ado-Ekiti, Mrs Funke Rotimi Dokun, who came with some of her pupils for excursion to Ikogosi spring, expressed disappointment at the deteriorated condition of the premises, saying it was even better the last time she came there some years ago.

Mrs Dokun said, “It is as if the government is not really doing much. What we have heard about this place is not what we are seeing now. The managers of this place can even bring in monkeys and other animals to the Zoo section. Visitors need to see a lot more interesting things than ordinary water. Children must have a good sightseeing, something they will remember for a long time.”

The Chairman, Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Muhammed Sodoki Abubakar, suggested hotels and chalets should be built at Ikogosi Warm Springs with bamboo, with grass for the roofing, “so that it will be eco-friendly.”

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fountain Holdings Limited, the investment arm of the Ekiti State Government, Oska Seyi Aiyeleso, noted that the Fayemi administration met the Ikogosi Warm Springs facility in a deplorable state.

“The last administration never did anything on the facilities. During his first tenure, Gov Fayemi expended about N2 billion on the facility to revive it.

“With the huge money injected into that place by Fayemi before his exit, the place was becoming a Mecca for people coming from all over many places for tourism.

“Immediately he left government, that place became comatose and we met it in a disgusting state.

“We are now making efforts to bring in the private sector to invest in the business. What Fayemi is doing is to ensure that we have private equity in all our companies and projects.

“But I can tell you that even before the intervention of the private sector, Dr Fayemi has injected some funds to put the place in good shape. We have had so many seminars and retreats there and people are coming from outside the state to use the facilities. Very soon, private investors will come. Some of the walkways that have collapsed, we have put them in good shape and we are still doing that. All hope is not lost; the Ikogosi tourist attraction will still meet the standard as the tourism hub of the nation, wearing a new face and meeting international standard, as it used to be,” Aiyeleso said.