Itu local Government Area is undeniably one of the richest local governments in Nigeria in the area of historic tourism, blessed with amazing views from the top of the rolling hills, itu local government has a bank of history that will interest any scholar, tourist or a lover of history.

ABOUT ROLLING HILLS OF ITU
Rolling Hills of Itu is locally known as Obot Itu, that is the name of the community, the name was gotten from the topography of the Community which is very hilly. Obot itu is surrounded by abundance of beautiful vegetation’s.

The history of Akwa Ibom cannot be completed without reference to the Ibiono and Itu river which served as a major slave trade route in pre-colonial Nigeria, the old Jetty still stands and a number of old prison like the warehouse where slave were kept to await shipment via the river.

Apart from slave relics, tourist attractions abound in itu which includes the beach, navigable water system, beautiful topography offering breathtaking views from the top of the hills, ranging from thick tropical forest, palm groves and vegetable land to rugged valleys on the slopes of gentle rolling hills.

THE STORY OF MARY SLESSOR

Nigeria is simply blessed with abundance of of missionary, colonial and history heritage.

This October our schedule is to explore one of such communities that has lots of such history and we choosed Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom.

Memory Lane

“THE QUEEN OF ITU”

Mary Mitchell slessor, Queen of itu, lived, worked and served the people of Nigeria mostly in the coastal areas of the present day Niger delta. Her services can be interpreted from the tripod of Gospel, justice and education. Put differently, she was a missionary, judge in the colonial courts as well as a teacher.

As a justice conscious Queen of itu and her environs, she tirelessly promoted he course of child rights and women liberation. These were interpreted through her efforts in the rescue of wins and their mothers from the shackles of the traditional system and the laws of efik, Ibibio and Aro societies. Rue to her credit, a stream in Obot Itu (itu hills), at Itu clan of Akwa ibom is known as Babies Stream till date. This stream served as exclusive source of water for rescued twins and their mothers courtesy of mary slessor.


The Twins

The twins poor mites, for some reason, some feared the twins more worse than death and were not allowed to live; they were KILLED AND CRUSHED INTO POTS and thrown away for leopards to eat. Many opposed the custom of killing of twins, later she came to be known as the “Ma who loves babies” Ma” in Efik tongue is a title of respect given to women.

Obot itu or the rolling hills of itu is a community blessed with both missionary, colonial and cultural heritage. Some of which are

· *Mary Slessors Joint Hospital (Obot Itu),Founded in 1905

first hospital in Eastern Nigeria, Established by the Church of Scotland mission and the Methodist mission jointly with the Queen of England. Razed down by combined bombs of Biafra and Nigerian Soldiers in 1968, Renovated in 1978.

Up till his day he MSJH stands out as a testament to the great work done by Mary slessor and still remains the only source of orthodox healthcare for the people of Itu hills and itu local government area.

· *The queens Beach

· *One of the Oldest Quay and Rail Loading system in Eastern Nigeria
*The First Presbyterian church in Eastern Nigeria,Established March 9, 1905, Established under the supervision of Mary slessor,contains the first Presbyterian pulpit in Eastern Nigeria, The church is made of clay and whitewashed with patterns using a cement mortar, contains the first church bell whose chiming was reputed to have been heard up to Arochukwu and okoyong.

*Lepers colony by Church of Scotland,Established in 1928 First of its kind in Eastern Nigeria,Treated over 40,000 lepers till date, Established by Dr. A.B MacDonald of the church of Scotland Mission.

· * Mary slessors and Rev MacDonalds private chapel


· *First post Office in Eastern Nigeria (1907)

· *First concrete bridge in Eastern Nigeria ( 1908)






· *Babies stream

· *Slave trade habour

Esuk Itu (Itu Beach)

THE COSMOPOLITAN BUSINESS WARE HOUSE IN THE 1770S



THE MILLER
Amazing View Of Itu From the Rolling Hills

ibomtourism:
Itu local Government Area is undeniably one of the richest local governments in Nigeria in the area of historic tourism, blessed with amazing views from the top of the rolling hills, itu local government has a bank of history that will interest any scholar, tourist or a lover of history.

ABOUT ROLLING HILLS OF ITU
Rolling Hills of Itu is locally known as Obot Itu, that is the name of the community, the name was gotten from the topography of the Community which is very hilly. Obot itu is surrounded by abundance of beautiful vegetation’s.

The history of Akwa Ibom cannot be completed without reference to the Ibiono and Itu river which served as a major slave trade route in pre-colonial Nigeria, the old Jetty still stands and a number of old prison like the warehouse where slave were kept to await shipment via the river.

Apart from slave relics, tourist attractions abound in itu which includes the beach, navigable water system, beautiful topography offering breathtaking views from the top of the hills, ranging from thick tropical forest, palm groves and vegetable land to rugged valleys on the slopes of gentle rolling hills.

THE STORY OF MARY SLESSOR

Nigeria is simply blessed with abundance of of missionary, colonial and history heritage.

This October our schedule is to explore one of such communities that has lots of such history and we choosed Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom.

Memory Lane

“THE QUEEN OF ITU”

Mary Mitchell slessor, Queen of itu, lived, worked and served the people of Nigeria mostly in the coastal areas of the present day Niger delta. Her services can be interpreted from the tripod of Gospel, justice and education. Put differently, she was a missionary, judge in the colonial courts as well as a teacher.

As a justice conscious Queen of itu and her environs, she tirelessly promoted he course of child rights and women liberation. These were interpreted through her efforts in the rescue of wins and their mothers from the shackles of the traditional system and the laws of efik, Ibibio and Aro societies. Rue to her credit, a stream in Obot Itu (itu hills), at Itu clan of Akwa ibom is known as Babies Stream till date. This stream served as exclusive source of water for rescued twins and their mothers courtesy of mary slessor.


The Twins

The twins poor mites, for some reason, some feared the twins more worse than death and were not allowed to live; they were KILLED AND CRUSHED INTO POTS and thrown away for leopards to eat. Many opposed the custom of killing of twins, later she came to be known as the “Ma who loves babies” Ma” in Efik tongue is a title of respect given to women.

Obot itu or the rolling hills of itu is a community blessed with both missionary, colonial and cultural heritage. Some of which are

· *Mary Slessors Joint Hospital (Obot Itu),Founded in 1905

first hospital in Eastern Nigeria, Established by the Church of Scotland mission and the Methodist mission jointly with the Queen of England. Razed down by combined bombs of Biafra and Nigerian Soldiers in 1968, Renovated in 1978.

Up till his day he MSJH stands out as a testament to the great work done by Mary slessor and still remains the only source of orthodox healthcare for the people of Itu hills and itu local government area.

· *The queens Beach

· *One of the Oldest Quay and Rail Loading system in Eastern Nigeria
*The First Presbyterian church in Eastern Nigeria,Established March 9, 1905, Established under the supervision of Mary slessor,contains the first Presbyterian pulpit in Eastern Nigeria, The church is made of clay and whitewashed with patterns using a cement mortar, contains the first church bell whose chiming was reputed to have been heard up to Arochukwu and okoyong.

*Lepers colony by Church of Scotland,Established in 1928 First of its kind in Eastern Nigeria,Treated over 40,000 lepers till date, Established by Dr. A.B MacDonald of the church of Scotland Mission.

· * Mary slessors and Rev MacDonalds private chapel


· *First post Office in Eastern Nigeria (1907)

· *First concrete bridge in Eastern Nigeria ( 1908)






· *Babies stream

· *Slave trade habour

Esuk Itu (Itu Beach)

THE COSMOPOLITAN BUSINESS WARE HOUSE IN THE 1770S



THE MILLER
Amazing View Of Itu From the Rolling Hills

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