₦airaland Forum

I have always said that home is wherever I am. I am not attached to walls, or people for that matter. Home is a place in the mind. When it is empty, it frets. It is fretful with memory. Faces and times go by, yet beloved images rise up in disobedience, and make a mirror for emptiness.

There are people who believe that home is where one hangs one’s hat, but these people tend to live in closets and on little pegs. That is why they still go far, looking for beautiful places, while others make their places beautiful.

Home is a lot more than that for me. It reminds me of something Gov. Ajimobi said during his speech on Independence Day last year. He said, “While my dreams and vision for the state may be far from being fully achieved till date, we must, nonetheless, periodically take stock, lest our sworn critics fill in the gap with lies and distortions, and it is with great gratitude to the prayerful help and support of our compatriots, that I recall how we have given the state a new lease of life.”

Goose bumps flooded my skin in celebration and pride, as I caught onto those last words. I knew too well that indeed, this state has been given a new lease of life, but not only that, I was pleased, for I sighed in content that we both shared the same feelings of what home means to us.

Asides our administrative pedigree as the centre of administration of the Old Western Region, which began right from the days of British colonial rule, the central power this city evokes is galactic!

Every Ibadan son and daughter must be proud of his or her ancestry. We should all be proud of how far we have come. I know I am, that is why I salute the forefathers of Ibadan land, especially the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, not excluding the people of Oyo State who have made this dream; our home, a reality.

It may take a little while to begin to reap the fruits of our labour, but how great is it that we are already witnessing the impact and seeing the seeds grow and ripen with our very own eyes.

Where my home is, is right here.
Ibadan! Wo! I am beyond proud to call you mine!

Oluwaseyi1234:
I have always said that home is wherever I am. I am not attached to walls, or people for that matter. Home is a place in the mind. When it is empty, it frets. It is fretful with memory. Faces and times go by, yet beloved images rise up in disobedience, and make a mirror for emptiness.

There are people who believe that home is where one hangs one’s hat, but these people tend to live in closets and on little pegs. That is why they still go far, looking for beautiful places, while others make their places beautiful.

Home is a lot more than that for me. It reminds me of something Gov. Ajimobi said during his speech on Independence Day last year. He said, “While my dreams and vision for the state may be far from being fully achieved till date, we must, nonetheless, periodically take stock, lest our sworn critics fill in the gap with lies and distortions, and it is with great gratitude to the prayerful help and support of our compatriots, that I recall how we have given the state a new lease of life.”

Goose bumps flooded my skin in celebration and pride, as I caught onto those last words. I knew too well that indeed, this state has been given a new lease of life, but not only that, I was pleased, for I sighed in content that we both shared the same feelings of what home means to us.

Asides our administrative pedigree as the centre of administration of the Old Western Region, which began right from the days of British colonial rule, the central power this city evokes is galactic!

Every Ibadan son and daughter must be proud of his or her ancestry. We should all be proud of how far we have come. I know I am, that is why I salute the forefathers of Ibadan land, especially the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, not excluding the people of Oyo State who have made this dream; our home, a reality.

It may take a little while to begin to reap the fruits of our labour, but how great is it that we are already witnessing the impact and seeing the seeds grow and ripen with our very own eyes.

Where my home is, is right here.
Ibadan! Wo! I am beyond proud to call you mine!

I love my Ibadan, but government must ban all brown roofs, arrest the owners and demolish all the brown roof houses

There are 2 things that need to be done to catapult Ibadan to greater heights

1 High-speed rail connecting the city to Lagos

2 Funding of the research centres and institutions in the city especially IITA, UI and UCH. There is also NISER, NIHORT, IAR&T, FRIN, CRIN, NABDA, NACGRAB.

Most people aren't aware of how important those institutions are. I can see the city developing into a software, biotech, and medical research hub if these institutions are heavily funded. We are wasting our time if we think we can make much progress in Agric without heavily funding our Agric research centres. Netherlands and Israel are good examples of what could happen if a country funds her research centres

Ibadan could be sold as a hub for venture capital-backed Agro startups akin to what obtains in Nairobi and Kigali. The city has land. Imagine an Agro-city a la Eko Atlantic close to somewhere around Moor plantation.

So much potential breh

Jetleeee:
There are 2 things that need to be done to catapult Ibadan to greater heights

1 High-speed rail connecting the city to Lagos

2 Funding of the research centres and institutions in the city especially IITA and UI. There is also NISER, NIHORT, IAR&T, FRIN, CRIN, NABDA, NACGRAB.

Most people aren't aware of how important those institutions are. I can see the city developing into a software, biotech, and medical research hub if these institutions are heavily funded. We are wasting our time if we think we can make much progress in Agric without heavily funding our Agric research centres. Netherlands and Israel are good examples of what could happen if a country funds her research centres

Ibadan could be sold as a hub for venture capital-backed Agro startups akin to what obtains in Nairobi and Kigali. The city has land. Imagine an Agro-city a la Eko Atlantic close to somewhere around Moor plantation.

So much potential breh

Well said bro

Jetleeee:
There are 2 things that need to be done to catapult Ibadan to greater heights

1 High-speed rail connecting the city to Lagos

2 Funding of the research centres and institutions in the city especially IITA and UI. There is also NISER, NIHORT, IAR&T, FRIN, CRIN, NABDA, NACGRAB.

Most people aren't aware of how important those institutions are. I can see the city developing into a software, biotech, and medical research hub if these institutions are heavily funded. We are wasting our time if we think we can make much progress in Agric without heavily funding our Agric research centres. Netherlands and Israel are good examples of what could happen if a country funds her research centres

Ibadan could be sold as a hub for venture capital-backed Agro startups akin to what obtains in Nairobi and Kigali. The city has land. Imagine an Agro-city a la Eko Atlantic close to somewhere around Moor plantation.

So much potential breh

The problem is that all those institutions are federally owned with the exception of IITA that is foreign sponsored. The state government has little power over them.

Truly Ibadan has a lot of potential. the land near CRIN too is vast!!

Oluwaseyi1234:
I have always said that home is wherever I am. I am not attached to walls, or people for that matter. Home is a place in the mind. When it is empty, it frets. It is fretful with memory. Faces and times go by, yet beloved images rise up in disobedience, and make a mirror for emptiness.

There are people who believe that home is where one hangs one’s hat, but these people tend to live in closets and on little pegs. That is why they still go far, looking for beautiful places, while others make their places beautiful.

Home is a lot more than that for me. It reminds me of something Gov. Ajimobi said during his speech on Independence Day last year. He said, “While my dreams and vision for the state may be far from being fully achieved till date, we must, nonetheless, periodically take stock, lest our sworn critics fill in the gap with lies and distortions, and it is with great gratitude to the prayerful help and support of our compatriots, that I recall how we have given the state a new lease of life.”

Goose bumps flooded my skin in celebration and pride, as I caught onto those last words. I knew too well that indeed, this state has been given a new lease of life, but not only that, I was pleased, for I sighed in content that we both shared the same feelings of what home means to us.

Asides our administrative pedigree as the centre of administration of the Old Western Region, which began right from the days of British colonial rule, the central power this city evokes is galactic!

Every Ibadan son and daughter must be proud of his or her ancestry. We should all be proud of how far we have come. I know I am, that is why I salute the forefathers of Ibadan land, especially the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, not excluding the people of Oyo State who have made this dream; our home, a reality.

It may take a little while to begin to reap the fruits of our labour, but how great is it that we are already witnessing the impact and seeing the seeds grow and ripen with our very own eyes.

Where my home is, is right here.
Ibadan! Wo! I am beyond proud to call you mine!

Good write up. weldone bro

shukuokukobambi:
The problem is that all those institutions are federally owned with the exception of IITA that is foreign sponsored. The state government has little power over them.

Truly Ibadan has a lot of potential

This is why regionalism is badly needed. The dundees at the top don't give a fook about these institutions, yet they won't let the state governments take control of them even if they want to

The country is structurally fooked up. That's why you have so many moribund industries everywhere.

Jetleeee:
This is why regionalism is badly needed. The dundees at the top don't give a fook about these institutions, yet they won't let the state governments take control of them even if they want to

The country is structurally fooked up. That's why you have so many moribund industries everywhere.

o su mi jare

Jetleeee:
This is why regionalism is badly needed. The dundees at the top don't give a fook about these institutions, yet they won't let the state governments take control of them even if they want to

The country is structurally fooked up. That's why you have so many moribund industries everywhere.

Is there really anything stopping the states setting up their own institutions?

Jetleeee:
There are 2 things that need to be done to catapult Ibadan to greater heights

1 High-speed rail connecting the city to Lagos

2 Funding of the research centres and institutions in the city especially IITA and UI. There is also NISER, NIHORT, IAR&T, FRIN, CRIN, NABDA, NACGRAB.

Most people aren't aware of how important those institutions are. I can see the city developing into a software, biotech, and medical research hub if these institutions are heavily funded. We are wasting our time if we think we can make much progress in Agric without heavily funding our Agric research centres. Netherlands and Israel are good examples of what could happen if a country funds her research centres

Ibadan could be sold as a hub for venture capital-backed Agro startups akin to what obtains in Nairobi and Kigali. The city has land. Imagine an Agro-city a la Eko Atlantic close to somewhere around Moor plantation.

So much potential breh

That is going on as we speak.

Sadly, the state government is not taking advantage of the huge population and land mass in terms of IGR collection and enforcement. Oyo state right now should be posting huge IGR after Lagos and without significant IGR and with dwindling allocations, the government can not address the state's infrastructure deficit.

They are handling agriculture to some degree, but still not aggressive enough considering the fact that they have all the major Agric institutions withing their border.

ICT hubs are surprisingly springing up in Ibadan, young folks in Ibadan are also very excited and energized about their cities and state in general and night life in Ibadan is shaping up almost like Lagos.

They educated manpower is top class and Ibadan is home to our premier and one of the best Universities in Nigeria

There's a reason why Ibadan is home to the largest Shoprite in Nigeria, it's because of their buying power, prospect for great economic growth and enlightened society. They have major international brands like KFC, Dominos, Cold Stone Creamery, major mall and Agodi Gardens is the best amusement park in Nigeria with zero competition.

Ibadan must wake up and aggressively move away from their SW political and administrative center mentality to a strong and viable economic powerhouse because the potential is huge.

why can't the state set up their own institutions

Could Ibadan be Nigeria’s next top city?

With its sprawling population, agricultural potential and commercial promise, Ibadan could rival Lagos as an economic hub. But there are many challenges to overcome.

Ibadan, the city of brown rusty roofs, was once the capital of Western Nigeria. It’s now the capital of Oyo State. It was the driving force of change in the entire region, churning out ideas, projects and people that transformed the region, the country and the continent. Yet today, the city plays second fiddle to Nigeria’s financial capital of Lagos just 120km down the road – though some say it could rival the economic hub. In the 1960s, Ibadan was the largest city in Nigeria, and the third largest in Africa. But since then it has dropped down the pecking order and is now only the third-largest metropolitan area in the whole of Nigeria. That is not to say, however, that it is not huge and sprawling. According to the UN, Ibadan’s population stood at an impressive 2.84m in 2010. Five years after, it will certainly be higher.

[b]Indeed, Ibadan attracts people from across the country. In 2012, for example, Emeka travelled from Enugu in the east in search of a better life.

“It was to look for better something,” he says riding his okada (motorbike). He moved westwards and weighed up the possibilities before settling on Ibadan where he has lived since. “Ibadan is closer to Lagos and not as expensive as Lagos… Here, you can save more,” he explains. While Lagos retains its significance as the economic seat of Nigeria, Ibadan holds a special place culturally. Several buildings testify to this such as Mapo Hall, the first hall in Ibadan, commissioned in 1929, and Bower’s Tower, commissioned in 1936.

Several establishments also confirm the place of Ibadan in Nigeria and Africa’s history. The University of Ibadan, established in 1948, is known to be the first university set up in the whole country. The Ibadan-based Western Nigerian Television was the first television station on the continent. And the city was, and still is, home to a variety of prominent organisations such as the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Nigerian Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER).

According to Dipo Famakinwa, Director-General of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Ibadan’s rich history informs its exciting present. “[The city’s history] affects the quality of thinking, the quality of the programmes, the quality of the projects and the quality of the people,” he says.[/b]

Untapped potential

However, while Ibadan’s prominent past may still reverberate through its streets and peoples today, it must also be recognised that Ibadan struggles to match the economic and business heights reached in the likes of Lagos.

“Business flows into Lagos more than Ibadan,” says Bashir Zungeru, a money changer whose great-grandparents moved to Ibadan from Zaria decades ago. “We don’t have an international airport, no seaport, no [coastal] border…You can be in Lagos and be making international business transactions.”

In contrast to Lagos, Zungeru points out, Ibadan’s infrastructure is somewhat lacking. The city has only two flyover bridges and many of the roads are narrow. The local airport meanwhile is hardly buzzing with activity and many residents go to Lagos in order to catch flights. Nevertheless, many agree that the potential for the city is enormous, and in 2012, Frontier Marketing Group listed Ibadan as one of Africa’s Top 10 Cities to Watch.

According to many businesspeople that have made it in Ibadan, understanding the city’s consumers and their preferences is crucial to doing well there. Ibadan residents, for instance, are said to seek out high quality at low prices.

“People say it’s tougher here because an ordinary Ibadan person pays less compared to places like Lagos where I came from,” says Olumide Bisiriyu, one of the many businesspeople that have tried to succeed in Ibadan.

Bisiriyu, an estate surveyor, moved his business from Lagos to Ibadan in 2013. He faced various obstacles in making it work, but he proved that doing well in Ibadan is possible despite the challenges – and he is far from the only one to bet on the city.

For instance, there are now two Shoprite outlets in the city, including the largest Shoprite mall in West Africa. In November 2014, Flour Mills made Ibadan the home of its biggest palm oil refinery. Domino’s Pizza has two outlets. And the South African internet provider Smile Communications started its Nigerian expansion from Ibadan, to name just a few.

This influx of Nigerian and international businesses is good for the economy, says Famakinwa, but he emphasises that it may be agriculture that holds the key to truly transforming the regional economy.

“Ibadan can actually become an agro-industrial zone for Nigeria. It can be one of the foremost agro-industrial zones for Africa if resources are well tapped,” he says. “[Oyo state] could be converted to that unique agricultural industrial zone that can feed many parts of the country.”

Famakinwa points to the fact that DAWN is headquartered in Cocoa House, which was built in the 1960s from proceeds of cocoa, rubber and timber. It was once the tallest building in tropical Africa and, according to Famakinwa, the grand edifice still stands tall as a testament to what is possible if agriculture is explored and developed to its full potential.

The way forwards

Few dispute the possibilities open to Ibadan, but the city still has a long way to go if it is to fulfil its promise, and large gaps in both its services and markets remain.

The state government is overburdened with waste management yet where is Ibadan’s Wecyclers to take on this challenge? The transportation sector is craving a rush of new energy to reinvigorate its old tired buses, yet where is Uber for young people who want to get around? The cultural sector also needs a fresh look, yet where are the entertainment companies to run regular shows in the city?

Some residents of Ibadan are waiting for innovative and courageous companies to take the plunge to fill these needs, but others point out that economic activity cannot be divorced from the political environment and the policies put in place to attract businesses. On that front, Zungeru believes the current leadership is showing some positive signs.

“Things have been better since Ajimobi came in,” he says, referring to Abiola Isiaka Ajimobi, the governor of the state who was re-elected in April 2015. He was the first governor of the state to be elected for two terms, and residents of the region hope that this continuity will allow the administration to implement longer-term policies.

“You need a government focused on bringing all those possibilities on the table,” says Famakinwa of the region’s promise. “You also need stability….But you need to bring all the resources together: the people, the institutions, the economic advantages…to achieve economic development.”

In May 2015, Governor Ajimobi signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese company to build a light rail of about 30km within the city. Famakinwa believes that these kinds of infrastructural projects could be a real boost for the economy not just of the city but of the broader area.

“It will boost the economy of the region by between 120-150%,” he predicts. “That’s an area that we need to focus on. The latent capacity in the region will be further developed if we have rail connection.”

Ibadan’s present is far from being as glorious and impressive as its fondly remembered past. However, its future is yet to be written – and if the city’s vast and brimming potential is confronted, understood and harnessed, it could hold even greater riches for Ibadan’s generations to come.

http://africanbusinessmagazine.com/sectors/infrastructure/could-ibadan-be-nigerias-next-top-city/

The future is very bright, the city is just in dire need of good, focused and dedicated leadership.

MyNewJackeT:
why can't the state set up their own institutions

Every state will not have to set up replica offices if the FG agencies are capable and willing, just a thought.

MyNewJackeT:
why can't the state set up their own institutions

Why duplicate and waste money on new institutions when you already have world class and respected institutions within your borders.?

BankeSmalls:
I love my Ibadan, but government must ban all brown roofs, arrest the owners and demolish all the brown roof houses

brown roof is a sign that it's been a long way coming, it shows our forefathers enjoyed there old age n were not killed in there prime. Ibadan has most brown roof in Nigeria n most Behind places in Nigeria except Lagos n abuja. no state in d whole of south east can place itself beside Ibadan city in terms of everything. even imo state is just celebrating there first flyover whereas Ibadan has more than 12 flyovers.

Obi1kenobi:
Is there really anything stopping the states setting up their own institutions?

State owned universities? Yes they are allowed to, but i'm not 100% sure whether states are allowed to have state-owned research institutions. Even if they are allowed to, where will the money to start something like that from the scratch and constantly fund it come from?

It's better to just make do with what's already available

What I would prefer are privately owned research institutions. Even PPP wouldn't be a bad idea

deomelo:

That is going on as we speak.

Sadly, the state government is not taking advantage of the huge population and land mass in terms of IGR collection and enforcement. Oyo state right now should be posting huge IGR after Lagos and without significant IGR and with dwindling allocations, the government can not address the state's infrastructure deficit.

They are handling agriculture to some degree, but still not aggressive enough considering the fact that they have all the major Agric institutions withing their border.

ICT hubs are surprisingly springing up in Ibadan, young folks in Ibadan are also very excited and energized about their cities and state in general and night life in Ibadan is shaping up almost like Lagos.

They educated manpower is top class and Ibadan is home to our premier and one of the best Universities in Nigeria

There's a reason why Ibadan is home to the largest Shoprite in Nigeria, it's because of their buying power, prospect for great economic growth and enlightened society. They have major international brands like KFC, Dominos, Cold Stone Creamery, major mall and Agodi Gardens is the best amusement park in Nigeria with zero competition.

Ibadan must wake up and aggressively move away from their SW political and administrative center mentality to a strong and viable economic powerhouse because the potential is huge.

Abeg do you have any links?

Jetleeee:
Abeg do you have any links?

Regarding?

deomelo:
Regarding?

Agro-startups based in Ibadan

Jetleeee:
State owned universities? Yes they are allowed to, but i'm not 100% sure whether states are allowed to have state-owned research institutions. Even if they are allowed to, where will the money to start something like that from the scratch and constantly fund it come from?

It's better to just make do with what's already available

What I would prefer are privately owned research institutions. Even PPP wouldn't be a bad idea

I think as far as something like mining of state minerals or control of international borders within states goes, there are inhibiting Federal laws and hence you have many mineral-rich states across the country that can do little with their god-given resources as everything is channeled towards "oyel", but I doubt there's anything really, other than financing that limits states in setting up and funding any kind of research institution in education, health and bio-sciences, agriculture, technology etc that they wish to.

Oyo is certainly one of the most blessed states in the country considering its huge size, population, historical and cultural importance and relatively high education standards. And was the former regional capital too. Attracting the capital inflows it seeks from the corporate world would be difficult though. Ogun is reaping this at the moment due to pretty much surrounding an increasingly saturated Lagos, so industries and residents are flowing across its borders. The rail-line and completion of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway might aid the economic integration though.

Obi1kenobi:
I think as far as something like mining of state minerals or control of international borders within states goes, there are inhibiting Federal laws and hence you have many mineral-rich states across the country that can do little with their god-given resources as everything is channeled towards "oyel", but I doubt there's anything really, other than financing that limits states in setting up and funding any kind of research institution in education, health and bio-sciences, agriculture, technology etc that they wish to.

Oyo is certainly one of the most blessed states in the country considering its huge size, population, historical and cultural importance and relatively high education standards. And was the former regional capital too. Attracting the capital inflows it seeks from the corporate world would be difficult though. Ogun is reaping this at the moment due to pretty much surrounding an increasingly saturated Lagos, so industries and residents are flowing across its borders. The rail-line and completion of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway might aid the economic integration though.

True words breh. Lack of vision and exposure is also part of it. Most of these All these governors aren't futuristic, and the people aren't smart either. That's why they always come back to repeat the same nonsense about good roads/clean water every election and people take them seriously. They're so basic with their ideas and manifestos. No one is planning to do anything along this line, cos they don't even know jack about it. Pentium 1 state of mind.

Heck! all these guys know about ICT are computer labs

Unik3030:
brown roof is a sign that it's been a long way coming, it shows our forefathers enjoyed there old age n were not killed in there prime. Ibadan has most brown roof in Nigeria n most Behind places in Nigeria except Lagos n abuja. no state in d whole of south east can place itself beside Ibadan city in terms of everything. even imo state is just celebrating there first flyover whereas Ibadan has more than 12 flyovers.

Poverty can be legendary, a hungry man is checking weight.

Ibadan my great city.

Here is a good piece on all I've been saying

https://medium.com/@topefalade/ibadan-the-new-knowledge-economy-and-city-branding-8b4b94e10d74

kernel505:
Poverty can be legendary, a hungry man is checking weight.

what is this one talking about now

deomelo:
Why duplicate and waste money on new institutions when you already have world class and respected institutions within your borders.?

why wait to be handed dysfunctional institution when you could just build one with your high IGR

MyNewJackeT:
why wait to be handed dysfunctional institution when you could just build one with your high IGR

Nothing dysfunctional about IITA and the other international agric institutions in Ibadan.

deomelo:
Nothing dysfunctional about IITA and the other international agric institutions in Ibadan.

sorry maybe you misquoted me, I said why wait to be handed over a dysfunctional institution because the FG Will only give it to the state when it can't handle it anymore.

MyNewJackeT:
sorry maybe you misquoted me, I said why wait to be handed over a dysfunctional institution because the FG Will only give it to the state when it can't handle it anymore.

IITA is an international institution not a Nigerian institution.

Ibadan is a great city. I've just been unable to get a job.

Many people dont know that the city has the highest number of research institutes in the country coupled with the country best university and best medical school!