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FEMI MAKINDE, who visited the new-look Ikogosi Warm Spring, writes on nature’s gift and its significance to mankind
Oozing out from a hill and flowing down
the rocky path to the valley, the Ikogosi Warm Spring in Ikogosi Ekiti,
in Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State is regarded as one of
the eight warm springs in the world. After a long period of neglect,
life has finally returned to the benevolence of nature.
It is a natural warm spring and the
unique thermal property of the water flowing has attracted tourists from
various parts of the country and beyond to the resort which is termed
the new ‘Garden of Eden on the earth.’
The warm water which oozes out from the
hill is believed to have therapeutic power and visitors to the place buy
bottles to take away the ‘strange’ water for healing and probably
spiritual purposes. The spring is not about the warm water alone, but
cold water also flows from another source and the two bodies of water
with contrasting temperatures meet at a point and maintain their
different temperatures until they finally become cold at a point and
flow peacefully out of the resort.
Another mystery at the meeting point of
both waters is a palm tree and a tree growing from the same source. The
two different species of trees share the same root and they both thrive.
The serenity at the entrance of the
resort which ushers in visitors to the spring is charming, especially as
one escapes from the bustling of the city to the garden of peace.
A popular water factory situated at the
outskirt of Ikogosi town faces the stream which flows out of the resort
where kids showcase their swimming skills. It also serves various
purposes to the people of the town. With tall trees on both sides of the
road and well-mowed carpet of lush vegetation, the beautiful landscape
which meets visitor at the resort’s entrance is an indicator that the
tourism potential of the small quiet town called Ikogosi is now being
explored.
The warm spring, which residents of the
town said was once a dreaded forest which could only be assessed by
brave hunters and herbalists, was discovered to be a good tourist centre
by a Baptist missionary in the 1950s. The missionary identified as
McGee had made the place a relaxation spot. Other people soon joined
McGee to benefit from nature’s work.
But despite the opportunities the spring
possesses with the chalets and conference hall, it suffered neglect as
wild animals like antelopes and snakes took over the facility while
mosquitoes chased away a few tourists who dared visit. Succour came the
way of nature’s deposit when Governor Kayode Fayemi transformed the
resort, bringing back its glory.
To make visits to the flagship of
tourist centre in Ekiti State memorable, the chalets were renovated and
new ones were added to the existing ones. A new conference hall was also
built and furnished. The roads were tarred with car parks that could
take over 300 vehicles. A swimming pool, mart and restaurant are some
of the facilities that attract people to the resort. No wonder it is
always fully booked every weekend, thereby boosting the Internally
Generated Revenue of the state government.
Visitors need not labour to climb the
rough surface to locate the warm and cold water meeting point; from
their chalets, a wooden bridge of about 400 meters lead them to the
point.
Apart from serving its tourism purposes,
Ikogosi Warm Spring is also a fountain of knowledge, with students of
various tertiary institutions, as well as pupils of primary and
secondary schools, with supervision from a tour guide, visiting to learn
new things about nature. After acquiring knowledge, they spend more
time relaxing and feeling the ambience of the resort.
When our correspondent visited on
Tuesday, a primary school pupil, Inioluwa Olufemi, who visited with his
parents, told him that he would love to come back to the spring.
“This is the closest I have ever been to nature. I really enjoyed my visit here and will like to come back very soon,” she said.
Accentuating the importance of the
resort is the constant visit of international figures that are guests of
the Ekiti State Governor, among them is the World Bank Country Director
in Nigeria, Ms. Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly. A cultural troupe from
Cuba had also performed for the people who visited the resort during the
second year anniversary of the present government of the state. But
while the place serves its goodness to the people, a renowned poet,
Prof. Niyi Osundare, who lectures at a university in New Orleans, US,
and who visited recently, warned that only proper maintenance would
sustain the beauty of the place.
Osundare said, “ Ikogosi must not be
allowed to become a victim of the typical Nigerian malaise of neglect
and arrant desuetude. When I come here in two years time, in five years
time, in 50 years time, I would like to see this place looking more
beautiful, more alluringly functional, than it is even now. For here we
must have an eternal place to stand and stare, a place to dream and
dare.”
With such words beautifully woven by a distinguished poet and visitor, Ikogosi lives on in the forest of peace.
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