TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN OGUN STATE

OLUMO ROCK:
The historic city of Abeokuta, which is about 100 kilo metres from Lagos stands at a height about 300ft, above sea level. It has a hot, humid climate and an average annual rainfall of 47 inches. With an urban population of about half a million, the town is set amidst a group of granite rocks of pre-cambrian formation, the central one of which is the famous Olumo Rock, Abeokuta (meaning under the Rock) derives its name from the Rock. The Rock is sacred in Abeokuta history as the place where the first settlers found refuge from their attackers.
To the Egbas, Olumo Rock stands not only as a I1'lOnument of faith in unity, but also a source of national strength and unfailing protection and sustenance from the Suprema Being who led their ancestors through the perplexities of life safely to Abeokuta. This refuge marked the end of their wanderings and struggles for existence. It marked the focal point of their 'promised land' where they were free from incessant persecution and fears of annihilation.
The main body of the Egbas that settled at the present site around 1830 gave the name Abeokuta to the town around Olufimo later shortened to Olumo ('the Lord built if). From that time onwards)he Egbas have regarded the Olumo Rock as their protection shrine, and so makG annual sacrifices to its deity. The original home of the Egbas had been in the Egba Forests and Farms from where they dispersed. Olumo Rock thus became the rallying point when the Egbas re-grouped at Abeokuta.

The Olumo Rock before it was uplifted to an international standard by the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Administration.

IFAORACLE:
The importance of Olumo Rock to the Egbas is conveyed in the saying that 'Abeokuta' was the gift of the Olumo as Egypt of the 'Nile'. This is said to agree with the predictions of the If a Oracle which when consulted, tlad assured the Egbas that they would become a great nation under Olumo's protection. Today, the Egbas demonstrate their pride in their origin by singing annually in its honour a special ,anthem captioned "I SHALL· REJOICE ON THE OLUiMO ROCK".
Placed inside the Rock and worshipped annually by women is the 'Orisa Igun: The celebration lasts thirty days during which goats, rams etc .. are scarificed./There is also the regularly performed traditional ceremony marking the commencement of yam harvesting season at the Rock site. The Olumo Rock feature so prominently in the national life of the Egbas that no programme of any 'national' celebration is ever regarded as complete with­out being preceded by the booming of guns by the traditional hunters from the top of Olumo Rock. Those who believe that Olumo can change their lives for the better go privately to make sacrifices to the deity.
Many tales of mystery have been told about events that took place in the vicinity of the Rock. It was once said that when an attempt was made to blast the Rock, pus and blood gushed out, and the spot was quickly sealed up. There is infact a cemented spot right on the peak. There is an iron with a mark of an equal-armed cross driven down into the rock. The area around it is well cemented with A.T. 3 written on it. It has also been claimed that the removal of the parsonage of the Holy Trinity Church, Ikereku, from its location near the foot of the Rock was due to incessant molestations of the place by all sorts of 'imps'from the Rock at night. There was, indeed, a true occasion-Lisabi feast of Unity and co­operation when Oba Ademola II entertained prominent Egbas in 1930 and dedicated the Rock once more as a monument of faith, perseverance and patriotism.
Olumo, a massive outcrop of granitic rocks, is located off Alatise betvlJeen Ikija and Ikereku neighbour hoods. Olumo, however, is unique among other outcrops because 0'­Its historical importance. The I,ighest point on Olumo is
about 137 metres above the sea level. It offers a natural bulwark against invasions from the Western or Eastern sides. With Ogun River in the West, that side was considered by the first refugees as security proof.
The big cave is about twenty feet long and twenty-five feet wide. It has slab-like stones which appear as seats used by the ancient dwellers, it could have been a Hall or Conference Room. Another cave -some twenty metres long and seventeen metres wide-appears to be
the dwelling place.lt has five built-in rooms with a long corridor used variously as a sitting room, kitchen and store. At the east-end there is another big cave cut with mud walls into ar:l outer and an inner chamber. This is used as a shrine by the devotees of Orisa Igun (God of Longevity) .
Visftors'to Olumo Rock can be conducted round and to the top of the Rock by the young men who guard and watch the place as the 'Keeper' of Olumo Shrine. Relics of materials used by the early settlers are preserved in a sort of small museum by the Rock side. There is a motorable road and gates leading into the yard of the Rock. Toilet facilities are available for visitors who can also take advantage of nearby hotels. The State Govern­ment has declared its efforts to develop Olumo Rock to meet international standard.

BIRIKISU SUNGBO SHRINE, OKE-ERI:
The Birikisu Sungbo Shrine, another popular tourist centre in Ogun State, is located at Oke-Eri near Ijebu­Ode in the Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area.
At present, the shrine has become a monument of religious curiosity as Moslems from all over the country and beyond converge there for prayers durinn their festivals. This is because of the belief that whoever visits the shrine and asks for anything in sober reflection will achieve such desires.
I n her lifetime, Birikisu, who was resident at Oke-Eri was. described as a devoted religionist.
She was also credited with the possession of super­natural powers. For example, it was claimed that she once dug pits around the village with a needle.
But even then, Birikisu still seems to be exuding such powers in her grave, This is because no weed has ever been known to have grown on her burial ground ana on
the spot where she was washed before being buried.
One striking aspect of the shrine is that only male visitors have access to the real tomb as women are strictly forbidden by tradition.
The key to the tomb is kept for security reasons by an old traditional custodian in the village.
However, history has it that an expatriate woman who over-stepped the boundary for the female sex within the shrine died immediately after stepping on the tomb.
At Birikisu Sungbo Shrine, there is a parking space, two guest chalets and a praying hall. Tourists should contact the Ministry of Commence and Industries Abeokuta for fuller information about the centre. A bore­hole has been dug for supply of water to the centre.
Birikisu Sungbo Shrine,Oke-Eri

EBUTE-ONI TGURIST BEACH:
Plan is well under way to transform Ebute-Oni into a Tourist and Recreational' Centre. Ebute-Oni is the water-front to the small village of Oni, Ijebu Waterside, :owards the Southern Sector of Ogun State on the Lekl<i Lagoon.
Adrivefrom Oniparaga - a busy junction village onthe Lagos-Benin Trunk 'A' Road - leads one terminally to Ebute-Oni, fifty-five kilometres away on the expansive Lekki Lagoon. Access to Ebute-Oni is via the rather narrow but well maintained Trunk 'B' Road which serves a number of small settlements namely: Araromi Obu, lIushin, Ibiade, Iwopin and Oni itself. The road also serves the extensive Araromi and lIushin Rubber Es­tates, the Lomiro Palm Oil Estates as well as the Farm Settlement at Ibiade,
The exact date of the founding of Ebute-Oni cannot be stated accurately but it is generally believed to have been founded early this century obviously by fishermen to take advantage of its strategic location for the pursuit of their trade. Ebute-Oni, in line with its neighbours along the coast, is on a low-lying area below thirty metres above sea level.The topography slopes gradually towards the la­goon and so ensures effective drainage. The approach to the waterside is made of very beautiful scenery. The vegetation around is of the deciduous species. Ebute­Oni Tourist Beach presently has four chalets to house prospective visitors. Other infrastructure including a lawn tennis court, are being planned for this holiday resort.

YEMOJI SWIMMING POOL:
The Yemoji Tourist Centre is a natural Swimming Pool carved out of the cool stream of Yemoji located on kilometre six along Ijebu-Ode roadThe swimming pool itself is about thirty-two metres long and eleven metres wide. It has a depth of eighteen metres to seven metres in some places.
The history of the centre dates back to the colonial era when a group of colonial officials and European employ­ees of some commercial firms formed themselves into Ijebu-Ode Club in 1925 which subsequently developed part of Yemoji River into a Swimming Recreation Centre. At the demise of colonial rule, Africans naturally took over the Administration of the Club.
There is a guest chalet at the centre. Tourists to the swimming pool also have easy access to several high­class hotels in Ijebu-Ode which is less than ten minutes drive from the pool. The swimming pool has been dredged and the banks renovated. Standing-umbrellas with seats are available to provide shade for visitors.

*** Yemoji Swimming Pool

SUNA CULTURAL HALL, IMODI-IJEBU-ODE: .
The Suna Cultural Hall, Imodi, near Ijebu-Ode,fea­tures archaeological finds pertaining to the grave of the First Otunba Suna, a Balogun during the Owu war. The finds include a number of brass arm and leg ornaments and necklaces of brass and glass.
The ancient art works in brass, beads and ornaments with which Otunbas adorned themselves in the olden days are now available for the viewing of tourists at the Suna Cultural Centre.
The Centre opens from Monday to Friday, between 10.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. and on Saturday between 10.00 a.m. and 12.00 noon.

OTHER TOURIST POTENTIALS IN THE STATE
There are some other tourist potentials that have been identified in the State. While some of these have been acquired for further improvement by the State Government, others are yet to be recommended for further development. Those tourist cultural spots ac­quired are The Oronna Shrine, lIaro, Orisagamu Ewa Stream, Sagamu, and Madam Tinubu Tomb, Abeokuta. Others that have been identified are the Celestial City, Imeko, Taborrah Hill, Ogere, Traditional Regatta, Iwopin and the Tongeji Island near Ipokia.