Thrills and frills of 2018 Igbeti Hills Tourism carnival

The 2018 Igbeti Hills Tourism Carnival has come and gone, but the innovative activities that came with it  will linger in the minds of the people of Igbeti for years to come.

The people were joined by thousands of visitors, corporate organisations, tourists from within and outside Nigeria to celebrate the Easter season in style.

The event which was increased from a day fiesta to three days of entertaining feature turn Igbeti to a sort of Mecca for visitors and tourists who streamed into the town from neighbouring village, cities states and beyond.

The three days featured prayer sessions, peace walk, dance, drum and cultural performance, gala/award night.

Others include mountain climbing, musical talent show, Football and volleyball competition and traditional games among others.

Apart from the unique Agbele-human-like-rock structure that welcomes visitors to the town of 16 hills, the Iyamopo hill which is adorned by different point of prominent historical relevance was thronged by an influx visitors and tourists who stream up and down of the massive hill to satisfy not only cultural and spiritual obligations but also for fun seekers who used the climbing session to renew their wellness activities.

The Iyamopo hill hiking fiesta is not only getting prominent among the sons and daughters of Igbeti land who supported the carnival in their droves but also creating exceptional experience for some loyal returnees who have, in one time or the other visited the town before.

While some first-timers were sharing their breathtaking experiences of nature’s ingenuous arrangement of different rock sizes, shapes and magnificent formations, others who came earlier also gave their feelings of other mysterious tourism sites around the town.

For two youth tourism club members (Funmilola and Mary) who came in company of other club members, selected from different states, institutions and private tourism clubs and groups in Nigeria, could not hide their feeling and surprises as they position themselves to take historic selfies as they moved from one point of mystery to another on the Iyamopo hill.

Sharing her experience with Travelpulse & MICE, the duo regretted coming late for the event because there was little time for them go around the town of 16 hills as night seems to be falling quickly.

The tourism club members who are commitment to make a return visit thanked Honourable Bosun Oladele for investing in youth tourism promotion said the effort to invite them was a renewal of strength for them.

The tourism club members also went ahead to visit the famous Agbele Rock formation where they have a swell time.

Speaking to journalists at the Iyamopo hill in Igbeti the Member of the House of Representative, Honourable Bosun Oladele who is not leaving any stone unturned when you talk of tourism, youth and community development and capacity build said tourism is a cultural and historic weapon to drive the economy of any town.

“We are blessed with rich tourism potential and we will continue to do our best till we make it the mainstay of our people economic activities as well as use it to attract not only national but also global relevance.”

“The Iyamopo hill is a unique place for the people of Igbeti and the people irrespective of the spiritual believes and inclination during the Easter season everyone ascends the hill for prayers and they believe any prayer said on the mountain are prayers of significant and they would be answered.

Honourable Oladele who is optimistic about the returns on tourism investment said, opening a town through tourism promotion has a futuristic effect in terms of development and improvement on economic activities.

“In the next five to six years, I want to see amenities springing up around these hills, which eventually will promote economic activities in the town and in extension create employment and wealth for the people.

This year’s event attracted an ample number of corporate sponsors which is tied to the previous effort, money and time invested in the event, coupled with support from other quarters; sons and daughters of Igbeti.

“We have made a significant statement with our humble and practical commitment to promoting the town of not only 16 hills but unique and historical hills with mysterious landmark and stories and we will continue to promote and develop newer ideas that will keep the Igbeti experience alive in the minds of visitors and tourists.

Speaking also on the improvement and addition to the 2018 edition compared to previous ones, one of the local organizing committee members,Otunba Rick Oladele said “last year and previous years, it has always been a show being promoted and financed by Honourable Bosun Oladele,  but this year, it is no longer really Honourable  Oladele show.

But now it has been taken to a level that it is seen as a corporate show, powered by Igbeti Culture Tourism Development Initiative (ICTDI), an NGO formed purposely and popularly by indigenes of Igbeti to solely promote culture and  tourism with a view of engendering lasting peace and unity to boost steady progress of Igbetiland.

Also, another objective is to promote culture and tourism, engender creativity, peace, progress and development of the community. These could come in various ways. We want to do a lot of things to put Igbeti on world tourism map.

“We decided that it was no longer going to be a one day show, so we brought in some other programmes. One, we had a prayer at the Jumaat service at Central Mosque on Friday.

“we had an award night which is the first in the history of Igbeti where over 100 indigenes, non-indigenes, royal, youths excellent and post honour award and certificates of recognition were giving to deserving individual at the event on Easter Sunday.

Most of the awardees who spoke with great delight commended the people of Igbeti for not only rallying support for the promotion of Igbetiland but also recognizing efforts of the living and glorious dead in building the town to its present stage.

One of the non-indigenes and son of a great magician, who still holds the entertaining ace till date, Zeto Pella told Travelpulse&MICE, that he has been attending the Igbeti carnival for the past three years when he was first invited by the promoter of the event, Honourable Bosun Oladele and every repeat has never been the same.

He acknowledged the far departure in the way and manner the event turn out to be in 2018, according to him, you can see the event has taken a step further, not only by leading the community to the Iyamopo Hill for historically visit and wellness alone but they have device a means to have a village meeting at a square to celebrate, recognise and plan for the progress of the town.

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“That move is what promote and sustain unity and progress among people that share one belief, one culture and destiny.”

“ I am also looking at a situation where the Federal, state, and local government will practically embrace the genuine and practical commitment shown by Honourable Oladele, Igbeti Culture Tourism Development Initiative and other corporate supporters and individual at making the event more bigger and economically driven.” Peller added.

For another indigene of the town who was came back to the town to celebrate Easter fiesta after 35 years ago he left the town confessed to Travelpulse&MICE that he regretted his action of of not visiting Igbeti for over three decades saying “this visit has opened my eyes to educative so many things about the history of my town and people and I now have a lot of things to tell people about Igbeti.

“I now have a reason to be coming home regularly because this event has made me to see friends that I have lost contacts with for over 40 years. I am very happy to be home again.”