The Myths, Tourism Prospect Of Ikogosi Warm Spring

The Myths, Tourism Prospect Of  Ikogosi Warm Spring

The Ikogosi Warm Spring is a haven of tourism activities which has put a sleepy community on the world map.

Located in Ekiti West local government area of Ekiti State, Ikogosi is a wonder of beauty where both warm and cold water flow separately to join in a pool with each retaining its thermal identity.

The warm spring which is situated in a valley of the surrounding hills with a vegetation of highly thick forest, also, strangely has a tree and a palm growing from the same source at the meeting point of the warm and cold springs.

Stories have been told by both historians and indigenes of the town regarding the origin of the warm spring which today has become a delight of tourists from within and outside Nigeria. A version of the story has it that both springs were the wives of a hunter who turned to spring water as a result of a rift and misunderstanding between them. One of the wives, said to be hot and ill-tempered, was believed to have turned to the warm spring while the second wife who was cool-tempered turned to the cold spring water. The husband became the undulating hills that encompass the springs. There was also a traditional belief by the people of the community that a powerful hunter, while hunting for animals in the forest, first found the warm spring. Following the discovery, he went to town with the story.

The Ikogosi Warm Spring was acclaimed to have curative power and have some kind of therapeutic effect which relieves body aches and all sorts of ailments. This is what has made some of the villagers worship the springs as deities up until now.

A Baptist missionary, identified as McGee, had in the 1950s discovered the place to be a good tourist centre. He built chalets and a conference hall on a hill adjacent to the warm spring which attracted tourists across the country and abroad to behold the magnificent endowment of nature offered the state. The old Ondo State Government in 1978, however, acquired this popular tourist centre from the Baptist Mission with plans by the government to develop the centre into a modern tourist resort.

The Ikogosi warm spring resort has over the years witnessed transformation since the creation of Ekiti State in 1996. Modern facilities and over 30 tastefully furnished chalets as well as eight cabins for students on excursions have been constructed in place of the four western chalets built by the old western state. A multi-purpose conference hall, a restaurant equipped with modern facilities and a modest warm swimming pool managed by qualified officers and professionals are also available at the resort. Ekiti is also the home of the Gossy Spring Water produced by a popular bottling company in the country.To further showcase the tourist centre to the outside world, the state government is set to stage the Miss Culture 2016 being powered by Ebony T. Creation.

Briefing journalists, the state commissioner for information, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, stressed the need for Nigeria to explore other viable sectors like tourism as an alternative to oil in the face of her present daunting economic challenges. The event convener, Mr Isaac Anifowose, who is an artiste and culture promoter, said that the event is targeted at showcasing the rich cultural heritage and natural endowments of Ekiti State to the outside world and to generate employment for the youths.

According to Anifowose, “The programme would feature a TV reality show where the beauty pageants will be made to engage in a treasure search at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort even as they would visit other natural tourist centres in Ekiti, like the Arinta Waterfall, agriculture settlements, among others.

“The Miss Culture is an African beauty contest designed to educate, entertain, develop, and empower youths. The TV reality show will run for four weeks on HipTV, Ekiti TV, and others from March.

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