By Yemi Akintomide
Easter celebration always comes with lots of retreats and special events organised by churches, social clubs, town groups, associations and corporate organisations because it comes with long holidays and a whole week of activities.
This year Easter holidays has come and gone, but the aftermath of resounding and refreshing effects of the celebration; highly influenced by the serenity, calmness, coolness, peaceful, natural and pure environment lives forever. This wonder by nature is no other than the newly reconstructed and improved IKOGOSI RESORT, a new rebirth of the old Ikogosi warm springs, the wonder of the world where warm and cold streams flowing from different sources, met at a point, and then continued flowing together as a stream in the other side of the site.
Before my visit to this historic site last Saturday (Holy Saturday), I have been to Ikogosi couple of times, but not in the last 12 years or thereabouts. Alas, it’s a total transformation with unprecedented landmark projects and world class resort built for Kings and Queens relaxation and enjoyment.
My visit was not planned with Ikogosi in mind at all because the old Ikogosi was never a place to visit by someone who left behind the cosy metropolitan and serene Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja to a sleepy village in the name of Easter retreat; but for my host, Otunba Stephen Abiodun Ojo who redirected my initial trip from Abuja to Ilupeju-Ekiti where we planned to celebrate Easter festival within the cover of his Beiyiola Villa, along Ire-Ekiti road in Ilupeju-Ekiti.
Otunba Ojo has told me before he left for Ekiti that his socio-political group, Ekiti e-eleven would be having a retreat during the Easter weekend, but I never thought of attending such gathering since I am not a member and not from Ekiti State.
However, on my arrival at Ilupeju-Ekiti on Saturday afternoon, I met Otunba absence at his Villa, I quickly put a call across to him, and he immediately said I should come straight to Ikogosi. Not Ikogosi now! After experiencing the bad condition of the Abuja-Ekiti road for over seven hours, what I need should be a cold bath, long rest, a nice dinner and sound night sleep. In that order.
Reluctantly, I told the driver to hit the road again to Ikogosi and in about 90 minutes, we got to Ikogosi, but to my greatest surprise, what I saw before me as Ikogosi Resort shocked me to the extent that I couldn’t figure out what really happened for several minutes of my arrival until one of the guards took me to the natural streams of the warm and cold waters. At least, I still recollect the site, but for every other things around the place, they’re wonders to behold.
The old Western region road that formerly led to the old Ikogosi warm springs has given way to a well asphalted and beautifully decorated roads and pavements, with neat, uniformed and mannered guards at the crossed entrance to the resort.
My first point of call was at the Villa, where Otunba Ojo was lounged. It’s a well structured bungalow, built on top of a rocky site, overlooking the warm springs site directly, amidst wild forest and nature rocks formation. It’s a master piece of modern architectural designs and building arts.
The suite, consisting of a living room with inbuilt toilet facilities, a separate wardrobe area and a large bedroom, tastefully furnished with equally befitting fittings, cosy lighting system, fridge and smart TV. The other side of the resorts, which is actually the side where you have the reception area, an expansive and well decorated hall for events, a well equipped night club and chalets for guests who want a perfect relaxing holiday. The rooms are comfortable, flexible and friendly with both top hills and low land car parks, Terence, restaurant and bars.
In between the two hilly buildings is the low land environment of the warm and cold streams, their sources, their routes of flowing, the meeting point and the mixing water, all well edged out with neatly laid stones on their banks. In the place of the very old and local swimming pool at the footage of the springs, which was then the only playing ground around the site of the springs; now sits an Olympic size Swimming arena, which the only source of water is the naturally flowing mixed water from the springs. The water naturally flows into the pool and goes out at the other end on the pool. Beside the pool is also a standard table tennis table, while the main site has a coved area for picnic and merriment (barbecue and bar).
After my experience with all facilities at the resort, I was very curious to know much about the place and the magical transformation; I called my brother and senior colleague, Hon. Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre who is the current director-general of Ekiti State Directorate of Tourism and Culture. He told me that what is before me as new Ikogosi Resort was the brain child of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO), the Ekiti State Governor with midas torch. For the wise step of the Governor, the old Ikogosi warm springs was conccessionalised to a team of Ekiti indigenes and United States of America (USA) based businessmen who solely financed the project and currently managing the facilities under the business name, Glocient Hospitality.
According to an informed source, it was BAO immediate predecessor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi administration that concessioned the Ikogosi facility, through Ekiti State Government owned Fountain Holdings Ltd., to Glocient Hospitality, while Oscar Seyi Ayeleso was then the group managing director of Fountain Holdings. And when BAO took over from his former boss, he went ahead to solidify the deal and compliment it with the rehabilitation of the road and other infrastructures put in place.
The Glocient team are also working on the largest farm and plantations in another area of Ekiti State, bringing their international connections, experience, ingenuity, indigenous and business acumen to bear in the Ikogosi Resort project.
Governor Oyebanji hails from Ikogosi, infact, the governor country home is a stone thrown away from the resort, so permit to say in Yoruba “Onikan konije ki nkan ohun baje”. That is if his predecessors have abandoned the natural site for decades, he owns it a duty to bring the dream alive.
And to make the Ikogosi more tourist friendly, Governor Biodun Oyebanji also rehabilitated the Erijiyan-Ikogosi road for smooth driving and pleasurable ride to Ikogosi town, both from Igbara-Odo and Ado-Ekiti routes to the magical springs.
As for how I spent the rest of my stay in Ikogosi Resort untill afternoon of Easter Sunday, I will simply described it as enjoyable, memorable and mind bogging; I later have my cold bath, sightseeing, a nice dinner party, fun filled clubbing and sound sleep, courtesy of Ekiti e-eleven (a forum of Ekiti Stakeholders), under the chairmanship of Chief Kola Akosile.
Thank you for being a great and good host at such a natural, friendly and beautiful environment. Also, my gratitude goes to the sponsors of the Ekiti e-eleven 2024 Easter Retreat, Mr. and Mrs. John and Ron Olajide, owners of Cavista Ltd., the planner of the annual event.
I already discussed a family reunion holiday at Ikogosi Resort with my big brother, mentor and boss, Otunba Stephen Abiodun Ojo, the Akogun of Ilupeju-Ekiti and his neighbour and our amiable host this year at Ikogosi, Uncle Oscar Ayeleso; we’re returning to Ikogosi in a big bang. You can join us along with your family members too. #ikogosi
~YEMI AKINTOMIDE a Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, the Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District in the 10th Assembly.
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