November 25, 2015 – The Ikogosi Warm Springs is a tourist attraction located at Ikogosi, a town in Ekiti State , South -West Nigeria. Flowing abreast the warm spring is another cold spring which meets the warm spring at a confluence, each maintaining its thermal properties. This attribute makes the springs a tourist attraction in Nigeria.
A man sitting at the confluence of the springs
In 1952, Southern Baptist missionary, Rev. John S. McGee, from his mission base in the nearby Ekiti town of Igede, went to the source of the hot and cold springs, about which he had heard from the Ikogosi people. Initially, he was discouraged from doing this, for reasons of the tradition, he had heard from the local residents, that nobody should ever visit the source of these two streams, because of the idea that to do so would be to invite death from the supernatural forces that were responsible for this strange, and most unusual, feature of nature.
Having had the water from both springs tested to ensure its purity, Rev. McGee, with support from the Ekiti Baptist Association of churches and the Nigerian Baptist Convention who secured 28 acres of land which was the original camp, began planning for the building of the camp. The Baptist Mission architect, Rev. Wilfred Congdon (located at the Baptist Mission in Osogbo) drew the design and plans for the original (16) buildings, which were built in this order: the swimming pool, fence for the warm springs (built in 1962); a combined dining hall, large kitchen and storage areas; eight (8) small cabins, each of which could house sixteen persons, with sleeping, bath and toilet facilities; a Baptist Mission residence, which was occupied by the McGees from the middle 1960s until October, 1973, when the McGees received word from Ibadan, that the Nigerian government was taking control of the camp; and finally, a chapel, was completed in the late 1960s.
By 1972, all the buildings of the original Nigerian Baptist Convention camp had been completed, and the camp was being visited regularly by groups of Baptist youth and adults, along with missionaries and other visitors who came for vacation/”local leave.” According to a letter from Mrs. Doris McGee, “In 1968, we had 734 people stay at the camp either in the 12 camps or retreats, or on local leave or vacations. Already in the first four months of this year we have had 322 people in seven camps for retreats or for rest.”
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, following the Biafran Civil War, some public opposition to the Baptist Camp began to develop, particularly as the McGees resisted public/military use of the camp, as they gave firm priority to the religious events and groups for which it had been built. News from the Lagos area alleged that the facility being developed at the warm springs was the work of the (U.S.) Central Intelligence Agency, for political purposes. One newspaper, in particular, expressed the negative and critical views of one well-known writer, Dr. Tai Solarin, based on the misinformation that was being circulated. Finally, some prominent alumni (“old boys”) of the Baptist College at Iwo (now Bowen University) brought Dr. Solarin to the Ikogosi camp to be introduced and to meet with Rev.
McGee. My father told me that they were all together in my father’s office at their house at the camp, when he went and got the “Prestigious Beaded Walking Stick,” which had been presented to him by the Ewi of Ado in 1961. He showed it to Dr. Solarin and told him, “Your people do not give this to someone who does not love them.” My father said that Dr. Solarin looked at it with amazement and asked, “Where did you get this?!” When my father told him, Dr. Solarin’s attitude changed completely. Nonetheless, by early 1971, news of the Baptist Camp was becoming much more known by persons (outside of the Baptist Mission and Nigerian Convention) who saw possibilities for the development of a commercial, tourist resort.
By December 22, 1973, the government had opened its guest house which was located by the warm springs swimming pool, and the following month, January 18, 1974, the McGees received word that the government was taking control of the swimming pool, the Baptist Camp’s featured attraction. From that time forward, activity at the camp significantly declined, with the McGees continuing to manage the facilities (other than the pool) from their Baptist Mission residence at Igede, until their retirement from Nigeria.
When the McGees retired from Nigeria in July, 1977, Rev. McGee was installed as “Chief Akorewolu of Ikogosi,” by the King of Ikogosi Ekiti, in a ceremony that occurred on 1 July, 1977. Prior to this time, Rev. McGee’s was installed as “Chief Gbaiyegun” by the Onigede, Chiefs and people of Igede on March 10, 1957. As mentioned above, in 1961, Rev. McGee was given the “Prestigious Beaded Walking Stick” by King Aladesanmi the Second of Ado-Ekiti, on behalf of the Ekiti Baptist Association.
Unfortunately, for the future of the Baptist “Warm Springs” Camp at Ikogosi, when the McGees left, there was no Mission or Convention person available or willing to manage the camp, and in 1978, the entire property was sold to the Nigerian government by the Nigerian Baptist Convention, for the price of three-hundred thousand Naira. Within a matter of less than ten years, when the McGees very briefly visited Igede and Ikogosi (1985), the camp had been covered with bush. Rev. McGee, who walked to the camp on the road he had built, told me that he did not bother to try to enter the camp grounds, and could barely see the buildings which were already being covered by bush. As already described above, by the early-middle 1970s, the Nigerian government took control of the swimming pool, and had built some guest chalets adjacent to it, with a separate entrance road from that which the McGees had built to access it.
From that time forward, there was always the hope/intention of developing that area for tourist purposes, but it was not until the past three or four years (2011-2014), that the Ekiti government under the leadership of its Governor, was able to enter into an agreement with resources which have been able to develop the facilities to their current high level. Just for the record, for those who may be interested, any of the current, renovated buildings which have a STONE portion of their exterior, are buildings which were preserved from the original Baptist camp,
There are few legends surrounding the origin and discovery of the Warm Spring and have been passed down generations for centuries. Historically, there have been many versions concerning the history of the spring and one of such versions is that both springs (Warm and Cold) were wives of the same husband who turned to springs water in the wake of rift and rivalry between them. The hot and ill-tempered first wife believed to have turned to the popular warm spring while the cool-tempered second wife turned to cold spring water. The husband became the undulating hills that encompass the springs. It is well established that some of the villagers still worship the springs as their deities.
Another version of the history has it that a hunter discovered the spring during his hunting expedition. After that, the people of the community then discovered that the warm water is therapeutic and that it cures many diseases. That made them to start worshiping the water and it continued till 1960s when the late Nigerian educator and author Tai Solarin heard about the spring and he brought his students to the site for a tour. After the tour, Tai Solarin started publicizing the warm spring before Rev. MacGee of Baptist church arrived to build students’ camp near the area. It was Rev. MacGee who built a chapel which has turned to conference hall and hostels which are now the camp chalets at the resort.
Whatever is the true situation remains to be found as the story of the Ikogosi Warm Spring is told elsewhere and nothing might be compared to taking a trip to this serenity place to see things for oneself. What is mysterious about the Ikogosi Warm Spring is the fact that, flowing side by side the warm spring, is another spring, a cold one. According to experts, it is a geological wonder to have such occurrence out of the same rock formation and this Ekiti flagship tourist destination is said to be the only one of its kind discovered anywhere in the world. The warm and cold springs of Ikogosi originate from a close proximity, come to a meeting point, and flow onward together with each spring retaining its thermal identity. It represents another uniqueness and is the first of such occurrence in the world. The warm spring has a temperature up to 70oC at the source and 37oC after meeting the cold spring. The meeting point of the warm and cold springs is a unique attraction to tourists.
The springs sprout out and flow with a constant temperature and volume up to 150 litres/seconds from morning till night, at all seasons, all-year round. A wonderful work of Mother Nature!
Another unique quality of the Ikogosi Warm Spring is its acclaimed curative power. It is widely-believed to have some kind of therapeutic effect which relieves body aches and all sorts of ailments. A lot of tourists visiting the place take advantage of the large warm water swimming pool provided for this purpose and other recreational needs. It is also the home of the 5-star Gossy Brand Spring Water bottled by UAC of Nigeria.
Ikogosi warm spring is located in Ekiti West Local Government area of Ekiti State, Nigeria in a valley from the surrounding hills at the warm spring. The vegetation at the spring is highly thick forest with natural and rich vegetation that is closely maintained and protected from arbitrary deforestation. The area covered by the spring is about 31.38 and it is highly protected from erosion by tall and evergreen trees. The trees also serve as a sort of canopy under which tourists could stay during the dry season and sunny days. The undulating topography of the area and the symmetry of the surrounding hills add more to the aesthetic beauty of the spring.
The scientific proof could not be washed away in favour of the traditional belief. The possible and plausible scientific explanation is that the deeper a body of water goes underground, the hotter it becomes and if by chance it is forced back to the surface through some earth fault, the temperature will be relatively high.
The Baptist Mission in the early I950s established a youth and conference centre and other conveniences on a hill adjacent the warm spring area. This started attracting different people from far and near, even foreigner started visiting the centre as nature demands. At the wake of 1978 however, the Ondo State Government acquired this popular tourist centre from Baptist Mission. A few infrastructures were put in place by this Mission before the resort centre was acquired from them by the State government, but after the acquisition of the centre, however, both the federal and the state government has now focused attention on how to develop the centre to a modern tourist resort.
The warm and cold spring of Ikogosi flow parallel, and meet somewhere to form a confluence, with each maintaining its thermal quality. The warm spring has a temperature of 70o c at the source and 37oc after meeting a cold spring. The meeting point of the warm and cold spring is a unique attraction to tourist. Adding to its natural beauty, is a tree and a palm growing from the same source at the meeting point of the warm and cold springs.
FACILITIES
In order to give tourists and visitors a long-lasting experience, a well-landscaped 116-hectare resort is located around the warm spring at Ikogosi-Ekiti. The resort has one (1) Executive VIP chalet, three (3) VIP villas, twelve (12) western suites, seventy-five (75) standard rooms of different styles, themes and offerings and seven support staff quarters. There are also resteuarant/Bar, warm water swimming pool, gym fitness, beauty centre, herbal shop for local medication
Other features include open grass areas, brook walk lanes, children playing ground and Arts & Crafts shops for souvenir items. Erinta Waterfalls and Erijiyan Sacred Fish Lake are in close proximity to the Ikogosi Warm Spring.
The Erinta Water Falls at Ipole-Iloro is located about 6km North-West of Ikogosi. It could be reached only through a secondary road from Ikogosi. The road leading to the fall passes through the Ikogosi Tourist Centre. Visit this resort centre and marvel at the work of nature. Tourists feel the chilly effect of this fall about 10 metres away. It has three pronounced escarpments. A research recently carried out by an Afro American indicated that the water falls could generate electricity (Hydro-electric power).This resort centre is naturally endowed with thick and evergreen forest.
Contributed by Ademola Ogundipe Olaniyi
