Public Affairs Analyst

Anyone following my write-up on this page would have known by now that I am a man of culture and enjoys writing about my travelogue. I have visited many of Nigeria’s tourists’ sites and few others across the globe. Some of them bears recounting here. Remember that on this page last week, I wrote about my experience visiting, for the first time. the Osun Grove in Osogbo. I also visited the palace of Ataoja of Osogbo. In Osun State, I have also been to Ife Museum, the site of Oranmiyan staff as well as the Ooni of Ife’s palace. In Oyo State, I have visited the Agodi Garden, Ibadan University Zoological Garden, Captain Bower’s Tower at Oke Are, Mapo Hall built in 1929 and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. In Ogun State, I have climbed the Olumo Rock, visited Itoku Tie and Dye fabrics market. I have also been to Centenary Hall and Alake of Egbaland’s Palace and Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Mausoleum at Ikenne.   In Lagos, I have visited the first storey building in...

  From February 2 - 6, 2026, I was on an official visit to Osogbo. It was the longest I had stayed since I started visiting the Osun State capital. After a hectic work schedule, I decided to take a break to visit the Osun grove, one of the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nigeria. It was an epochal visit.   But before I share what I saw, let me give you a short historical background of Osun, the State of the Living Spring. Osun is one of the six states in the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Information gleaned from the official website of the state says that it is bounded to the east by Ekiti and Ondo states, to the north by Kwara State, to the south by Ogun State and to the west by Oyo State. Named after the River Osun—a vital river which flows through the state—the state was formed from the south-east of Oyo State on August 27, 1991, and has its capital in the city of Osogbo. River Osun is symbolic because it serves both spiritual and tourist purposes in the sta...

  Me: “Hello, my pal. How are you? To what do I owe this august call in January?” My friend: “Jide, you’re not serious. When last did you call me too?” Me: “It’s true, amigo. I’ve been busy lately. Man must eat now. As you know, in Naija, no food for lazy man” My friend: “You’re right. Are you at home this weekend? We need to hang out. It’s been a while.” Me: “Ah! Wrong time! I am actually in the field doing research for one of my clients.” My friend: “So, what’s your field research about? Me: “It’s about the forthcoming June 20, 2026, Ekiti gubernatorial election.” My friend: “What about it?” Me: “We want to know how the election will pan out.” My friend: “Professor! Jide, please come down to my level o! You know say me I no know book like you.” Me: “Come off it, buddy. Aren’t you a varsity graduate?” My friend: “Anyways, I learnt there is now a direct flight from Abuja and Lagos to Ekiti without having to first go through Akure in Ondo State.” Me: “That’s ...