The University of Ibadan is ranked one of the largest universities in Nigeria in landmass. It has many sites of attraction that have pulled in people not just from the school community, but from outside the university as well.
As a student of UI, there are just some places you cannot say you have not been to and still claim to be an Uite. I understand you are here to be a scholar and bag a first-class degree, but you too live life small na. Let your head breathe occasionally.
For this reason, I have put together a list of seven (7) places you totally must visit before you graduate from UI.
1. The zoological garden
If you are a student of the University of Ibadan and you are yet to visit the UI zoo, then your studentship is questionable. Why haven’t you checked it out? It is a site that is often frequented as it has many attractions.
The University of Ibadan Zoological Garden was established in 1948 primarily as a Menagerie to support teaching and research in the Department of Zoology. With time, the animal collection grew in number and diversity and the Menagerie gradually became a full-fledged Zoo in 1974.
Like most modern zoos, the zoological garden displays wild animals primarily for the conservation of endangered species, as well as for research purposes and education, and so also for the entertainment of visitors. A large number of visitors from far and near visit the zoo every year.
The Zoo is open 7 days a week between the hours of 8am and 06:30 pm and admits people in at the cost of #1,000 per head for non UI students and #500 per head for UI students.
2. The Botanical Garden
The UI botanical garden is a recreational and relaxation garden consisting of an arboretum, aquatic section, medicinal garden, children’s garden, ornamental garden, orchard and rock garden for fun-filled activities. The Botanical Garden exists primarily to provide for botanical teaching and research in the University but it has also served as a recreational centre for the students of the University and other users as well.
It is located along with Veterinary – Ajibode Road. Many UI students visits the botanical garden frequently, using it as a venue for their hangouts or picnics in the department, faculty of even fellowships. The gate fee for admission into the botanical garden for a student of the University of Ibadan is #100 only.
3. Love Garden
Looks like UI is just filled with gardens, everywhere you go you see gardens, right? Well, if you haven’t visited this particular garden in UI till now, then you’re obviously singularly single.
The love garden is famously known as the perfect hangout for lovebirds. Majorly romantic couples are often seen seated in the garden, gisting and doing the other things lovers do. Some other students also frequent the place as a venue for hangouts or other meetings.
It is located directly opposite the first male hostel in UI, Kenneth Mellanby hall (which is just behind the University’s bookshop)
It is an open place that doesn’t require payment to have access to. And so it is frequented by a major population of UI students. It’s one place you should totally check out before you graduate as a UI student… preferably with a lover.
4. Heritage Park
If you are looking for a very cool spot at the University of Ibadan where you can relax and meditate, then the best bet is Heritage Park. It is located just opposite the female hostel, Queen Elizabeth II hall.
With its aesthetically arranged green trees which serve as a shade, beautiful scenery and give the park a general cool even on hot days, the heritage park is a great place to relax and have hangouts or picnics with friends, coursemates, etc.
It also serves as a good location for photoshoots, be it birthday, matriculation or graduation photoshoot and has been used by quite a number of UI students.
5. Awba Dam
The Awba Dam is another place in UI you must totally visit in UI before your graduation if you haven’t already.
The Awba Dam was constructed and completed by the British Government in April, 1964. It was constructed for several reasons some of which include: to store water for domestic consumption; to reserve water for laboratory use; to preserve fishing culture in UI; to facilitate hydro-biology and fishery reserve project, etc.
It is significant to note that this dam was named after the river OBA which the Europeans obliquely named Awba.
6. Wole Soyinka theatre
The Wole Soyinka theatre was first known as the arts theatre before it was renamed after its first African head of department and Nobel laureate in July 2018, and it has kept true to the motto as a hub of cultural entertainment and major laboratory. As a student of the University of Ibadan, if you have never been inside the Wole Soyinka theatre, then that means you have never attended a play in the theatre and that just tells me you have been missing a lot!
In and out of every year, the theatre department of the University of Ibadan has different performances periodically. It is there that they thrill the audience and entertain them with their acting skills in various stage performances. It is usually an event that UI students look forward to and attend en masse.
7. UI chapel/Central mosque
The average Nigerian is relatively religious and this reflects in virtually all aspects of their lives.
As a student of the University of Ibadan, if you have not visited the popular worship centres in UI, the Chapel of resurrection and the central mosque, then you should totally do so before you graduate from the school.
They are located side by side along the abadina road, behind the Kenneth Mellanby hall.
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