Omupo Voyage Tips and guide

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Omupo is in Kwara State. Omupo or Omu-ipo is an ancient Igbomina-Yoruba town situated in the southeastern part of Kwara State, West-central Nigeria.

It is located in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state.

Omupo is one of the prominent towns in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State. It is the headquarters of 34 communities of Omupo District, the headquarters of Omupo/Idofian Area Council of Ifelodun Local Government. Omupo Constituency was also created in 1979 for a representative to the Kwara State House of Assembly.

Omupo has a wet tropical savanna climate. It has two seasons: a dry season and a rainy season.

According to tradition, the early settlers in the town migrated from Ile-Ife, the source of Yoruba nation. The founder was Ikuojenrola Adebari Alomole, the surviving son of Awogbola Olomu Aperan, an Ifá priest and renowned herbalist with metaphysical powers.

Olomu Aperan, the progenitor, was a prince from Obadio royal family, one of the eight autonomous monarchs met in Ile-Ife by Oduduwa – the progenitor of Yoruba race. Olomu Aperan's family spread across two big compounds - Akeran and Ogbonji of Ilare Quarters in Ile-Ife. In these compounds, the male children of the family are called Osomu while the female are called Molomu. Over time, his name became corrupted to Olomu, while Aperan was coined from his compound's name - Akeran.

Olomu Aperan left home in the early 15th Century to protest his denial to ascend the throne of Obadio because he had lost most members of his immediate family to an epidemic. Efforts to persuade him to stay at home because of his advanced age proved abortive, but he was reminded of the repercussion of his defiance on his traditional burial rites should he die while travelling. The implication was that his children would continue to pay the traditional rites over generations, wherever they might settle. He left with his supporters and, after many years in the wilderness, met Fagbamila Ajagun-nla, the first Orangun of Ila (a direct descendant of Oduduwa and the Head of Igbomina Kingdom) at Igbo Ajagun-Nla and settled with him.

During the Bariba war Olomu Aperan, Onikoyi, Olugbon and Aresa were led by Ajagun-nla to fortify Oranmiyan's Army in order to fight the Ibaribas. He also participated in many war expeditions as Orangun's man bearer of Ada Ogbo (a cutlass with mystical powers that showed directions). Because of this, Olomu Aperan became popular with the name as Ologbo or Ologbo-lomono (the mace bearer who knows the way). This is where the name Igbomina was coined.

After the Bariba war, Ajagun-nla went to a new town called Ila-Yara, but Olomu Aperan remained with Oranmiyan at Oyo Ile. After some time, Olomu Aperan consulted an Ifa oracle, his chief priest was Famuwagun, and it was revealed through Ifa divination that Oyo-Ile would disintegrate. Ifa warned that he should proceed to a new settlement. Wherever he found a plant called oro agogo (botanical bell cactus), would be safe, and he should settle there. When Olomu Aperan was leaving Oyo, he received the blessing of the reigning Alafin who presented him a gift of masquerades called Jenju and Owolewa. Jenju was worn by a deaf and dumb from Oyo.

Hence, Olomu Aperan requested for Ogbo cutlass from Orangun to pilot his way to his present settlement Omupo where oro agogo was found. Some of his families were left behind at Oyo till the present time, while moved to other locations in Yorubaland. When Olomu was leaving Ile-Ife, he cut a branch of Omo tree as a souvenir and he used it as working stick. He passed the working stick on to his male child called Kujenrola, the only child that survived him, who planted it at Omupo which made him to be known as Alomoole. Olomu Aperan met some people at Omupo without any central authority but a man popularly known as Ode-Omi (meaning a hunter who resides by the river) appeared as the head. However, because of the mystical powers, military prowess coupled with his Royal background, they accepted the leadership and authority of Olomu Aperan. River Osin serves as the major source of water.

Getting to Omupo you need to get to Ilorin first, the capital of Kwara State. The city of Ilorin serves as a gateway between the northern and southern part of Nigeria.

You can fly in from other Nigerian cities (Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna).

The Ilorin international airport is also used for domestic flights to other cities within the country and international flights to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah.

• 8.4353844.4949961 Ilorin International Airport. (updated Jun 2021)

Rail services in Nigeria are still very slow and unreliable but several routes have reappeared. Nigerian Railway Corporation have daily services from Ilorin via Ibadan, and an overnight service from Kano via Kaduna a few times per week. A new higher speed railway is under construction and is expected to be completed in the 2020s, resulting in increased speeds and frequency.

Several bus companies like Young Legacy, Mufsuf Motors, Kasmag line, Okin Express offers daily services from almost all major cities (Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Kaduna, Kabba, Lokoja, Sokoto, Kano, Makurdi, etc.) around the country. While buses usually are quite comfortable, journey times are very long.

There are also independent transporters under the aegis of the national union of road transport workers (NURTW) and road transport employees association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in various parks, such as Post Office, Offa garage, and Maraba who travel to various towns within and outside the state. From Ilorin you can only board a bus to Omupo town. Buses are available in all terminals.

8°16′0″N 4°48′0″E

Map of Omupo

There are three modes of transiting within the State, which also extends to the region – the most popular being the conventional taxis. There are the commercial motor bicycles commonly called “Express”, and the more recent arrival on Ilorin’s roads, “Keke NAPEP”, imported commercial tricycles. If travelling around Ilorin, be sure to be accompanied by a tourist guide who is familiar with the routes. For the most part, it's safe to move about during the day. If you are going out at night, be sure to go in groups, and stick to known routes.

Ilorin now has decent mass transit buses, courtesy of the Maigida Soludero Mass Transit (MST) schemes. The MST buses have their major terminal at Post Office area of Ilorin, and offer travel services to the University of Ilorin, Offa garage, Kwara State Polytechnic, Tanke, Oyun, and Sango. The tickets for the MST can be purchased at the bus stops before boarding. Tickets range from ₦50-150, as of 2021.

The road network of Ilorin city for most part is good, but there is sometimes traffic congestion and parking spaces can be scarce, especially during working hours. Be sure to be on the lookout for road signs, in order to avoid entering one-way roads or streets. KWARTMA (Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority) is the body responsible for managing traffic in most of the traffic congestion areas. Make sure to follow traffic rules. There are car parks around in hotels and shopping malls, most of which provide free and safe parking.

One of the easiest ways to get around Ilorin city is by taxi. Taxis are relatively cheap and cost about ₦50-100 per drop. Ilorin city taxis are painted green and yellow and most of them are Mazda cabs.

For traveling short distances, you can use motorbike taxis called Okada. These motorbikes are quick, cheap, and save a lot of walking. Okada accidents are common but safety equipment is now provided because the state government and the Federal Road Safety Commission have mandated it. Before you try and negotiate any transportation fare, always confirm the fare from a local. If you have a Nigerian friend, let them negotiate for you as the quoted fare differs greatly for locals and foreigners.

Safety helmets are a must at all times for both the rider and passenger. Majority of the times these are ill-fitting.

Some tourist attractions in Omupo include: Omo tree planted by Kujenrola, and a place called Igbo'ta not too far from Nana's compound where Kujenrola was said to have hung a chain like Oduduwa. That chain in the olden days was drawn out to commune with him for assistance during famine or drought.

In general, Kwara State has become a much safer place to visit than before, except for occasional clashes and violence, the state of security in the city has relatively improved with the state spending huge budgets on security with police patrol cars, CCTV cameras (though this isn't always the case). But beware of deals or businesses that sound too good to be true (especially e-mails soliciting your help), and do not openly flaunt your possessions, especially in public places.

While it is rare for a tourist to be a victim of a violent crime, it is still wise to stay safe and be alert, especially during late night outings. Stick to crowded streets and make sure to go out in groups as against going out alone.

The people of Ilorin are generally nice and friendly people, most of whom will readily offer directions to you if you are lost.

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