It was a
long week of touring some eastern part of Nigeria. The students of Department
of Urban and Regional Planning, federal polytechnic Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State
visited the Coal City (Enugu) and God’s own (Abia) state, to see for themselves
what they are been taught in the class room which is all about tourism
development and planning. The students
were happy as their first visit was at the national war museum Umuahia. They
were taken around the museum gallery and war equipment's which was used during
the Biafra war, as the students were asking questions on why the federal
government established the museum, they were told that it was to preserve the equipment's and as well to educate the young generations that didn’t know what
caused the war and how the people suffered during the war, they were also told
that all the armored cars and guns used during the Biafra war was locally
produced in 90 days by Biafra engineers.
During the tour, the student was taken to voice of Biafra bunker where they saw
the radio house of Biafra, the transmitting equipment both mobile one and
stationary one, they were also shown the Biafra red devil armored cars of
various types, the popular ogbungwe , the war planes of various types, war
ships and biafran fuel refinery cooking pot. See pictures below
entering the museum gallery
Biafra red devil type A5
Biafra Fuel Refinery/ Cooking Pot
Red devil type A4
Ogbunigwe
Warship
Entering the warship
From the
National War Museum the tour took us to the Ojukwu Bunker, which was known as
Biafra State House. The bunker was originally called the “Subterranean” office
of the government of Biafra. After the war it was renamed the Ojukwu Bunker by
the members of the public. It was built within 90 days from April to June and
is 26.9 feet deep. It consists of a parlor, secretary’s room, kitchen, bathroom
and store. The bunker is accessed through Dr Michael Okpara’s house. The bunker
proper is in Dr Okpara’s Compound.
The plan of
the bunker was drawn on 3rd April 19868 by Frank Mbanefo Associates,
Chief Frank Mbanefo is from Onitsha town in Anambra State. The Structural
design of the bunker was done by Agbim and partners. Dr Chuba Agbim is from
Amafun village in Nimo, Anambra state. The builder was Engr Joel Onyemelukwe
from Nnewi Iche, Nnewi Anambra State. The Superintendent who handled the
workers was late Mr Lawrence O. Okany from Ogidi Anambra State.
The bunker
was used for receiving very important visitors, air shelter, relaxation area
and for secret meetings. Other bunkers
that was built by Engr Joel Onyemelukwe and his team are
1. Voice of
Biafra Bunker at Ugwunchara which is at the war museum Umuahia
2. Small bunker
at the resident’s house Aba
3. Fuel/
diesel/ kerosene depot at ogbor hill Aba
After touring and seeing for themselves what
people in the early 60’s was able to produce with our local materials, they
asked why can’t we do same this time? Then before heading back to coal city for
our next day tour, we went to the museum kitchen to have the taste of the local
delicacy. See pictures at the Ojukwu Bunker
Heading to Ojukwu Bunker
Climbing the escape entrance inside the bunker
In front of Biafra State House
In coal city
(Enugu) State, our first visit was at the Songhai farm. The Songhai farm is an
initiative of the Enugu State Government during the last administration. The
farm has various sections ranging from Fishery, piggery, rice farming, pottery,
cash crops and others. At the farm the students were taken around various
sections of the farm, though they were not able to tour the whole farm because
they all got tired, but to the students greatest surprise was when they saw
pigs that is of human size it was all fun as they spend so much time watching
and taken pictures, the next stop was at fish section where some of them took
time to feed the fish and as well ask questions on how they get the feeds for
the fish, the marking strategy they use to sale the fish, at the end some of
the students decided that they will go into fishery, while one of their
lectures asked me why can Governors from other states visit this place to learn
and get some ideas and I asked him don’t you people have this kind farm in your
state, he said no that they have lands where such project can be sited. The two
lecturers that came with the students said that they will encourage the
directors that is in charge of entrepreneurship to visit Songhai farm to learn
the techniques that is been applied in growing various crops. The farm has more
than 1000 acres of land see pictures
Songhai fish Pound
Songhai Farm Enugu
From the
Songhai farm we head to Ihuezi Obunaofia Ndionu cave, the site which is
referred to as Ezeagu Tourism Complex because of its cluster of attractions,
which is cave, waterfall and a lake. The
cave is known as Ihuezi Cave, before we get to the site, it has started raining
but the students and lecturers insisted that we should continue, and then we
head to the cave. At the cave mouth which is called Onu Ogba where the chief
priest stays, the rules guiding the cave was read to the students. At the onu
ogba the rain kept on increasing, when we got to the cave, it was a WOW! To the students because they could not
believe what they saw, they were asked to remove their shoes before entering the
cave which they did and they explored the cave to the level where it has a
staircase inside the cave. They were so happy to have visited the cave, as one
of the lecturer said that he always watch the documentary about the cave on
television.
Inside the Ihuezi Cave,
heading to where the cave has a staircase
In front of the Ihuezi Cave Ezeagu
Moving on, the rain kept
increasing by the minute the student’s major interest was to experience the
wonders of nature, as we got to the waterfall…..it was really fun for them, the
girls said visiting the waterfall was the best part of the tour for them, they
didn’t waste time to soak themselves inside the water not minding that it was
raining so heavily, even one of their lecturer joined the students to have the
feel of the waterfall, they stayed their more than 2 hours, they were begged
before they could come out from the waterfall, all of them feel refreshed and
happy.
On our way
going back Enugu, we stopped at MAMA ONYINYE SHOP where they sell best palm
wine known as (Udi palm wine), bush meat and Abacha. We ordered for 3 big
bottles of palm wine and five plates of bush meat, everybody ate as one family.
When we got to Enugu the students were
told that they will be going back the next day, they started begging their
lecturers for them to spend more days before going back.
The tour was
a huge success as some of the students said they will return back for more
research during their final year research work.
Our tourism industry can be appreciated by outside world if can
encourage our friends & relative to visit one or two tourist sites in any
of the states in Nigeria. Let us all
join hands to grow our domestic tourism. Tourism a paradise to behold
We connect
you to your interest!!!
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