We, the Management Team of Idere Hills, extend our heartfelt appreciation to Honourable Anthony Adebayo, fondly known as Ibarapa-kan, and all esteemed political and community leaders who honored us with their presence during our recent excursion to the cherished tourist destination of Idere Community.

We equally recognize the dedication of Mr. Tokunbo Toriola and Hassan Adesodi Olaoniye for their tireless efforts in ensuring that the Honourable Member of the House of Representatives traveled all the way from Abuja to witness Idere Hills in person. Your extraordinary efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we deeply appreciate you sirs.

Your commitment to setting aside time from your busy schedules to explore the splendor of Idere Hills resonates deeply with us. It reaffirms our belief that this natural wonder holds a special place in your hearts and priorities.

We appreciate all and sundry furthermore, your esteemed visit serves as a beacon of hope for the future of Idere Hills. We are optimistic that your steadfast support will translate into concrete actions, further enhancing the charm of this picturesque locale.

We, the Management Team of Idere Hills, extend our heartfelt appreciation to Honourable Anthony Adebayo, fondly known as Ibarapa-kan, and all esteemed political and community leaders who honored us with their presence during our recent excursion to the cherished tourist destination of Idere Community.

We equally recognize the dedication of Mr. Tokunbo Toriola and Hassan Adesodi Olaoniye for their tireless efforts in ensuring that the Honourable Member of the House of Representatives traveled all the way from Abuja to witness Idere Hills in person. Your extraordinary efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we deeply appreciate you sirs.

Your commitment to setting aside time from your busy schedules to explore the splendor of Idere Hills resonates deeply with us. It reaffirms our belief that this natural wonder holds a special place in your hearts and priorities.

We appreciate all and sundry furthermore, your esteemed visit serves as a beacon of hope for the future of Idere Hills. We are optimistic that your steadfast support will translate into concrete actions, further enhancing the charm of this picturesque locale.

We urge other public figures  (at the local, state and national levels, including the non-political public figures) to follow these examples by advocating for the preservation and promotion of our shared heritage. Let us collectively strive to showcase the beauty of Ibarapa lands and its breathtaking landscapes to the world.

Once again, we express our sincerest gratitude for your visit and for experiencing the magnificence of Idere Hills firsthand. Together, let us continue to nurture and safeguard this treasure for generations to come.

The Post Graduate Degree students of National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Lagos State campus on Wednesday visited Idere hills on a practical and academic tour.

Lecturers and NIHOTOUR PDG students numbering about 25 were received by the Onidere of Idere, HRM. Oba Kingsley Oyelami Onikola, his Chiefs and the initiator of Ibarapa Tourism Club, Mr. Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Welcoming the tourists in his palace, Onidere reiterated that the peace and unity of Ibarapa communities remain a treasure and peculiarity that distinguish the region among others in the state.

He enjoined the tourists to feel free with the tour guides, stressing the commitment of the President and the tourism club members in the community to make Idere hills a busy tourist destination in Nigeria.

Onidere also emphasized on the need for substantial investments in tourism and hospitality to aid economy of the area, adding that soul and heart of Israel’s economy is all about adventure.

A lecturer who responded on behalf of the visitors, Mrs. Omolere Afegba made it known that the students unanimously decided to make Idere hills a destination of 2021 practical tour due to its popularity and publicity of the site on social media.

“We love this place for nice things that we have heard about it. Those reports are forces that drove us here to witness it ourselves. Our students have seen Idere hills on Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, they all decided to make it their 2021 destination of academic and practical tour and that is why we are here.

“We have among us those that had come to this place to serve as corps members, and they were reluctant to go back after their service. That tells the extent of their enjoyment and satisfactory service year they had.

“We slept at Heritage Hotel at Igboora last night. We enjoyed ourselves and we can see the love and excitement in the eyes of people to have visitors around. They are just too accommodating to a fault” Omolere said.

After a brief meeting with Onidere and his chiefs, Olugbenga Omotayo led them on a tour to Idere hills and he was assisted by a principal tour guide of the site, Azeez Sodiq Culture.

Idere Update correspondent who monitored the tour reported that the students and the lecturers of Lagos Campus NIHOTOUR were taken to 14 different destination points on the site, while the presider, Olugbenga Omotayo furnished them with stories on ancestral peculiarities of Idere community forbears and ancient events.

Destination points visited include Ìrùkú ìsòkú, Ìda òpá, Yàrá, Ihò Eja, Èéyòré lake, Ojà, Odi ilù, Àtapa strings, Aróye, Àafin, Olórogún méjì among others on Idere hills.

The 3-hour hiking also featured activities like chats, drumming and dancing, picture taking, tree climbing and water splashing.

While fielding questions from Idere Update correspondent during interview after the hike, a student of NIHOTOUR, Yusuf Kolawole told this medium that they were here for a technical tour which will enable them to gain experience about tourism and hospitality.

He expressed how exciting it was to visit 14 tourist attractive points in a single site.

“We decided to visit Idere hills because we have seen it online. Rather than reading about it on the book on social media, we took it upon ourselves to make it here and see things ourselves.

“We have gathered facts that we have come to establish. We have seen and heard so many things, rock formation, attractive caves and historical histories issues that border on Yoruba that leads to old Oyo empire. We are happy that we got enough information on tourism and site attraction on Idere hills” Kolawole said.

He also called on the government and well-to-do individuals to interfere with the tourism club to develop Idere hills and make it one of the adventure hubs in Nigeria.

A lecturer, Ibrahim Aliu said the practical tour was expected to expose them to what hospitality and tourism industry is.

“Quite frankly, it has been remarkable here today, yes a life experience. Idere hills is a site I have read about on print and social media but I have never been here before neither have I felt its experience, but with this technical tour, I can say it is wonderful. We have heard about how our rugged our forebears were and how they lived their life without technology.

“Every locality has its specialization. Even rocks and caves like this, but for this Idere hills, it is specially phenomenal. I am excited I made it here and I can’t hide it” Ibrahim said.

Another student that spoke with Idere Update is Adeyemi Olufemi, a governor of 2020/2021 set of Lagos Campus NIHOTOUR.

“This tour can be described as out of the class experience. Seeing what we have been taught in the class life at attraction center. We have been to Ado Awaye and now here Idere hills. We have experience the power of nature and history behind everything that happened in the ancient times.

“Taking through the stages of how our forefathers emerged during wars, how they were able to protect their kinsmen and conquer wars. So, these stories came life to us so that we can also share it and hence we are part of the experience of the past.

“We met with the king and his chiefs this morning in the palace. Idere has a noble king, a welcoming one. He warmly welcomed and gave us a pass. Securities are here and we feel safe to tour.

“After we left the palace, we discovered he gave his order that we must be protected. That shows how caring he is. The old woman was making us to feel free with cultural and Idere lineage renditions.

“We have undoubtedly broadened our knowledge. I can pass this knowledge to other people because tourism and hospitality is becoming a wider business in Nigeria and all over the world. I have also gained knowledge for the group that I represent because we have come to learn things that we have been taught and read about.

A lecturer and PGD coordinator of the campus, Mrs. Omolere Afegba said: “Everyone has been hearing so much about Idere hills, and Mr. Gbenga has done a lot of publicity and marketing.

“Our post graduate degree (PGD) students studying hospitality and tourism decided to give it a chance to be here. And I am excited that we brought them here for wonderful stories and mysteries. I have exceeded my expectations, fourteen destinations in just one tourist center, it is really wonderful.

“As part of what the students are learning about different attractions, Idere hills is a site that has not been taught so much. We have heard and seen a lot, so we have a very high expectation. But getting here, we have exceeded our expectation.

“Onidere is one of the action kings that I have met and enjoyed my time with. He is a learned and intelligent ruler, with that few minutes with him, I can say he is disciplined. Welcoming us in such a warm manner, I can say he is also down to earth.”