It was an exploratory adventure on Friday afternoon, at Old Oyo National Park, as the popular Prince and a frontline contender to the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo, Prince Siyanbola Oladigbolu visited the Oyo branch of Nigeria National Parks Service, popularly known as Old Oyo National Park, where are all the artifacts, ancient settlements, and other cultural remnants within the park that were evacuated from the Oyo Empire were kept.
Old Oyo Park is a site for tourist attractions and has a lot of beautiful and nature-filled places you can see while in Oyo town.
The Director-general of the park, Tesleem Kareem, made this known while hosting the entourage of the frontline contender for the vacant stool of Alaafin, Prince Siyanbola Ladigbolu. He explored the northern end of the park and thrilled the visitor’s the various attractions of historic and archaeological value such as the relics of the old city walls of Oyo Ile, the great Agbaku Cave which has evidence of the Stone Age, the Kosomonu hill, the old Akesan Market, Alaafin’s Palaces, the olden days talking drum, cowries, Elephant, Kakanfo relics and crucibles of pottery used centuries ago.
The Prince also spots various wildlife species on the southern end of the park. This includes the Nile crocodile, Rock Python, Lion, Antelope, Buffalo, and Land Tortoise out of many other animals that can be found. While amazing pictures were taken.
In her explanation, the Curator of the park, Mrs. Funke Adeniyi stated that Old Oyo National Park in Oyo offers a wide variety of resources such as vast tracts of unspoiled nature, unique wildlife both fauna and flora, and solid mineral deposits. It takes about 30 minutes to drive from Ibadan to Oyo town. The Park is rich in plant and animal resources including; buffalos, bushbucks, and a variety of birds. Geographically, the Old Oyo National Park is a combination of two forest reserves, which are the Upper Ogun and the Oyo-file.
In his remarks, Prince Siyanbola Ladigbolu in a joyous mood thrilled by the historical evidence at the park, stressing that the Park is all about the activities of the Old Oyo Empire. The old Oyo Empire’s history is globally known, not just within the African continent.
He said; “The British historical royal journey is just like a baby when it comes to royalties in the world. Old Oyo National Park is endowed with thorough historical evidence and richness of African culture and traditions”.
Prince Siyanbola further lauded the Director-general, Curator, and other staff of the park for their effort to preserve and protect the historical legacies of Yoruba cultural heritage.
Old Oyo National Park is designated as a protected area to conserve its natural resources, historical sites, and biodiversity. Conservation efforts aim to maintain the ecological balance and protect the park’s cultural heritage.
The park offers opportunities for wildlife viewing, and visitors may encounter various species of antelopes, monkeys, elephants, and diverse birdlife. Safari drives and guided tours are common activities for those interested in observing wildlife.
The Administrative Head Office is located in Oyo, Isokun area along Oyo-Iseyin road, where necessary information and booking could be made. The landscaping and organized space within the large yard have made the facility very endearing to the public.
