Akwa Ibom Medical University Will Tackle Medical Tourism - Group

By Patrick Odey

Uyo — The proposed medical university in Afaha Obong community in Akwa Ibom State will help stop many Nigerians from travelling abroad for treatment, an investment group, Thompson and Grace, has said.

Managing Director, of the group, Dr. Isaac Thompson Amos, stated this at the weekend at Abak Local Government during the ground breaking ceremony for the proposed medical university, and Parental Infusion and Dialysis Concentrate Plant.

Amos, said the justification for the university and its sister projects became necessary to deliberately ensure the promotion and enhancement of clinical education, research and delivery of healthcare which is grossly lacking in Sub-Saharan region.

He expressed dismay that new and chronic diseases are emerging on daily basis in Africa and the world without a corresponding increase in quantity and quality of health care workers to tackle such diseases.

Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel, said his administration would continue to partner the private sector towards boosting the economy of the state.

Represented by the deputy governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, the governor praised the Group Managing Director of Thompson & Grace, Dr. Isaac Amos for establishing the project in Akwa Ibom State.

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Wonders of SouthWest Nigeria

Southwest Nigeria is made up of 6 States and each of these states have amazing places of interest for you to visit. However in this article we shall be taking a trip to Ondo and Ekiti State both in the southwest region. In SouthWest Nigeria, their main language is Yoruba and their common food is the Pounded yam and Amala.

Idanre Hills (Ondo State)

Ondo State (Sunshine State) is surrounded by hills and it is a 4 hour drive from Lagos. The State shares boundaries with Edo and Delta States to the East; Ogun and Osun States to the West; Ekiti and Kogi to the North and Atlantic Ocean to the South. The major occupation of the locals is Agriculture and they produce cash crops such as: palm produce, cocoa and timber. These crops constitute seventy-five percent of the State’s Gross Domestic product and sixty percent of Nigeria’s annual cocoa output.

The State which is known for its many hills and mountains has one prominent hill that has become very popular and that is the Idanre hill. The Idanre hill is a 667 step hill which has over the years attracted both locals, foreign tourists, and religious groups because of the mysteries surrounding it. One remarkable thing about the hill is the footprints belonging to one of the early dweller of the hill called Agboogun. The footprints shrinks to any foot size when it is placed on it.

Idanre Hills was home to early dwellers of idanre town.They had an established system then as you will notice from the King’s palace, primary school and court where offenders were punished. It is not surpising that despite westernization and modernization, the hill is still inhabited by some locals who feel they owe it as a responsibility to their ancestors and deities.

Ascending the hills can be tasking but the fun and adventure makes up for this. For those who are planning to visit Idanre hill, it is advisable to come with your mountain climbing kit, comfortable shoes and clothes to aid your climb and make it enjoyable. On your way to the top, you will see different hills that make up the Idanre hill itself. The fact that the people of Idanre town hold their ancestors in high esteem is reflected in their naming of each hill after past dwellers who have had a great impact in the history of the people. Therefore it is not surprising that each of these hills is named after prominent historical figures who ruled Idanre town. One of such hills that stands out among the others is the Aghagha hill.

Aghagha hill emits smoke from it all year round without any visible source of fire and a few meters away is the Agboogun foot prints. Agboogun foot print belongs to a great hunter and warrior in the ancient Idanre town. The footprints was used in the early times to traditionally hunt for witch/wizard. According to locals, the practice was anyone who was accused of being a witch is asked to place their feet into the footprints which has a mystical power to resize itself to the person’s feet. If it doesn’t shrink, the accused will be tagged a witch/wizard. The practise was however abolished when Christianity came and now people can just place
 their foot in it to see if it really shrinks. You should try it when you visit, it is fascinating.

One amazing thing about Idanre hill, is the five spot for resting which is designed in such a way that climbers don”t have to wait till they get to the top before catching their breath. So don”t worry about how you will climb the numbers of stairs without a stop, nature had you in mind when forming the hill. Once at the top, there is a mind blowing panoramic view of the town and also a small settlement of villagers who have refused to leave behind their tradition. There are also cultural relics of traditional arts, former palace of the Oba of Idanre, historical monument such as: Primary school, Old native court and Mausoleum.
The Idanre hill is suitable for mountaineering, bird watching, sport hunting and other fun activities. At the entrance, you pay a fee of one hundred and fifty naira. Getting a tour guide is optional but it is advisable you get one as they know their way around there and they tell you stories about the hill.

Ikogosi Warm Spring (Ekiti State)

Ekiti State (Fountain of Knowledge) is in the Southwest region of Nigeria and the State is a 5 hour journey from Lagos and 45 minutes from Akure the capital of Ondo State. Situated in Ekiti State is an amazing warm and cold water spring known as Ikogosi Warm Spring.

Ikogosi Warm Spring is a mysterious warm and cold water spring that flows side by side without the cold or warm water loosing it thermal density. At the source, the warm water has a temperature of 70c and after it comes in contact with the cold water it reduces to 37c.

There has been a lot of stories on how the warm and cold water can flow alongside each other without a change in their thermal density. According to one of the stories told by locals; the warm and cold spring represents the wives of a hunter. One of the wives was hot tempered (representing the warm water) while the other was cool and calm (representing the cold water), in the wake of rivalry and misunderstanding between the wives, they turned into the warm and cold water spring while their husband became the undulating hills that encompass the springs.

It is believed among the locals, that the spring has a curative power and that it has a sort of therapeutic effect that cures body aches and other ailments when one comes in contact with the water. Also available in the vicinity of the spring is the warm water swimming pool and an open bar where tourist can swim and have fun. The Ikogosi warm spring, according to tourism experts, is one of eight of such warm springs discovered in the world.

Ikogosi warm and cold spring has been in the little town of Ikogosi since time immemorial but it was brought to the limelight when Tai Solarin (A renowned Nigerian philanthropist) started making publicity for it and then it was visited by Rev. Macgee of the Baptist Church who established a student camp close to the spring. Rev. Macgee later went on to build a chapel (which has now been renovated to serve the purpose of a conference hall) and hostels for his student that came for the camp.

The resort which is highly secured can be used for conferences, business meeting and also a weekend getaway for families, honeymooners and for all type of events as they have a hall and open space. For those who just want to see the spring will have to pay a fee of five hundred naira at the reception desk before making their way along the wooden path.

The resort has a hotel that meets international standards and their services are impeccable. While there, you can dine at the restaurant which serves local and intercontinental dishes. The hotel has rooms that are luxuriously decorated to suit the taste of their prospective clients both business and leisure travelers. Their rooms can be categorized as follow: 1 Executive VIP chalet, 3 VIP villas, 12 western suites and 75 standard rooms.

Embassy of The Republic of Turkey
Address: 5, Amazon Street (Minister's Hill), Maitama A6, Abuja.
Phone: +234 9 4139787; Fax: +234 9 4139457
Email: contact@turkembabuja.com
Website: http://turkembabuja.com - See more at: http://talkoftourism.blogspot.com.ng/2016/02/95-countries-you-can-obtain-their-visas.html#sthash.7fLQHtM8.dpuf

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5 reasons to skip Lagos and head for Ibadan on a date

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Ibadan is generally regarded as the ugly duckling when compared to popular sister cities in the western parts of the country, especially Lagos. While Lagos is indeed the hub of Nigeria and holds everything essential to keeping a visitor enthralled, Ibadan is also a good idea. Maybe even a better idea than Lagos.

When people think of Lagos, they focus on the peripheral: the great food and the opportunity for shopping, the bustling night life, the myriad tourist sites and fantastic architecture. What many do not know is that Ibadan has many of the same attributes, only with its own twist as well as profound benefits.

No Traffic

Traffic is an everyday occurrence in Lagos and can steal the joy from any commuter’s day. There is no exception to area or time, almost every part of the city has a level of traffic and at almost all times within the day- not just rush hours. It can literally take you 2 hours to cover 1 kilometer in some areas. Commuters have to head out extra early to run errands or cut their fun short so as to get home early. In Ibadan however, this is not a problem. While its inhabitants witness occasion traffic, it is not a standard occurrence and it is certainly not a part of their lives. Unlike Lagos,you can actually have great value for your time while commuting within Ibadan.

Low-cost accommodation

Lagos has a plethora of hotels, from budget to luxury; however, the room rates are most times expensive  when compared to room rates in other parts of the country and thus pose a challenge to travellers, especially budget travellers. In Ibadan, there are upscale hotels that offer same service as upscale hotels in Lagos, however the rates are cheaper. For instance, the The Carlton Gate Hotel, Ibadan, which is rated a 5-star hotel starts from as low as N20,700 on Jovago.com, while Sheraton Lagos Hotel, a 5-star hotel in Lagos, with even a lesser rating on same portal, starts from N48,000. Ibadan also has a number of budget hotel options that offer even more value to travellers.

Micra instead of Moluwe

In Lagos, budget travellers who have to resort to public transport end up with bus options: Moluwe and danfo buses, as the taxi option also comes as steep price. In Ibadan however, public transport is not only even cheaper, but gives the commuter much more privacy and comfort. The popular means of transportation is via Micra, a sedan taxi (not necessarily of Nissan brand as the name suggests) which picks 4-5 passengers per time. Passengers in this sedan painted white with blue stripes pay as low as N50 for certain destinations, a situation not possible with the Moluwe or danfo within Lagos.

Cheaper food

No doubt, Lagos offers a bunch of gastronomic delights for the hungry traveller, however, the food do not come cheap, at least when compared to food in Ibadan. Even though the number of restaurants, cafes, bukkas and fast food joints in Lagos may be larger than the those Ibadan, the cost of consumption is relatively higher. An average meal in a standard lagos (budget) restaurants starts from N1, 000, however in Ibadan, you can get same food with better ambiance for as low as N500. You are able to save more on food while visiting Ibadan without missing out on the local delicacies or sticking to you preferred variety: Chinese, Indian, French, e.t.c.  

A better chance at love

It is no secret that love is hard to find in Lagos. Most of its inhabitants are so focused on making money or building their career and have no time for serious relationships. Single visitors to the city usually assert that the good ‘ones’ within the city are either hooked or taken. In Ibadan however, there is better opportunity at meeting “the one” as there are many options. Also, the restaurants and hang out spots are affordable and you easily can go on dates or engage in activities that encourage love and romance without breaking bank.

By Jovago team

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DISCOVERY: Dimmil Warm Springs in Yankari National Park

The Dimmil Warm Spring is located at the Yankari National Park; Nigeria’s most acknowledged national park that houses wildlife and other blessings nature has to offer. The national park houses four warm springs; notable among them is the Dimmil Warm Spring. The warm spring got its name from the people who previously settled around the spring.
 
The spring has a stable temperature of 35°C with characteristics of mild skin burn due to its sulphur content. It boasts of crystal clear water suitable for domestic use and the ancient community that settled around it considered Dimmil warm spring for spiritual bath that cures all skin ailments. Dimmil spring is about 2metres deep, availing tourists the space to swim and ease the day’s stress off. It is a perfect site for a refreshing getaway. The warm spring provides visitors with a chance to enjoy the warm water and relax in a cool environment, surrounded by gift of Mother Nature. The springs were birth due to underground geothermal activity in the location

The camp facility and chalets at Dimmil are open for visitors to rent. Tourists can have a clear view of the spring and the park from the chalet. The facility is also endowed with caves of about 59; some people think it was used as hiding place for the first set of settlers back then.


Elephants, monkeys and baboons often roam down to the springs; giving visitors a fair experience of the wildlife in the national park. The settlement and wells (about 130 wells are found in the park) were once used as a resting place by the trans-Atlantic slave traders of the early times. Kalban Hill, Kanyo Hill and Paliyaram Hill are other amazing attractions that surround the springs giving onlookers from the hill a perfect view of the beauty of the springs and park.

If you are considering a holiday, Yankari National Park will spark up the adventurer in you. Not because it is the largest wildlife park in Nigeria with over 50 species of mammals but for the relish of nature it gives with the warm springs in sight. You sure do not need a spa as Dimmil warm spring will do the magic alongside views of animals, nature and other tourists. 

Although the facility is open for tourist activities, there are laws guiding every visitor as to how to use the warm springs. Some of which includes not washing or bathing with soap in the water, swimming with trousers or cloths on is prohibited, jumping into the spring from any height or using unlicensed camera in the environment. With all these rules applied, an awesome adventure-laden experience awaits you!

By Jovago team 

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THE TRUTH ABOUT NIGERIA YOU MUST KNOW.

The country referred to as Giant of Africa is one of the most prominent countries in the world. However, over the years, certain incidents have led to birth and sustenance of certain negative stereotypes that seemingly hang over the country today.

Although most of these stereotypes are mere generalizations, they give a false impression of the country as well as its people, and tend to form the basis on which others her people. If you are visiting Nigeria, it is important to clear your mind of these stereotypes and hold on to the truth.

1. Nigeria is loved by its citizens.

The country is rich in natural resources and quite a number of its citizens not only remain within the country to harness the possibilities on offer, they love and remain patriotic to the country’s cause.

There is the impression that every person from the oil-rich nation is looking for an avenue to travel abroad for greener pastures. Admittedly, there are quite a number of Nigerians in diaspora, however, even those who live outside country visit regularly and eventually return to set up business or retire in the country.

2. The people of Nigeria work hard to earn their living.

Quite a large number of people in this country actually work hard to earn a living. They work decent jobs per day and start business which even grow into big companies. Some of the top richest men in the world are from Nigeria, with their net worth are backed by actual stocks in market.

As is with every other countries in the world, there are bound to be con artistes who swindle wealth off others; a practise most Nigerians frown upon.

3. Education is valued.

They appreciate education so much that a parent is willing to sell his land and property to ensure his or her child is properly educated. Almost every state in the country has at least two tertiary institutions and a myriad of nursery, primary and secondary schools. While many struggle to afford schooling, quite a number are still educated at even to the Masters level.

4. Nigeria is safe.  

With the Civil war of 1967, minor tribal riots and most recently, the rampage of the Boko Haram sect, Nigeria has been labelled by most foreigners as a volatile country.

With the break of any issue, the news media as well as independent columnists seek opportunities to highlight possible conflict or outbreak of war in the country. The nation is represented is such a way that public opinion is classified to reflect discord between local tribes and an advancement in terrorism within the country.

The truth however is that so far, there have been no genocides or war. The country is as safe as most other nations and the government is making fruitful efforts towards containing terrorism.

By Blessing

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Five (5) historical facts about Nok City

Nok is a city in Kaduna state where mysterious and unique cultural statuettes were found as early as 500 BC. This incredible discovery brought global attention to the city as curious archaeologists, wanderlust tourists and fun-seeking travelers paid visits to have a first-hand encounter with one of Nigeria’s best kept secrets.

A tour of Nok offers travelers a pleasant, fun-filled and enthralling journey through a once flourishing ancient enclave. It is the perfect place for an adventurous holiday this Christmas.

Figurines discovered in Nok in 1929

The figurines were discovered in 1929 when it was accidentally unearthed by tin miners. After several lab tests, the figurines were presumably dated 500 BC by archaeologists. Since, its discovery, people from different parts of the world have flooded the city to see this rare find. Despite this, the tourism potentials of the city are yet to be harnessed even with the establishment of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

Had an advanced social system

Nok people had an organized social system, a well-ordered economy and a functional form of governance that promoted peace, equality and justice in the society. This clearly reflects a structured society way before the emergence of modernity and technology.

Evidence of a rich artistic past

The terracotta heads are an unquestionable proof of the artistic prowess of the Nok people. The deft skills exhibited by the sculptors through their carvings was exceptional. The various heads represented human beings, animals and plants captured in positions sitting, kneeling or standing; a rarity in modern art.

At risk of being looted

It is worrisome that many of the terracotta heads have been carted away to foreign museums on display for exhibition or auction. Unless efforts are coordinated towards recovering these heads and preventing the looting of others, the Nok culture and statues, which are invaluable assets to Nigeria, will be lost in the near future.

Nok culture is extinct

The only reminder of Nok culture are the figurines excavated by archeologists. However, Bernard Fagg, who uncovered various Nok sites in 1944 observed that the Ham people of Southern Kaduna was an offshoot of the Nok people. Fagg hinged his decision on the similarities between the cultural practices, dressing and figures represented in the Nok art. A visit to Nok is guaranteed to take you down memory lane of ancient Nigerian heritage.

By Jovago team

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Africa’s Top 5 Festivals!

Africa is increasingly appreciative of the arts in its various forms – photography, drama, music, spoken word and poetry are continuously strengthened and encouraged by events across Africa. The recent Karibu Music Festival in Tanzania, the Art and Beer Festival in Kenya and the Lagos Photo Festival are great reference to the embracing of the arts by the African population. Africa’s art history is profound and the diversity on the continent is showcased by the variety of festivals held to boost knowledge or preserve the African art narrative.
 
Celebrate Ghana’s history at the Panafest!

Ghana’s Pan African Historical Theatre Festival is held biennially. It is a demonstration of the affluence of the country’s drama, music and poetry. Created in the 1980s, this festival also reflects on the history of slavery in Ghana and its journey to independence which is a common experience for many African countries. This shows that the festival may be in Ghana but is not limited to it as the aim to encourage African solidarity through art.

Pay homage to Nigeria’s finest at Felabration

Fela Kuti is not only a household name in Nigeria but in countries across the world, he is Nigeria’s afrobeat icon, a major assertive voice that continues to inspire the Nigerian youth. Felabration is an annual festival that promotes music and arts in Nigeria and Africa as well as the life of Fela Kuti! This festival was created in 1998 by Fela’s first child in order to pay respects and ensure that the music and values of Fela remain entrenched in the minds of the youth. Fela’s shrine in Lagos is visited by many from far and wide.

Experience Ghana at the Chale Wote Street Art Festival

Chale Wote always gets the media blazing about Africa. Social media platforms are lighted up with beautiful photographs of the personalities and characters from the parades. It is indeed an experience! Jamestown, one of the oldest districts in Ghana hosts the festival every year. And the magic starts with street art, graffiti, spoken word performances and great music to name a few. Local artists and personalities can also be spotted at the Chale Wote Festival.

Discover Ethiopia’s culture at Timket

Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country has been ablaze recently in the news with its first all-female flight crew. This is an amazing feat but only a glimpse of the awesomeness that is rooted in Ethiopia. The 3-day Timkat festival is quite elaborate and majestic as Christians in the beautiful garments have a procession on the streets of Gondar. The commemoration of the baptism of Jesus Christ is quite the festival and should be experienced by all.

Spend a magical week at the Harare International Festival of the Arts

This 6-day annual festival is quite popular, it is a fusion of educative workshops and the bustling festivals thus visitors get to work and play in Harare. Birthed in 1999, this festival has become a tool of consolidation for Zimbabwe which celebrating the arts in its various forms.

What other amazing festivals are held in Africa? Do you think these festivals are of importance?

By Motunrayo

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Talk of Tourism Destination of the Week: Ile Ife

Vastly cultural, justifiably traditional, and fairly cosmopolitan, Ile-Ife in Osun state, Southwest Nigeria is like an egg that is always accorded respect by all and sundry. The greatness attributed to Ile-Ife is well-deserved because it is the cradle of an important Nigerian race; Yoruba. This is part of the reason why the Ooni of Ife, the custodian of Ife norms and traditions, is revered and powerful at home and abroad. 

Adding to the cultural fascination of Ile-Ife is an aesthetic tourist destination that is known for giving visitors an indelible treat. One thing this city is recognized for globally is its age-long art history depicted by bronze heads of the kings of Ile-Ife which dates as far back as the 1300 BC. Unfortunately many of these heads have been looted. Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal shines the spotlight on this culturally and art rich town.

Top three sites

Oranmiyan Staff

In an ancient city like Ile-Ife, mysterious finds are never rare. One top tourist attraction that has defy explanations how it got there is the Oranmiyan Staff (Opa Oranmiyan). The staff is 18 feet above the ground and some deft designs are on it. The mystery attached to the staff has brought tourists from all over the world to see it. The Oranmiyan Staff can be seen at the Oranmiyan Shrine at the Arubidi quarter of Ile-Ife. Although certain traditional rites are performed there, it is still open to tourists. But there are some parts of the shrine that could only be accessed by those who are can only be peopled by initiates. The Oranmiyan obelisk is hundreds of years old and has history behind.

National Museum, Ife

The national Museum, located in Ile-Ife Osun State Nigeria, is well known for it’s archaeological exhibits of the Yoruba art of terracotta and bronze figures. It is the next door neighbour of the Ooni’s palace. The museum is an excellent place to learn about the people, culture, art and craft of Ile-Ife.

Ooni’s Palace
A visit to Ile-Ife is not complete without checking out the magnificent palace of the Ooni of Ife otherwise known as Ile Oduduwa, named after the first king of the Yoruba race. The palace is an in-depth reflection of ancient Ife because the palace existed alongside the city as far back as 500 BC. It is a perfect symbol of power, authority and pride for all who trace their heritage to Ile-Ife. Even with the modernization of the palace, traditional and cultural part of it is still preserved. The palace is a sacred place where you do not just indiscriminately wander. The  present Ooni of Ife is the 40 year old Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II who recently ascended the throne of his fathers after the death of Oba Okunade Sijuwade. You can pay homage to the king and will be warmly welcomed but ensure that you follow proper protocol while at the palace. The palace is located in Enuwa Area of Ile-Ife.

Where to Sleep

Despite being an evolving city, the presence of the Ooni’s Palace, the celebration of the Olojo festival and education environment of the Obafemi Awolowo University formerly the University of Ife has made many business minded persons to establish nice hotels in the flourishing town. Some of these hotels are Kriscourt Hospitality limited, Xela Hotel and Resort, Molak hotel, Abike Guest House Limited and Molak hotel. More of these hotels can be perused and booked on Jovago.com.

Where to Eat

The people of Ile-Ife are predominantly Yorubas. Do not be surprised if you see them munching foods you are familiar with in other Southwest states. Nevertheless, you do not need to worry about where eat when you are hungry. There bukkas and restaurants where you can satisfy your biting stomach. These restaurants are Eda restaurant, Forks and fingers, captain cook restaurant and sekodun restaurant.

Shopping in Ile-Ife

Obasewa shopping complex, Shop-Right, Mayfair Shopping Complex, and Ipetumodu market are some of the places you can do your shopping in Ile-Ife.

Fun Fact

The present Ooni of Ile-Ife-Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II is young, dynamic and handsome. He is in the forefront of uniting the Yoruba race. He displayed this trait unity when he visited the Alaafin of Oyo. The last visit of an Ooni to the Alaafin was 79 years ago.

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CALABAR: THE SLAVE TRADE MUSEUM

By Alkasim Abdulkadir 

 The serene city of Calabar is famous for its Calabar Carnival, described as Africa’s largest street party. At the same time, it is also famous for its idyllic setting and ease of life. But tucked away in the city is the Calabar Slave Museum, a treasure trove of antiquities and knowledge located at the sprawling leisure complex of Marina Resort. 

As a tribute to the tragic history of the transatlantic slave trade, the Cross River State government built the slave museum to immortalise those who were forcibly abducted and sold into slavery. The museum reconstructs the history and the travails of this period, showing the enterprise of the slave trade where about 700,000 slaves were shipped from the coast of Calabar between 1690 and 1807. The prosperous trade was carried out by European slave traders, indigenous slave merchants and other collaborators.

No visitor can step into the museum without feeling pangs of anguish associated with stolen liberty. Visitors cross the threshold of a turbulent history as echoes of horrors known and unknown are brought to life.
Guests who visit the museum in groups are asked to walk inside in single file, to recreate the way the slaves were forced to move, manacled in chains, to “their destinations of no return”.

According to the museum guide, the slaves were exchanged for items such as guns, rum and mirrors. Sometimes these items would be exchanged for ten human beings.
Another chamber in the building contains the slave-masters’ pen and mark rods, which were used for stamping identification symbols on the slaves. Some of these artefacts were acquired from families whose ancestors had been slave owners.

There are paintings and murals of slave-masters flogging would-be escapees; some with dogs, used by merchants and middlemen to hunt down slaves. Another painting depicts slaves in several thought-provoking postures, exhausted and shackled while labouring on plantations.
The works of art are provocative, the type that make goose pimples appear on one’s body. The museum guide says that some tourists get emotional as soon as their gaze falls on some of the exhibits. The onlookers’ emotions often morph into tears on seeing depictions of the bestial treatment of their forebears on display.

A look at some of the artefacts shows the inhumanity of the slave trade – men neatly arranged like stacks of firewood, chained together in such a way as to make it impossible for them to communicate with one another.

The concept behind the museum is to provide a realistic sense of the dark days of the slave trade and it succeeds by showing the ugly side of the meaninglessness of life, with dying slaves isolated from the healthy and some being thrown overboard.

The main ethnic group forcibly taken into slavery and shipped out of Calabar was the Ndi-Igbo people, who today occupy the south-eastern corner of Nigeria. One of these people is said to be the slave-turned-preacher John Jea, whose 1811 autobiography was rediscovered in 1983.
In one of the chambers inside the building, a couple of statues stand in solemn manner, as if aware of the tragedy and sombre nature of their surroundings. Here, the visitor and student of history finds respite upon seeing the statue of William Wilberforce, who fought for the abolition of the slave trade, and who was friends with John Newton, the former slave-ship captain who became an Anglican Minister – someone who later regretted his slave-trading years  out of Calabar.
There is also a statue of Rev. Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a former slave who became the first African Anglican bishop in Nigeria. Crowther’s grandson, Herbert Macaulay, became an active member of Nigeria’s movement for self-rule, pioneering partisan politics with the formation of NCNC (National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons).

Calabar’s slave museum is an enduring tribute to the hundreds of thousands of people shackled in agony and shipped away to far-away lands, never to see their homeland again.

WE CAN PLAN YOUR TRIP TO THE DESTINATION CONTACT US 08135146188

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How to Be The Best of Tourist

The global tourism industry is a major. But while it can bring enormous benefits to communities, people and animals, it can be very difficult when it comes at the expense of wildlife and the environment.

IFAW promotes responsible tourism, but it is the travelers themselves who can most make a difference by the choices they make and the knowledge they have.

Here are four pipes that every tourist should keep in mind during his travels around the world:

1. Encourage the local economy
Tourism contributes to local economies, but not when it involves buying derivatives wildlife souvenirs. Look instead craft items that support local communities. Consider making a donation or visit conservation projects animal habitats and protecting endangered species, such as wildlife sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers of wildlife. Sign the pact IFAW urging them not to buy souvenirs derived from wild animals and browsing the frequently asked questions dealing with the purchase of souvenirs wildlife derivatives .

2. Think about the welfare of animals
Say a big "no" to activities cruel to animals, such as hunting or being photographed with animals in a show, visiting circuses, attend bullfights, get on a horse, donkey, elephants or camels sick, exhausted by hard work or abused. Even the exotic cuisine may involve cruelty or exploitation.

3. Choose ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism that the environmental impact is lower. This is the responsible way to see the wonders of the world. But make sure that your trip is for ecotourism. All the so-called ecotourism offers are not necessarily.

Choose hotels and accommodations that employ indigenous, eat local food and help the local community. The resort also has a minimum impact on the environment and use water and other precious resources wisely.

4. Report to the authorities based products of endangered species
If you are on vacation and think you saw a derivative of a threatened, notify the local police in the direction of your hotel, tour operator or tourist office corner species - and warn other travelers. See photos of some products derived from endangered to help you identify the species.

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