By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Popular Ghanaian traveller Efya Kimora has praised Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and hospitality following a visit to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where she explored historical landmarks, sampled traditional cuisine and interacted with residents.
Kimora, who is touring cities, towns and villages across Nigeria, spent a day exploring some of Ibadan’s notable attractions, including Cocoa House, Bower’s Tower, the King’s Palace and the Cultural Centre in Mokola.
Her accommodation during the visit was facilitated by Gbolahan Fatuga, Chief Executive Officer of Caligeo Suites.
Caligeo Suites has also supported Nigerian sports by offering free accommodation to Team Nigeria’s medallists at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Under the initiative, gold medallists were offered up to 30 days’ accommodation, silver medallists 20 days and bronze medallists 15 days.
During her tour, Kimora visited Cocoa House, recognized as the first skyscraper in tropical Africa, and explored the Odu’a Museum within the building to learn more about the region’s history and heritage.
She also admired Ibadan’s distinctive brown rooftops from an aerial viewpoint before proceeding to Bower’s Tower, where she enjoyed panoramic views of the sprawling city.
Her itinerary included passing by the King’s Palace, visiting The Palms Mall and sampling amala, a popular Yoruba delicacy. She later visited the Cultural Centre in Mokola, where she experienced the city’s nightlife, interacted with residents and made new friends.
Kimora said her passion for exploring Africa was driven by her desire to discover the continent’s diverse cultures, architecture, history, food and people, noting that every destination offers a unique experience.
Although her stay in Ibadan lasted only a day, she expressed a desire to return and explore more of the city, appreciating the warmth and hospitality she encountered.
Her visit highlights the potential of cultural tourism to strengthen connections among African countries by encouraging cross-border travel and promoting the continent’s heritage and local communities.
Kimora has also visited Abuja, Enugu, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Lagos states as part of her ongoing Nigerian tour.
