Are you searching for places to go for a vacation? Maybe you are you just looking for places worth visiting in Imo State? Discover some beautiful places in Nigeria in this post on towns and villages worth visiting in Imo State.
Imo State is known as the Eastern Heartland. It is blessed with a rich culture and beautiful natural heritage and sites. Owerri is the capital of Imo State and it is the state’s largest city. Owerri is the hub of events and activities for most tourists. The city has lots of hotels, casinos, centers for relaxation, etc. But there are other beautiful places in Imo State that you can visit. Below is a list of some of the places worth visiting in the Heartland.
1. Oguta Lake and Oguta Lake Holiday Resort, Oguta
Oguta Lake is one of the largest natural lakes in Nigeria and the largest in Imo State. The lake is a slender ‘finger lake’ and it is believed to have originated from a natural depression. The lake is located in Oguta, Imo State. It divides the town into two townships known as Oguta 1 and Oguta 2.
Oguta Lake is very important in the history of Nigeria. During the colonial era, the United African Company (U.A.C.) used the lake as a port for evacuating palm products. The remnants of the jetties used still exist there till date. Also, the Biafra Navy used the lake as a marine base during the civil war. Oguta Lake is of great economic importance today especially to the people of Oguta, Awo-Omamma, Osemotor, Mgbidi, Nkwesi, Izombe, and Orsu. It is their source of water, fish and an outlet for sewerage. It has become a center for tourism and it is a worthy place to visit. You can take a cruise on the lake, swim, do some fishing or have a picnic at the lake bank.
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To attract more people to visit the lake, a resort known as the Oguta Lake Holiday Resort was built in Oguta. During the colonial era, the resort was used as a getaway spot and retreat centre for the colonial masters. But since then, it has been upgraded and it is now well equipped with facilities to boost tourist visits to Oguta Lake. The resort has a 3-star hotel, a cruise service for visitors and golf course. Oguta is one place you should plan to visit during the holidays.
2. Mbari Cultural and Art Centre, Owerri
Imo State is the pride of the Igbos that is why it is called the Eastern Heartland. Imo state has a strong significance to the Igbo culture. One of the places where you can appreciate this culture is the Mbari Cultural and Art Centre. It is situated at a place called Ikenegbu in Owerri, Imo State.
Mbari is a virtual art form that was practised by the Igbos in the early years. This cultural and art center is now an open space museum which is made up of three sections: an amphitheater, the Mbari Museum, and the Mbari House. The Mbari house contains the different artifacts and sculptures which tell the stories of the Igbo people and also the artistic representation of various deities.
3. Imo Palm Plantation Complex, Egbema and Amafor
This place was formerly referred to as Ada Palm Plantation Complex. It is a massive palm plantation complex that occupies approximately 4,310 hectares of land. It is located on a large expanse of land in between Egbema and Amafor in Ohiji/Egema Local Government Area. It was built in 1974 and it is the largest and most successful oil palm plantation in West Africa. Before the discovery of oil, it was one of the mainstays of the Nigeria’s economy and a major source of foreign exchange.
4. National Museum, Owerri
The National Museum located in Owerri was built in 1988. The museum contains permanent exhibitions and ethnographic collections of household utensils and money which shows the way of life of the people who first settled in Owerri. It also houses some of the antiques of the civil war.
5. Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri
Maria Assumpta Cathedral also known as Owerri Cathedral is another interesting place located in Owerri, Imo State. It is currently the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese. The cathedral which was built from 1954 to 1980 has a magnificent architectural design which is similar to the Renaissance architecture which is an Italian architectural design. The cathedral is one of the biggest catholic churches in Nigeria and West Africa. The building has a capacity of 3,000 people.
6. Nekede Zoo, Owerri
Nekede Zoo is another place worth visiting in Owerri, Imo State. It was built in 1976 by the State Ministry of Agriculture. The zoological garden which is seated on ten hectares of the forest reserve has different kinds of animals which include chimpanzees, crocodile, guerrilla, lions, monkeys, ostriches, pythons, etc.
7. Amusement Park, Owerri
You can visit the Amusement Park in Owerri. It is one of the beautiful places in Nigeria for relaxation and entertainment.
8. Iyi Ogidi Spring, Ofeahia Amaifeke
Iyi Ogidi Spring is located in Ofeahia Amaifeke in Orlu Local Government Area. This spring source is from five different channels in a serene and pleasant spot. A hill station was built by the British here during the colonial period.
9. Iyi Okwu Spring, Okwuepe village
Iyi Okwu spring is located in Okwuepe village in Orlu Local Government Area. This spring bubbles out in a pipe-like manner from a rock located on a hill. The water is pure and clean as it rushes downwards with intensity.
10. Urashi River Source, Ezeama community
It is located in Ezeama community in Ideato-South Local Government Area. It is a spring which is believed to have a mysterious source from a rope-like feather which stretches from a substance that looks like a mountain. It is believed that the spring is the source of the Urashi River.
11. Rolling Hills, Okigwe
This is a series of hills that expand from Okigwe town to Ihube and it is a beautiful place to for camping and picnicking.
12. Ngwu Spring Natural Water, Nkwere
It is also known as Iyi Umugara. It is located in Nkwere Local Government Area in Imo State. This spring is a sparkling natural water which is pure and crystal-like in appearance. Something awesome about this spring is that unlike other rivers, lakes, and springs, the volume and flow of the Ngwu Spring Natural Water increase during the dry season.
13. Abadaba Lake Resort, Odenkume, Umuezegwu, and Okwuohia villages
After Oguta Lake, Abadaba Lake Resort is the second most prestigious lake in Imo State. It is located between Odenkume and Okwuohia villages and another small village known as Umuezegwu. Abadaba Lake Resort is not developed for tourism as it has been left abandoned but it is still worth visiting.
14. Amadioha Shrine, Ngo Okpala
Amadioha is the god of lightning and thunder and it is worshipped by the Igbo people. The shrine is located in Ngo Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State and it also another place people visit in Imo State. But you should obey the rules of the place and don’t enter restricted areas.
15. Eze Silver Ibenyi Ugbala II Palace, Orlu
It is located in Orlu, the second largest city in Imo State. It holds many archaeological discoveries and also the history and mysteries of the Igbo culture and tradition. The palace is one of the places you can learn a lot about the Igbo culture.
These are some of the exciting places in Imo State. You can visit the capital city of Imo State Owerri, Oguta, Okigwe, Orlu, Okwuepe village, Ofeahia Amaifeke, and other towns and villages. I hope you will find one of these places interesting. You can search online for more information about each of these sites and hotels nearby where you can stay for the duration of your visit.
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Source: Naija.ng