BY LAW IBITOYE
Tourism is one of the recently discovered critical sectors that fetch government huge funds and its other importance which include: economic growth, job creation, transferring of cultural heritage from generation to generation and in-depth knowledge of culture and traditions.
Last week a good number of Ekiti state Journalists , led by the chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade, Kayode Babatuyi left Ado Ekiti, the state capital to fill and enjoy nature in Arinta waterfalls in Ipole-iloro Ekiti.
Arinta waterfalls, is located in Ipole Iloro, Ekiti about 10 minutes drive from Ikogosi Ekiti in Ekameta Local Council Development Area, Ekiti West Local Government of Ekiti state.
Arinta waterfalls are at the extreme end of Ipole Iloro, the road that leads to the site is lonely and at the entrance of the site, you are greeted with a painted fence boldly inscribed ‘ WELCOME TO ARINTA WATERFALLS’. The tourism site is segmented into two sections; upon entering the gate, about five makeshifts were erected for relaxation while from the point, you have to trek 7- 10 minutes via a long wooden bridge to a hilly top before you get to the real center of attraction where the waters are forcefully gushing out from a top rocky hill.
The ‘down stairs’ where the waters land from the hill top are where tourists who are interested in bathing always stay to receive the forceful and noisy splashes that hit those that are bathing. In fact, the splashes are so heavy that whoever is bathing who does not stand firm could fall by the cold splashes .
In an interview, the monarch of the town, HRM Ezekiel Babatola Oladele ( JP), Ekiti Kalesibe 3rd, Olupole of Ipole-Iloro said “Arinta waterfalls cure different skin ailments; it makes skin smooth like butter when used to bath repeatedly. It’s clean, it’s drinkable, odourless and without particles.”
The monarch reiterated that the waterfalls were not attached to any festival with no ‘dos and don’ts’ as it happened in other places. According to the monarch, it’s is a natural water.
The noise that emanated from the splashes overshadowed the noise of all the tourists put together if they are mandated to shout, the more you shout the louder the splashes gush out. When asked why it was so, HRM retorted that it was a misery that no one can unravel.
Though, situated in a thick forest, decorated with different shapes and sizes of rocks with a serene environment, fascinated with nature, having seven floors for easy mounting of the floors, a very thick rope was tied in between big trees which serve as a guide to climb from one floor to the other because the place apart from the fact that it’s rough , it’s also sleepry.The water serves as soothing balm, refreshes and comfort the body; ‘Water is life ‘
Despite the serenity of the environment, Arinta waterfalls need urgent attention from both government and serious minded private investors to make the site a world class; modern relaxation facilities, good structures, infrastructures, adequate security, personnel among other things that will make tourists feel comfortable need to be put in place.
On his part, the Executive Chairman of Ekameta Local Council Development Area, Hon (Dr) Leye Adeniji said the Council, sons and daughters of Ipole-Iloro are working hassidously to showcase Arinta waterfalls and others in the LCDA to the world, adding that Ekameta is the tourism hub of Ekiti state.
Having x-rayed the present condition of Arinta ‘waterfalls, Ekiti state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, sons and daughters of Ipole Iloro should project Arinta waterfalls to the whole world to embrace . Indeed there are economic and social opportunities inherent in Arinta waterfalls, the earlier its discovery the better. Ekameta Local Council Development Area in Ekiti West is blessed with four tourist centers which are: Ikogosi warm spring, Arinta waterfalls, Erin Water at Erijiyan Ekiti and the spot of first plane crash in Africa at Oke Ilapa.
‘Arinta waterfalls can be made an international world tourist center that will help in no small measure to reduce the army of unemployed youths in Ekiti state, if our government give it a second thought!