We are about doing something different and unique. I found this report in National Mirror and I think it is high time we celebrate our God Given Natural monument which should be a money spinning project and create jobs for teeming unemployed youths if we are serious in this country.
Read the report as written by
KAYODE FALADE. Enjoy
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The Famous Ogbunike Cave
Ogbunike Caves are situated in a valley behind the “Ogba” hills in which lies St. Monica College, Ogbunike. Descending into the valley where the caves are located is a lengthy walkway made up of about 317 steps said to have been constructed by the Anambra State Government in the mid 90s.
At the end of the walkway is an open space used as a reception point where visitors are by tradition to remove their shoes. The main cave consists of a massive structure with a big open chamber of about 5m high, 10m wide and 30m long at the entrance.
There are 10 tunnels at the main chamber leading to different directions. Within the tunnels are big chambers and other tunnels of varying lengths, some of which are inter connected. The caves are occupied by a large colony of bats of various sizes.
There are streams and body of water at various places. A stream flows out from one of the tunnels into a rapid flowing river (River Nkissa). At the meeting point of the river and the stream one can feel the warm water from the caves and the cold river water.
Beside this portion of the river is a table land of about 5 X 5 square meters used as a relaxation spot by visitors to the caves. The immediate environment of the caves up to about 200 meters radius is a thick tropical rainforest type of vegetation.
Among the fauna of the site are deer, antelope, grass cutter, porcupine, rabbit, alligator, snakes and frogs. Others are fish, crabs and birds. Ogbunike caves are associated with living traditions and are said to be used by the people for many centuries. The site still retains its historical and spiritual significance. There is an annual festival called “Ime Ogbe” celebrated in commemoration of the discovery of the caves.
The biodiversity of the site has remained almost intact. The integrity of the site can be attested to by the presence of the primary forests around the caves. The Nkisa River flows by the side of the caves into which the water that drains from the caves empties itself. At that point, where the difference in temperature is felt between the river and the water from the rock. The entire site is within ranges of undulating hills and valleys which stretch across other communities and farmlands.
The site has sufficient boundaries (20 hectares) to protect its values from direct effects of human encroachment. The Ogbunike caves like the ancient cave temple of Arochukwu in Abia State were a symbol of justice. Ogbunike caves have attractive waterfall at the North West part of the cave that could compare to Kalambo falls in East Africa. The caves are believed to have been in existence for centuries with minimal defacement.
The caves occupy a large expanse of area. Recently, Chief Edem Duke, Nigerin Minister of Culture and Tourism, revealed that tourism in this modern time provides six out of every eight new jobs created . The country is fortunate that there is hardly any of its states that do not have natural endowments with which Nature has so richly blessed them.
Anambra State, for instance is blessed with many potentially revenue-yielding tourist attractions such as the Igboukwu Museum, the Agulu Lake and caves located in Owerre-Ezukala and Ogbunike. However, these tourist sites have not been fully utilized to yield the much-needed revenue to drive the developmental agenda of Anambra.
The Ogbunike caves, described by geologists as millions of years old, are the yet undiscovered cash cow of Anambra. One of the cave tunnels exit at the Ogbunike Town Hall, about six kilometres away from the cave proper, and another tunnel, according to folklore, terminates at Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area.
The much talked about employment generation will find ready expression in the cave, if a perimeter fence was built to secure the cave grounds with a gate to be manned by revenue staff, working shifts.
The gate will serve as entry and exit point for thousands of individuals, groups, and bus-loads of knowledge-seeking pupils, students, researchers and excursion groups which daily stream into Ogbunike to feast their eyes on the wonders of this God-given gift to Anambra. The inscriptions, carvings, drawings, signatures and etchings on the cave walls over the years bear testimony to the thousands of visitors the cave has played host to over the centuries.
The Anambra State Ministry of Commerce and Industry can partition and allocate the grounds in square meters to restaurant owners, fast food and drink retailers for a fee renewable annually. Ground rents can also be charged sellers of local delicacies like “Okpa” and local drinks like “ngwo” and “iti”.
For those who wish to pass nights and weekends in the cave to further savor its delights, the Anambra State Government needs only construct safari-type pre-fabricated bungalows with thatched roofs to harmonize with the cave locale and eco-system. The interior of these bungalows can be plumbed, wired and tiled for modern comfort.
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