Jebba
| Jebba | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
  Jebba Location in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates: 9°9′14″N 4°48′43″E / 9.15389°N 4.81194°E | |
| Country |
 Nigeria |
| State | Kwara State |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 22,411 |
| Time zone | WAT (UTC+1) |
Jebba is a Yoruba city in Kwara State, Nigeria.It has incredibly beautiful views of the River Niger and as of 2007 had an estimated population of 22,411.[1] The town has the benefit of being split into North and South Jebba. South Jebba falling in Kwara State and North in Niger State. It is home to the largest papermill in West Africa, as well as being the proud of home of one of Nigeria’s, three Hydro Electric Damns. Powering the whole of Nigeria, every day. It has also a monument to Mungo Park, in remembrance of the shipwreck which took place there, while he tried to trace the source of the Niger. More recently it has taken in 16 new residents in the form of volunteers from Nigeria and the UK. Jebba’s main quality is its mix of Christian and Islamic culture.
Transport
Jebba has one main road running through it connecting the North and the South of Nigeria. The train station has a functioning yet in frequent service. The railway station is also home to one of the Mango Park Monuments. The town has a large number of motorbike-taxis.
Hydro Electric Dam
Owned and operated the P.H.C.N, it is one only three purpose built damns in Nigeria. It supplies huge amounts of energy to the Nigerian grid as well as giving Jebba twenty-four-hour power. The dam is a beautiful testament to Nigerian productivity with an excellent management team. They actively support community projects and the town's development. The dam operates with six generators, using the great power of the Niger River to generate enormous amounts of electricity. The artificial lake created by the dam is a gorgeous sight to behold. If you’re ever lucky enough to be invited along for a tour, grab the opportunity with both hands. The site is interesting and a day well spent.
Paper Mill
Built and originally owned by Nigerians, the Paper Mill is the largest in West Africa. Sadly due to mismanagement and lack of investment the Paper Mill closed. It was recently taken over by an Indian Business man and began to function again. Once a provider for so many in the town, which, upon its closer left people jobless and lost. Now as it begins to turn the cogs again, it has hired few local workers but is finally being properly managed.
In its glory days the Paper Mill employed a huge population of the town to function its huge production line.
King of Jebba
Jebba, much like the majority of Nigeria, is a melting pot of culture and tribes. In the last century there has been a dispute raging on over the correct, and rightful King of Jebba. A family had ruled for many years and represented the mainly Muslim population. The duty of being king had been handed down to one generation. In the last few years there had been a challenge raised from the Okedare family of onipako via Jebba over the rulership of Adebara Family, who has been the sole ruling house since Jebba was founded. They traced their family heritage and thought that they were the rightful land owners of Jebba and should be the ruling family. Their claim was taken to court and found to be untrue with a minority judgement delivered by one judge out of six judges of Supreme court claiming they were the rightful owner of the land in Jebba. Other five judges affirmed the ruler ship and custodian of Jebba land to Adebara dynasty. Yet the present King remained as the fifth Oba of Jebba. The First Oba of Jebba was Oba Adebola Adebara who ruled from 1807-1901, 2nd Oba was Oba Odaso Adebara (1901-1930), 3rd Oba was Oba Muhammad Ayoola Adebara (1931-1943), 4th Oba was Oba (Alh) Ahmadu Akanbi Adebara who ruled for 60 years (1943-2003)on the throne, while the 5th Oba, Oba (Alh)Abdulkadir Alabi Adebara (2003-date) is the present and only ruler/king in Jebba town. The people in Jebba live in harmony, functioning peacefully. There is no dispute of overall control in the courts as the only matter in court is on ascension to the throne, which is politically motivated. The Adebara family await judgement. There is only one Jebba central mosque where the Chief Imam of Jebba led the prayer in attendance of Oba (Alh) Abdulkadir Alabi Adebara. There are other Jumaat mosque within and around Jebba metropolis with an appointed Imams. There are also several churches for Christian indigenes and residents. Every family in town has their own land under the rulership of Oba Adebara to which they remain loyal.
VSO-ICS and RHHF
Jebba has also been home to a volunteer program run by VSO called the International Citizens Service. They along with other Volunteer organisations, send 18- to 25-year-olds from the UK, to other countries. Where the UK volunteers work with in-country volunteers of the same age, to develop a community nearby. In this instance seven from the UK and seven from Nigeria. They, while in Jebba would live with local families, paired up, one Nigerian and one UK. Living in the town for three months developing community projects. The community projects are paired up with a local NGO (Non-Government Organisation). For the Jebba team it was RHHF (Royal Heritage Health Foundation, based in Ilorin. RHHF works to provide family planning, better education and now sustainable livelihoods.
Jebba as a town, since the Paper Mill closed, has failed to really provide jobs for its entire people. Many parents are forced to stop their children going to school and make them work. Either smoking fish, peeling cassava, growing rice or hawking at the side of the road, selling their goods. Jebba being a town many people simply pass through, this is an essential trade.
The aim of the community development projects was to get children back into schools and provide parents with sustainable lively hoods. The education side focused on making class rooms safe, relaying floors and fixing anything broken. They also wanted to improve uniforms, first aid kits, text book standards and school moral. Another huge problem was sanitation and water. Being at the side of Niger, there should be no trouble getting water. However lack of finance for plumbing makes getting water into the town very hard. RHHF before any volunteers arrived established SBMC’s (Schools based management committees) at five schools in Jebba. The volunteers would focus on putting these ideas into practice.
The other side was establishing sustainable livelihoods so the children do not have to work. The main focus of the Volunteers time was setting up a new fish smoking company in Jebba. On 26 November 2012 Jebba Smoked Fish began production on its first test batch of fish. In the future RHHF hopes to establish a Cassava production company and rice production company. The fish though was huge step forward for the team and Jebba. All over Nigeria Jebba is known for its smoked fish.
Tourism
There has some effort to promote Jebba as a tourism destination, especially the monuments which commemorates Nigerian history. The rock hill called Juju Rock has also attracted considerable interest of rock climbers and tourists.
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See also
References
- ↑ ""The World Gazetteer"". Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
- ↑ http://www.ktravula.com/2014/11/road-trip-to-juju-rock/
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Coordinates: 09°09′14″N 04°48′43″E / 9.15389°N 4.81194°E