16/05/2014
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
in Nigeria
Nigeria is blessed with outstanding cultural, natural
and significant heritage sites, which are listed
among the UNESCO Heritage Sites. These sites exist
nowhere else in the world and have become a
great interest to visitors and Nigerians. We combed
through the list of the World Heritage Sites and discovered that two cultural sites in Nigeria were
approved to be on the list while others are on the
tentative list, which may be considered for
nomination. However, we present to you the list of Nigerian
heritage sites, which are on both the tentative and
World UNESCO Heritage sites’ lists. These sites have
natural and extreme beauty with historical
significance that will inspire every one; therefore,
we recommend you visit them straight-away. 1. Sukur Cultural Landscape, Adamawa State This is one of the magnificent destinations that is
better visited than seen on travel magazines or
imagined, populated by a rich avifauna, rare
species and located on top of the highest plains on
the Mandara Mountains in a place called Madageli,
Adamawa state. This is Nigeria’s first landmark to be inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
The landscape features a palace, ritual featured
terraced fields decorated with dry stones and
granites, which make the village setting so natural
and exceptional. 2. Osun-Osogbo Scared Grove, Osun State This sacred forest is situated along the banks of the
Oshun River, on the outskirts of the capital city of
Osogbo, which is regarded as the home of the
goddess of fertility – Osun. There are shrines, art
works, sculptures and sanctuaries that dot the river
in honour of the goddess and other local deities. It is considered as the last of the Yoruba’s sacred
forests that is still standing. In 2005, it was listed by
UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Its yearly festival
brings thousands of spectators, tourists and Osun
worshippers from around the world. 3. Oban Hills, Cross River State Oban Hills is a range of hills located within Cross
Rive National Park and it shares a border with the
Korup National Park of Cameroon, established in
1988 as a part of the Cross River National park and
is a natural habitat for wildlife and plants of
unknown species. This is one of few sites where the Xavier’s Green Bull can be found and unusual
species such as the Cassin’s Hawk eagle, Bat Hawk,
Crested Guinea fowl, Lyre-tailed Honey guide and it
houses over 400 Chimpanzees. 4. Oke-Idanre Hill,Ondo State Idanre Hills consists of spectacular valleys with a
high plain and the valleys are interspersed with
magnificent inselberlgs that is about 3,000 feet
above the sea level. It was listed in 2007 on the
tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. There
are attributes such as the old court, Owa’s Palace, Agbooogun foot print, shrines, burial grounds and
mounds and the Omi Aopara which is the thunder
water. It is a tourist attraction center that brings
thousands of visitors all through the year. 5. Ogbunike Caves, Anambra State This is one of the wonders of the Eastern Nigeria
and discovered by a hunter called Ukwa. It is
associated with spiritual and historical significance
and listed in 2007 on the tentative list of the UNESCO
World Heritage Sites. The caves can be descended in
a 317 steps, yearly; Ime Ogbe festival is celebrated in the commemoration of the discovery of these
caves. Photo Source: logbaby 6. Alok Ikom Monoliths, Cross River State Alok Ikom Monoliths has over 300 carved stones
that are upright with heights that varies and
grouped in circles, each facing one another. The
texts and images inscribed on the monoliths still
cannot be decoded, but it’s believed to be writings
from the prehistoric civilization. The site is known as Akwasnski/ Atal among the people of Ejagham.
The feature that is common with these monoliths is
they were designed in the form of a Phallus. In
2008, it was added to the tentative list of the
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo Source: Junglejournalist 7. Ancient Kano City Walls, Kano State It was once regarded as West African’s most
impressive monument, a 14km radius earth
monument that is associated with the state’s
historical, cultural and spiritual significance. In
2007, it’s listed on the tentative list of UNESCO World
Heritage Sites’ tentative list. It features the Emir’s Palace, Kurmi Market and the famous Dala Hills,
believed to be the first settlement in ancient city of
Kano. The wall is an intriguing fact of Nigerian
architects who had designed this wall to define
defence, political space, management and security
system. Photo Source: ExperienceCrossRiver 8. Gashaka-Gumpti National Park, Taraba State This park is the country’s most diverse and largest
National Park that is situated with the Mountain of
Death, Chappal Wadi and Mountain of Wind,
Chappal Hendu. There are lots of traditional lore
that have served to protest West African’s huge
number of primates and houses giant forest hogs, chimpanzees, leopard, lion, hippopotamus, yellow-
backed duiker ,hartebeest and buffalo and birds. Photo Source: logbaby 9. Arochukwu Long Juju Slave Rute, Abia State This is the home of the shrine of Ibin Ukpabi with a
domineering cult statute of Kamalu-‘The Ancient
Warrior god’ still standing. It contains an alter, a
water fall and there is a six foot gully that leads
people to this cave temple. There are lots of myths
about this area which was listed in 2007 on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There is
a famous feature the Iyi-Eke which was an outlet
for slaves to be transported to Calabar. 10. Surame Cultural Landscape, Sokoto State Surame is an ancient city in Sokoto State, created in
the 16th Century by Muhammadu Kanta Sarkin
Kebbi and abandoned in the `1700. It is regarded
as one of the world’s wonders of the human
civilization, ingenuity and creativity. Its wall is made
of massive stones and has a Palace of the Hidi; the chief of the village. It was declared an ancient
Nigeria’s National Monument in 1964 and added in
the Cultural and Natural category of the UNESCO
World Heritage Tentative List in 2007. Share
