Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, Mogaji Onibudo of Ibadan and President of the International Council for Ifa Religion, has debunked the long-standing belief that the name “Ibadan” originated from the Yoruba words “Eba” and “Odan.”
Presenting his paper at the 2025 Osemeji Obamoro Conference in Ibadan, Fakayode asserted that historical and linguistic evidence supports “Iba-Odan” as the true etymology—translating to “Pantry in the Meadow.”
He explained that if the name had derived from “Eba-Odan,” the linguistic transformation would have resulted in “Ebadan,” not “Ibadan.” Fakayode traced the origin to Lagelu, a war general from Ile-Ife, who settled with his followers in a meadow between the Egba forest and grasslands. In Yoruba, “Iba” refers to a pantry or storehouse, while “Odan” means meadow—hence, “Ibà Òdàn.”
He also dismissed the theory that colonial mispronunciation led to the name “Ibadan,” arguing that English speakers were capable of pronouncing “Ẹ” sounds, as seen in words like “Elephant” and “Egg.” “If the name were truly Ebadan, they would have pronounced it as such,” he said.
Fakayode urged educators and historians to correct the misconception in academic and cultural references to preserve the city’s true heritage for future generations.
The conference also featured a presentation by Surveyor Dasola Fadiran, who emphasized the economic potential of traditional religion and culture. She highlighted the roles of herbal medicine, art, and festivals in boosting tourism and revenue generation for Oyo State and Nigeria.
