That long-standing narrative is now undergoing a significant transformation. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and with renewed momentum from the Federal Ministry of Power under the leadership of Honourable Minister Adebayo Adelabu, Ikere Gorge Dam is being repositioned as a multi-sector development anchor. This intervention, undertaken in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and relevant basin authorities, marks a decisive shift from years of neglect to a future anchored on productivity, sustainability, and local economic inclusion.
Beyond electricity generation, the current revitalisation strategy deliberately identifies academics, agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, and environmental conservation as the core economic bullseyes of the Ikere Gorge Dam project. This integrated vision recognises that modern infrastructure must serve multiple value chains if it is to deliver real and lasting development outcomes.
Academic Collaboration and Knowledge-Driven Development
A central pillar of the dam’s new development trajectory is the deliberate alignment between dam operations, research institutions, and tertiary education. There is growing optimism that Ikere Gorge will evolve into a living laboratory for engineering, environmental sciences, agriculture, aquaculture, and ecosystem management.
Institutions within the Oke-Ogun axis—including Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Iseyin; the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO); SAF Polytechnic, Iseyin; and Saki Polytechnic—are strategically positioned to benefit from this alignment. With proper institutional frameworks, academic programmes directly linked to hydrology, renewable energy systems, irrigation engineering, aquaculture technology, climate adaptation, and natural resource management can receive formal accreditation.
Such collaboration would not only deepen research output but also produce industry-ready graduates equipped with practical skills. Over time, this ecosystem could attract grants, innovation hubs, professional training centres, and international research partnerships, positioning Oke-Ogun as a regional knowledge corridor rather than a peripheral academic zone.
Reviving Irrigation and Securing Food Systems
Equally critical to the dam’s revitalisation is the resuscitation of the irrigation scheme managed by the Ogun–Osun River Basin Development Authority, the statutory custodian of the dam. The original irrigation design envisaged the watering of approximately 12,000 hectares of farmland, enabling year-round cultivation and reducing dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
However, achieving this objective in the present context requires a comprehensive overhaul of legacy infrastructure. Key components such as the irrigation pump house, tube lines, control gates, and siphon systems within the water belt must be rehabilitated and modernised. Once fully revitalised, this irrigation network is expected to support large-scale and smallholder farming across Ikere, Iseyin, and other riparian communities, significantly boosting yields, stabilising farmer incomes, and strengthening regional food supply chains.
In an era of climate volatility and rising food prices, irrigation-led agriculture around Ikere Gorge offers a strategic buffer against food insecurity, while creating opportunities for agro-processing, logistics, and cooperative farming models driven by youth participation.
Aquaculture and the Blue Economy Opportunity
With improving access infrastructure—including the 23-kilometre road linking Isanlu in Iseyin to the Ikere Gorge Dam—and the prospect of stable electricity supply, aquaculture is poised to become one of the dam’s most commercially viable sectors.
Commercial activities around the dam have existed for over a decade. Floating cage fish farming began around 2011, demonstrating the suitability of the water body for intensive aquaculture. A defining moment came in 2016, when the Tilapia Aquaculture Developers Association of Nigeria (TADAN) recorded a landmark harvest that attracted national attention and validated the dam’s commercial fish-farming potential.
Today, the scale of opportunity is even greater. The dam’s stable hydrology supports large-scale inland fisheries, capable of generating thousands of jobs across production, feed supply, processing, cold-chain logistics, and export-oriented value addition. Beyond employment, expanded aquaculture will improve protein availability, enhance nutrition outcomes, and deepen food security within and beyond Oyo State.
Tourism, Conservation, and the Eco-Economy
Tourism represents another strategic frontier in the Ikere Gorge revitalisation agenda. The dam’s dramatic landscape, proximity to the Old Oyo National Park, and rich biodiversity create a natural foundation for eco-tourism development. Proposed initiatives include annual mountain-climbing events, regulated hunting games, eco-camping, and guided nature trails, all designed to balance revenue generation with environmental conservation.
If properly managed, the Ikere Gorge corridor could emerge as a flagship eco-tourism destination in South-West Nigeria, attracting domestic and international visitors, stimulating hospitality investments, and generating alternative livelihoods for host communities.
Protecting Farmland and Managing Urban Expansion
However, these gains are not guaranteed. There is a growing concern over unchecked estate development along fertile agrarian corridors, particularly along the Ijaye–Iseyin axis, where productive farmlands are rapidly being converted into housing estates. Extending this pattern toward the Isanlu–Ikere Gorge axis could undermine agricultural productivity and compromise long-term food security.
Protecting land use integrity along the dam corridor is therefore not optional—it is essential. Many host communities rely on small-scale agriculture as the backbone of local food markets. These micro-economic activities, though often overlooked, remain a critical index of communal resilience and inclusive growth.
Community Resilience and Local Ownership
It is impossible to discuss Ikere Gorge Dam without acknowledging the resilience and patience of its host communities. For over 47 years, they have lived with unfulfilled promises, yet maintained a sense of ownership that preserved the asset through decades of uncertainty.
In this context, the decision by the Federal Government to concession the dam to Oke-Ogun indigenous interests deserves commendation. By entrusting the asset to stakeholders with cultural, economic, and generational ties to the land, the government has reinforced local confidence, accountability, and long-term sustainability.
Conclusion: A Turning Point for Oke-Ogun
The revitalisation of Ikere Gorge Dam represents more than infrastructure renewal—it is a redefinition of development strategy. By integrating power generation with agriculture, education, aquaculture, tourism, and conservation, the project has the potential to transform Oke-Ogun into a diversified economic hub.
With sustained political will, transparent governance, and responsible community participation, Ikere Gorge Dam can finally fulfil its original promise—not just as a dam, but as a catalyst for inclusive growth, regional stability, and generational prosperity.
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