Fayemi Fakayode clarifies that Ibadan derives from Iba + Odan, correcting misconceptions about the Yoruba city’s historical name origin

The origin of Ibadan has been clarified by the President of the International Council for Ifa Religion, Fayemi Fakayode, who corrected a long-standing misconception about the name of the ancient Yoruba city.

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Speaking at the 2025 Osemeji Obamoro Conference in Ibadan on Saturday, Fakayode explained that Ibadan’s name derives from Iba + Odan, not Eba + Odan, as commonly believed.

He noted that if the city’s name had been Eba + Odan, linguistic evolution would have naturally transformed it into “Ebadan.”

“Iba + Odan naturally evolved into ‘Ibadan’,” he said. “Iba refers to a pantry, while Odan means meadow. Thus, Ilébà/Ibà Òdàn translates as ‘pantry in the meadow’.”

Fakayode further dismissed claims that European colonists mispronounced the city’s name. He argued that English contains the sound ‘Ẹ’, as in words like ‘Elephant’ and ‘Egg’, and Europeans could have pronounced Ebadan correctly if that had been the origin.

The conference also featured a presentation by Dasola Fadiran, former Secretary of the Oyo State Branch of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, on “The Roles of Isese Practitioners in Economic Development.”

Fadiran highlighted the contributions of traditional art, herbal remedies, cultural products, and festivals to tourism and economic growth.

Fadiran observed that the long-held belief that Ibadan was named from Eba Odan, meaning “by the edge of the meadow,” stemmed from historical interpretations of the city’s founding as a military and trade hub in the 19th century.

Refugees and warriors from Ife, Oyo, Ijebu, and Egba settlements transformed the area from a temporary outpost into a major Yoruba power centre.

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Fakayode urged historians and educators to teach the correct origin of Ibadan to ensure that future generations have a more accurate understanding of their heritage.