Yes, Ido'Ijesa, a small sleepy town in Osun State, Nigeria is harbouring one of the richest eco-tourism enclaves, which the Lord Almighty blessed this world with.Great is the richness of the flora and fauna in this three-kilometre in length and one kilometre in breath forest conserved by Professor Olu Odeyemi, OFN, former Rector, Osun-State College of Technology, Esa-Oke that eminent scholars and tourists have described as 'The Garden of Eden.'TTM's discovery of this wonderful eco-biodiversity enclave was initiated by Prince Adeoye Aderinwale, President, Hospitality Watch and the man who packages Iwude Celebration, who informed the writer on his way to Ibadan from Ekiti on Sunday, 11 December, 2011 of the hidden conservation enclave situated in a corner of a small town in Osun State.Spurred by journalistic zeal, the writer abandoned his car on the Ilesa'Ife Expressway, joined Prince Aderinwale in his car for the adventure into the forest where nature is being preserved and protected naturally.Unless you have a pre-knowledge of being informed of the existence of a botanical and ecological farm, in there, one might have passed the place without having an inkling that such a blessing exist.This is because, Professor Odeyemi's street in Ido'Ijesa has nothing special to attract attention except the broken asphalt tar cobbled together to make the road to his house passable.But as one approaches the erudite Professor's house, the first scientist in the world to demonstrate in Nigeria and Canada the feasibility of using sunshine and seeds of Moringa Oleifera for purification of potable water instead of the expensive and non-renewable alum, you will be confronted by a large fish pond barricaded with a perimetre wire mesh from the road.Welcome to ENPOST Farm - a short word for Environmental Pollution Science and Technology Limited, aka 'The Garden of Eden.'Without any prior appointment or notification, Professor and Mrs Odeyemi resplendently dressed were just returning from church welcomed TTM and his friend warmly.Pleasantries over and having been informed of our intention, Professor Odeyemi courteously took permission and dashed inside a room only to surface in another attire only fit for farm work.Thus , we commenced the tour of the forest reserve owned by an individual in the South 'West.Rationale for Conservation'The search for Life'Water is lifeThe genesis for the establishment of the eco-tourism enclave was kindled by the necessity to get potable water. Professor Odeyemi needed a place to experiment his findings about purification of water without using alum or relying on much chemicals particularly in Ilesa where potable water was and still a precious rejected commodity.And as fate would have it, one Sunday morning, Professor Odeyemi paid a friend of his a visit who had earlier sold the parcel of the land to someone who was dissatisfied with the location of the land being in a swamp and water. Eventually, the man demanded for his money.And here was a Professor who had been searching for a prime location for his experiment and research. Talking of one man's food being another man's poison.Professor Odeyemi quickly paid for the land and that singular act led to the discovery and enhancement of eco-tourism wonders in Ido-Ijesa.The first thing Odeyemi planted on the farm was a well which supplies water to the neighbourhood. The water is purified not by alum or any other chemical but with the Moringa Oleifera, which adorned the enclave. A discovery sold to the world by the scholar himself.Since then, residents on Odeyemi's street have become blessed because they continue to have access to clean and organically purified well water.Leaving the well, we sauntered to the Moringa tree which has been found to be the most important plant in the world as it has over 45 uses.The tree which seemed to be under protective custody inside the main building is being threatened by those who so much appreciate its usefulness and sneak in to steal the leaves for commercial purpose.From the Moringa tree, we made straight a fenced parcel of land next to the house where we came to the Biogas Generator section is situated.For the enclave to be truly organic, Prof Odeyemi constructed a biogas plant which uses the organic waste from the farm, domestic uses for heating and lightning. The post'digestion sludge from the biogas digester is being used for fish feeds, mushroom cultivation and as liquid organic fertilizer and insecticides.FisheryOne of the features that commanded attention in this eco-tourism enclave was the extra big fish ponds numbering about 16 which according to information contains only 100,000 fishes!These fishes are fed with organic food and waste. No cause for pellets or other agro chemical foods other than poultry dung, household wastes and leftovers.This enclave harbours Lates fishes, the only farm in the South West which breeds big fishes weighing over 97kilogrammes. This is the kind of fishes being bred in the Argungu River.The fish here is different in taste, texture and preservation. Fishes produced from organic arrangement can stay alive out of water for days.The fishery has a big hatchery that produces fingerlings for the farm. One big fish was said to have produced 40,000 eggs, just one big fish from one of the Lates.The ForestThe three-kilometre by one kilometre ENPOST Farm is blessed with thick jungle and deep forest which one might never thought of being at that place. It could be likened to Okomu National Park, Benin, Edo State, with rainforest flora and fauna dominating the land.Running through the forest also are two perennial streams which can be expanded or turned to artificial lake or dam to generate electricity. The streams met to form a confluence on the farm.The forest contains 150 different species of trees which have been labelled with their botanical names and uses firmly attached. These trees are of ecological, botanical, economical, cultural, pharmaceuticals and medicinal importance. Most of these trees have been found to be unique, special and rare.For instance, Rauvolfia Vomitoria Afzel Apocynaeceae Swizzle Stick known Asofeyeje in Yoruba has been found to cure insanity. The root of this tree is the only item needed by mentally-deranged person to regain sanity.Chews the root of this tree, one would immediately fall into deep sleep and gradually regain his sense.There is another rare tree he/she called ' Pterocarpus Osun Craib Leguminosae - Osun Pupa, this tree oozes out liquid that looks like blood'The Akoko tree being used for coronation ceremonies lives inside the enclave.Most of these trees are being researched as extract from one of them has shown ability to kill five disease causing germs.The enclave also hosts a thick belt of bamboo. The bamboo stocks are so luxuriant and provide the environment with shade.With the propensity of giant trees comes the attendant mycology/mushroom ecology. The garden has produced and is still producing over 52 species of mushrooms which include,Cerrana unicolor, Clavunina cristata,Termitomyces, Hipalopulusnidulans and many other rare mushrooms.Odeyemi, realising the need for organic fertilizer, established an organic fertilizer unit in the farm. The unit relies on domesticated wastes and companies.Cocoa and kolanut trees freely dotted the enclave while bomboo, paw paw, cassava, plantain and other arable crops grow extensively inside the enclave.Snail farming, goat and poultry keeping are parts of the agricultural activities being carried out in the enclave, while palm plantation covered a very large portion of the forest.The enclave might truly be the site of the Biblical Garden of Eden as it hosts almost all known flora and few notable fauna.Odeyemi who did not for once exhibit any sign of fatigue all through the three-hour tour said 'I always do the walk twice a day. First in the morning and after work in the evening.'At the end of the tour, we had no option than to commend the agrarian commitment of Professor Olu Odeyemi for ensuring the conservation and preservation of the Garden of Eden where every agricultural process is subjected to organic treatment.
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