A Strange Trip to Ibadan, Nigeria (#88)

[@antnam4406]

Nnamdi Azikwe didn't build the Cocoa House. It was built by the Western Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

[@gboyega_adeoya]

Josey is quite on point with that Kampala reference. Ibadan is big big. Lived there for a few years. And Tommy you're so brave. That building you thought is a stadium is actually a banking hall. I'm disappointed Cocoa House is not being put to optimal use.

[@iwrotethis4712]

I didn't expect anything like a banking hall

[@justineifenna1037]

Don't expect much in the absence of elevator. Imagine your office is on the 20th floor, can you be climbing the stairs every now and then. Put your clients into consideration too.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Ir's in disrepair. It needs work and maybe a structural analysis to see which areas are unsafe.

[@ericdan3372]

It's a political lie there is nothing in Ibadon

[@jzk2020]

Yeah, they should renovate it and rent out some floors for restaurants and hotels and observation deck and offices.

[@flackoverso]

as a Nigerian I love how adventurous you are in your videos willing to take risks to show reality, much love

[@byakurenhoujuu]

@@thetravlogger9895 He was allowed to go up though. lol And most of the building was abandoned.

[@MrILES-gu3xb]

You sef do your own. Na Oyinbo you Dey congratulate! Abi u no know say Na you suppose film NAIJA and make money for Yotube ni ?

[@dreamsdocometrue33]

Tommy, you should take Josey to Long Island to see what she thinks of it. From Montauk to the Hamptons, I'm sure these videos would take an interesting turn. 🧐

[@gemf8080]

I'd love to watch that! Taking Josie around NY

[@scapegoatmedia33]

And the American areas they don't want us to SEE

[@gapdare]

I can't believe I'm addicted to this guy's channel.

[@BajiKorvisamo]

This guy og

[@abinatimothy894]

Not you alone oooo. Am hoping for his live online chat soon

[@Tanaka1943]

I CAN'T BELIEVE ITS NOT BUTTER

[@Namuli]

Am addicted I even watched all his videos from the beginning

[@JustGetOverBoredom]

I don’t think he has an IG page

[@SteveSmith-zz4ih]

You guys have both got a great sense of Humour, i am afraid there is not enough of that in the world today!

[@benhayward78]

I am watching your channel like an addictive series on Netflix. This was the first skyscraper in West Africa. A pity that there seems to be a lack of maintenance. The first skyscrapers in Africa were built a few years before in South Africa and Egypt.

[@scipioafricanus9841]

@Saila Mynona I we all know that whenever a non African says "Africa", he or she means "sub saharan Africa minus South Africa"

[@Javillchoirboy]

This is the first Skyscraper in Africa, if you say otherwise please state the buildings that were built before this time and their locations.

[@benhayward78]

@@Javillchoirboy Cairo Tower, Egypt 1961, Saambou building, SA 1961 etc.

[@nickhaa]

@@benhayward78 It's true but usually when Africa is talked about, they mean West Africa or tropical Africa. South Africa and North Africa are quite different. By the way, do Egyptians identify as Africans? I never thought about this.

[@benhayward78]

@@nickhaa good question.

[@Rottingboards]

Josey was absolutely beautiful standing in the light on the top floor.

[@johnpaulafonta648]

As a Nigerian I've not even been to Ibadan but tommy you took me to the Cocoa house. You're doing a great job man. I just wish we had a better maintenance culture in Nigeria. I've got to say I admire your enthusiasm & openness in even learning languages. Thumbs up man!

[@FloridaWinter]

Your English grammar is really good! I hope to visit as many places as Tommy one day. I would try to learn some of the different languages, but I don’t think I’d be as good at it as others are. I would be humbled to encounter local people who speak English. It’s always comforting to be spoken to in your own language.

[@pjdmoneymantrading2858]

Nigeria is massive. There are 36 states and one federal capital territory. One visit might not be enough for you to see all the significant places.

[@kevinemmanuel8525]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@olucurious]

You're in my city! Ibadan is actually the largest city (by land mass) in West Africa, and has a lot of historical relics

[@GrowWithHarriet]

Tommy you probably enjoying in Nigeria we miss you in Uganda and we can’t wait to see you a gain here in Uganda . You guys are really having fun send my regards to Miss Josie

[@aaron2424]

🇺🇬🇺🇬

[@tafabeatz]

Very Beautiful women Uganda has ❣

[@GrowWithHarriet]

@@tafabeatz yes we are very beautiful thanks for the compliment darling

[@paultith3758]

@@tafabeatz Bebasinga

[@Swampzoid]

Thank you for the urbex video. I love old structures especially when they have an interesting history behind them.

[@DavidBulus386]

That's not a stadium, that's fist bank of Nigeria

[@nmg1909]

The City has many remarkable histories about Nigeria. You can find the first university in Nigeria there and the first television station. It is just too many to describe here.

[@feyisayopopoola523]

I am impressed that someone can explore my country like this. Thanks man.

[@TopeA8]

I spent many years researching urban development in Nigeria, I won't state my credentials, but what I will say is that when I did the research many years ago, Some of the reasons why dense developments have stagnated in Nigeria is due to the lifts and the emergency services. So two of the issues you encountered are actually critical. It generally limits development to about 5 floors. The other more contemporary issue is the bank lending. It is harder for companies to get loans than in other parts of Africa. With a little more organization, Nigerian cities would actually be denser. Relative to its wealth, Nigerian cities are even less impressive than they should. Without increasing the wealth of the country, just simply improving the institutional integrity, the urban landscape would function better. Even in Lagos and Abuja, the problem exists. Development in Lagos is actually supposed to be even MORE than what we see. Yes I am aware of the landscape, Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lekki, Marina etc. It is supposed to be more. There are some unnatural barriers.

[@berthekabwe871]

Well said!! For a country like Nigeria that has so much potential it should set the standard and be a model for other African countries. Hopefully with good leadership things will improve in the future.

[@MwendeSchwinn]

@@berthekabwe871 if the leadership is elected into position by the public then it's the public that is to blamed for poor leadership. Same problems in Kenya

[@craxnews831]

@@MwendeSchwinn they make you feel your vote counts! It really doesn’t! All planned....

[@MwendeSchwinn]

@@craxnews831 that's really unfortunate. Same story in Kenya. Let hope that we can change that sooner than later

[@jamesokoth6655]

True talk what you're saying brother and sad indeed that Nigeria with all that wealth is a shame.Nigeria needed to take it's rightful position like yesterday but noooi it's a mockery of a country!

[@danieljackson4266]

I walked up 32 flights of stairs on my anniversary because my gf wanted to get a drink at the bar at the top of a building in manhattan and the elevator was out. It was terrible, lol.

[@outsidejunk]

lol😀😀😀😀

[@bankeoyebade759]

Woman will not kill you

[@gardensteps]

Wow! Props to Josie! After the 3rd flight of stairs in the dark, I would have been on my way down, Tommy or no Tommy! I have a fear of height, a fear of the dark, and a fear of the unknown.

[@moeskeetz5473]

Loving these frequent uploads!

[@littlebrit]

Imagine it was built and completed before Hong Kong started to built its sky scrapers. It was good start for Nigeria.

[@palo569]

everybody thumbs up for sabbatical and what he has accomplished making people all around travel with him watching his video

[@CenterFire]

You guy’s are tremendously brave and in great shape to climb to the top floor! Curiosity and adventures are what makes your videos so creative. Thanks and rock on…….🎯

[@cobwebtheorem7538]

Not to mention climbing dark stairways while wearing sun glasses 😎😂

[@tkautzor]

The 26-storey Cocoa House was built in 1965 and was the first "skyscrapper" in West Africa. There were of course already skyscrappers in other parts of Africa at the time (Egypt, South Africa, Kenya). It was built under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe couldn't have care less that a skyscrapper was built in Ibadan.

[@Hellcatmyallias]

Okay now

[@oceejekwam6829]

@Tkautzor, you're a fountain of knowledge. Thanks for putting it into context, as other African countries had already constructed "skyscrapers".

[@amyqb117]

Wish they would try to revamp it. Standards have vastly changed now, imagine no elevator in this building.

[@kissindzerkiss]

Our first was Kenyatta International Conference Center which has remained a great landmark in Nairobi.

[@naijalolade688]

it is the first tallest skyscrapper of that magnitude in africa.. Africa.. Get it pls. The first of its kind. i am guessing u re not counting pyramid as a skyscrapper..

[@lior8145]

20 minutes about the inside of an old abandoned building. Spectacular! I learned so much about Ibadan. Thank you.

[@naijalolade688]

Cocoa House: First Skyscraper in Tropical Africa. From proceeds from commodities such as Cocoa, Rubber, Timber, and so on, the first skyscraper in tropical Africa was built. The 105 metres building located in the ancient city of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state in Nigeria, was completed in 1965.

[@yusufbola356]

The cocoa house was built by Obafemi Awolowo, the then premier of western region, not Nnamdi Azikwe.

[@mikemagero]

I can't believe Sabbatical has only 137k viewers, it should be not less than 13m viewers, with this great African tour and Africans themselves aren't even interested?.... come on guys!.

[@abbyflagesh5012]

The day the cocoa house was on fire we could see the masive smoke from our house, at least 10 miles away.. It was a very scary day. I was may be 9yrs old....😱

[@davidalao5336]

11:43 That’s not a Stadium, it’s a Bank, “First Bank” It’s old too, quite Old. You’re literarily in one of the first Urbanised areas of Ibadan.

[@mollyfyna2144]

I can't get enough of your videos. Their awesome 👌

[@christianaadeyemi6889]

Point of correction @sabbatical, Cocoa House building was completed in 1965 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

[@ekwensu5460]

Who started it?

[@lanreoginni5611]

@@ekwensu5460 Obafemi Awolowo

[@ekwensu5460]

@@lanreoginni5611 thanks bro

[@mrman3938]

It's how you've spent a few weeks and have gone to places I haven't even been to in all my 30 years of living here. I admire you bro. Hope to explore so much someday.

[@talk2luqman]

The Cocoa house building was built by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. It just got to show us how valuable cocoa product was then. He also built first television station in Africa called WNTS now NTA, he also built first national stadium called Liberty from cocoa proceeds and so on. He was a former western regional governor and a visionary leader. Ibadan is so big and full of first thing in Africa, which means it's rich in history. The city also has first university in Nigeria. Do enjoy my city. It's an opposite of Lagos

[@jamesokoth6655]

Chief Awolowo should have led Nigeria and things there would be very different today what a leader Nigeria never had?

[@EdisonBryan]

Dang nice views off that skyscraper 🔥🔥🔥. Accompanied by some beautiful tour guides as well. I see you!

[@blususpect]

Who else was here before the title changed 🤣?? The old title was “Sneaking Into Africa’s Oldest Skyscraper”.

[@eze.k9593]

yes, that would be incredible

[@GrowWithHarriet]

I was their I was the 3rd

[@Ludo_Liu]

weldon !!!! thanks for the vieos of our beloved country ! I wish i could meet you before you leave the country !

[@SabbaticalTommy]

Sure why not

[@Ludo_Liu]

@@SabbaticalTommy how long will you stay in Ibadan ? i may be there next wednesday for three days . before that and after that i'll be in lagos .

[@Ludo_Liu]

@@SabbaticalTommy was looking for an email to contact you, but i couldn t find, then i sent you a message on insta...

[@talk2luqman]

You are doing well too, oga Ludo. Abuja is looking for ur bike ride since it has the best road network in the country

[@Ludo_Liu]

@@talk2luqman yeah i will definitively go there before chritmas !

[@abiodunayorinde8415]

Thank you for this beautiful documentary of the Cocoa House. I was there few times a decade ago. I couldn’t go beyond 7th floor as the elevator was bad then, as it is now. I hope the rising tech community in Nigeria take over the building as hubs with the proximity to Lagos.

[@CameraLooks]

Motorbikes...Thank you for sharing video

[@vitoriatime6825]

You guys are great I love this video and the view from the windows

[@abinibihub]

You came on a Sunday, which is a low-traffic day in Ibadan. I was born here, and that building is historic; if you had asked me before going, I would have advised you to go from Monday to Friday, and to visit the Odua Museum and Hall of Fame, all of which are located in the same building, and your audience would be eternally grateful.

[@b.sorger5189]

"Always take care" you two. Josey got a superpositive smile, anytime.😂🙏

[@Marisolita_95]

Thanks for exploring the oldest high rise building of Ibadan. I've seen that building in Ludo's channel, and to me it looked abandoned. And sure enough, I think it's more or less abandoned. Thanks for providing a great content! Take care & be safe 💕

[@DailyCTO]

Just saw in the news today that a 21 story building collapsed in Lagos. The first thing I thought about was this video. Be safe out there!

[@jamesbatchelder5201]

Tommy thanks for sharing your life journey. you give the best inside view of places we will never get to see.

[@HunsTheExplorer]

Nigeria is very beautiful country .

[@paulahanachor5398]

No it isnt

[@winryfic6371]

@@paulahanachor5398 shushhhh

[@leeandrew5638]

Shout from England mate hope your good thanks for making them brilliant videos

[@HeathMoore430]

I wish I was living life like you bro!!! I looked up the word sabbatical... Time off. I love it man

[@musical_lolu4811]

From the Hebrew concept of the 'Sabbath'.

[@adeniyiodeleye1976]

Glad to know you're still in Nigeria. When you're back in Lagos you have to go to the Afrika Shrine.

[@abdulrahmanaabidopakunle2721]

..Nice experiencing the cocoa house through your lens. Love from Nigeria

[@kevinmbugua8020]

When I wake up and the first thing to see is a new video from Sabbatical, How convenient😊

[@ashenone_jp3001]

First from Morocco 🇲🇦 love ur content tommy

[@theevanpyle]

Omg this guy likes to go on some serious adventures! 👍🏻🙏🏻👌🏻

[@janetstrang1558]

I enjoy watching your channel bro ,keep it up and stay safe as always ,God bless 👏👏

[@aminatnajimu436]

I am from ibadan and am proud to be ...... love u guys .... hope u enjoy ibadan

[@shudafa]

Why is that building abandoned? Why aren't real estates not taking contracts right there ? If there aren't enough businesses who can't rent all those offices then turn it to a residential place that's a historic place if it's indeed the first skyscraper in Africa Would love to visit Nigeria soon

[@SunshinePrecuious]

I think it should be first in West Africa

[@null8295]

from a comment below: "Some of the reasons why dense developments have stagnated in Nigeria is due to the lifts and the emergency services. So two of the issues you encountered are actually critical. It generally limits development to about 5 floors. The other more contemporary issue is the bank lending. It is harder for companies to get loans than in other parts of Africa."

[@abinatimothy894]

Kindly come loaded and be strategic about your stay. We gonna be expecting your video then

[@2trappy2]

Yeah it was odd how the upper floors of this building were unused and/or in a bad condition.

[@dicktipton5912]

@@2trappy2 the lift doesnt work so who's gonna climb all that way up every day?

[@bonniekariuki100]

Tommy, I'll never stop saying this men, you are underrated, you shouldn't be where you are in terms of viewers. The Kenyan in me feels that you should be very far.

[@zebastianengelska6831]

Haha at the exact moment i finished the last video I got a notification. Perfect😁

[@zebastianengelska6831]

@Harry Groundwater Same😀

[@everlastinggospelmission6451]

Thanks for revealing some history I didn't even know

[@hammedbb7981]

I went to this same location yesterday, it was a wonderful experience

[@tosin0911]

I grew up in Ibadan in the 80s and seeing this brings back great memories. It is a shame that cocoa house which I watched burn was never restored to its old glory. Thank you.

[@blususpect]

This channel is 🔥💎

[@billoldham9426]

Tom, thanks for showing us around the planet. you are a great guide!!

[@jahohmann9915]

I don’t remember when or why I subscribed but I have to say I’m glad I did since this is interesting

[@dejiburner4973]

Fun fact: Hugo Weaving : Agent Smith, was born in Ibadan.

[@faye2chris882]

Great Great adventure. Nice one from both of you. My first time in the building and University of Ibadan zoo was primary school excursion in 1975. Such a pity that African are so bad with maintenance. This building and the environs would have been a great tourist attractions. A point of correction. It was built by the first premier of western region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Thank you guys👊🏽🤝🏽

[@Dylancrk]

First, Harald the I found Kurt's and now this guy! This kind of content are the best

[@tombimashri8149]

Guyz do the honours ND give Tommy more subs his a good guy ND respects everyone. His a good guy. Enjoy yrselves gugz

[@oluwaseunpraise]

Really loved this video, I wish you would come on a Monday so you can see the art museum at the extreme top… thanks for coming to IB city

[@20Redram00]

Thanks for showing the real Africa this continent has been portrayed a certain way and your videos are enlightening to me hopefully Africans will get to enjoy the full potential of their countries wealth someday.

[@jamiestanly4325]

Bro You are in my hood where I grow up particularly this coco house building is where i used almost 25years of my life… Ibadan beautiful city

[@olaoluwaolaniran6713]

Happy seeing you in Ibadan. I love following your video. Will be lovely seeing you. I stayed around Ring Road

[@jacobotts8443]

9:50 Josey cracked me up. "Are you an architect?"

[@colinmaxwell4738]

The noise of the city would drive me crazy

[@iykeheavens8691]

Great video Tommy, hope you go to the east as well. You guys are the best

[@ricsmith5730]

Oxlade - Away playing at 20:41 🔥 Peace from Las Vegas.

[@docfarl]

This building is a reflection of the sad change in the Naija economy from sustainable cash crops (cocoa) to unsustainable crude oil exports. What happens when the oil runs out?

[@dncviorel]

People will eventually go back to agricultural activities.

[@absorcyt5457]

You have no electricity all tree huggers are dumb we will burn tree's to get electricity when oil runs out sad but true

[@ext1013]

WOW. I'm speechless at 11:11. This is something outrageously adventurous.Never taught, climbing stairs can be this fun. I climb stairs but not in a building. Should be a meaningful building like this one.

[@charlesereamajr74]

14:35 It depends on the index you want to use in classifying Nigerian cities. the most used metric is population and commercial activity. so, nigerian cities are mainly ranked as follows LAGOS ABUJA KANO PORTHARCOURT IBADAN CALABAR ENUGU..... in precisely that order. youre welcome

[@mvp_highlights]

That building is good for quickies for random souls- #UtilizeIt people

[@solomonalpha7846]

😂😂😂

[@abbyflagesh5012]

🤭😲

[@a1SolutionTTV]

Ayyy let’s goo tommy :D Another Great video!! 🙏 Cheers 🍻

[@ola_omo_oye]

I don't know if you can see this @sabbatical please don't leave Ibadan without visiting the University of Ibadan

[@Itjaybobo]

Wow you make it to my city am actually from Lagos but living in Ibadan are you guys still in Ibadan I will like to take you more out so you really enjoy your self you could reply me as well Ibadan the largest city in Africa Welcome once again @sabbatical

[@incman78]

My girl is from Abuja....a long ways from where you're at...one day I'll make the trip over to visit there...

[@vjay6667]

The place of my birth. Haven’t been there since 1997. Need to go back an reminisce.

[@brymstoner]

nice editing touch to end the video, tom. thanks for sharing.

[@Cpl-ABE3-11B]

You should create a video game where a couple travels the world and gets into your crazy adventures

[@juricadogan3870]

Ok, I'll get to it, will let you know when it's done.

[@zubby3846]

@@juricadogan3870 😅😅😅

[@wolfweighold823]

Danke für das hochladen und deine Mühe

[@talk2luqman]

Bitte

[@MiRa-pi5kq]

I missed so much of the adventure i will try to catch up, this year was tough for me 😢

[@Overcomerskingdominternational]

Point of correction man, that building called cocoa house was built by the first premier of old Western region in the person of our own Pa Chief Awolowo and not Azikwe you mentioned

[@kulchitskywright]

16:21 @Tommy, not necessarily the recession, Nigeria has a very bad maintainable culture on infrastructure.

[@dru4670]

Josey. You should be curious and explorative too. I think all Africans should. Amazing vid. Fellow Ugandan here. Shout out from Toronto. Mubeere bulungi mwena.

[@dthain]

What part of Toronto I'm in Mississauga

[@gemf8080]

Watching Silent Hill gameplay from Jazzyguns, I immediately thought the same thing watching you guys go up these stairs. Uh uh...that would have been my signal to go! 😅

[@ufuahmatthias4466]

Please can you to Edo State Nigeria ?Come explore the place and show people the rich heritage of edo state and also famous for bronze making

[@BEYOND-DRUM]

And there lies the remains of Nigeria...

[@aniruz3456]

Beautiful views from that building

[@olindetroit7636]

15:51 - The way both of them were so casually Cool with that joke seems to me that Tommy and Josey might be more than just friends. 😉

[@GrowWithHarriet]

Yes they are dating

[@sj1345]

@@tosinojo7310 you hope not? i’ve felt it’s pretty obvious they’re more than just “travel buddies”.

[@tobigbemisola]

They are

[@bonniekariuki100]

@@tosinojo7310 why do you hope not??

[@dennisrichard772]

@@bonniekariuki100 🤣😂😂

[@kshark7934]

You deserve more subscribers tom. I wish i could give you 300,000 million Nigerian sub 👍🏽

[@tobbsbrown50]

Lmao Nigerians are on the street protesting against police brutality and bad governance not watching KZbin videos

[@kshark7934]

@@tobbsbrown50 lol u are here... like & subscribe

[@tobbsbrown50]

@@kshark7934 lol dude it's midnight already 😂😂

[@kshark7934]

@@tobbsbrown50 lol the subscribe & like button dont close at night... show 💖

[@tobbsbrown50]

@@kshark7934 lol chill bro I know this things already been following up this channel since June

[@cjeygitau6505]

That title makes it feel like its Nigeria's recent 1st and only sky scrapper

[@simondaniell2482]

After two floors Tommy I'd had enough of that building haha

[@Cracked1ce]

looks like the building louis rossman looked at when he was looking for a new office in NYC

[@MissFadilah]

Awww you guys came to ibadan... that's my city