Located in Oke – Are, the tower was built in 1936. It is an historic monument put up to honour Captain Robert Lister Bower in 1936 – he was the first British Resident in Ibadan, and appointed by the British government to administer the ancient city, which he did between 1893 and 1897. The Bower’s Tower was designed by Taffy Jones, the engineer that designed Mapo Hall.
From the top of the tower, one could see at a glance the four corners of Ibadan metropolis. It gives a panoramic view of all the important places in the ancient city. On a clear day, one can see the Liberty Stadium on one side, and the University of Ibadan Clock tower on the other side. To the west, one sees Cocoa House and the entire CBD of Ibadan, while on the east and south are sprawling brown roofs iconic with the ancient city. No wonder the locals call it Oke Layipo which can be translated as the Mount of turn around. This is because at the top lies a platform where you can make a three-sixty degrees turn.
The tower is 60 feet high and 11 feet square with two entrances and a spiral staircase that leads to the top of the tower. From the summit of the tower, you can see Ibadan round about sprawling before you and appreciate the pre-historicity of the town. The Bower Tower is someplace to check out if you happen to be in Ibadan.
