WORLD NEWS
YYCI Research Team Probes Historic Site to Inspire Youth Transformation
Published By Prof. Queen Elizabeth Lucas, Afolalu, UK
IKOGOSI, EKITI STATE, NIGERIA — The Yes You Can International (YYCI) UK/WORLDWIDE organization has successfully concluded a significant research mission to Nigeria, focusing on the historical and geological enigma of the Ikogosi Warm Springs in Ekiti State. The mission, led by YYCI Global President Prof. Queen Elizabeth Lucas-Afolalu II, sought to master and engage the mindset of youth for transformation through the pillars of discovery, development, and demonstration.
The team's primary objectives were to visit key historical centers and museums in Ikogosi, and to conduct in-depth research into the legendary and mysterious story surrounding the Ikogosi River, particularly the non-mixing confluence of its Warm and Cold Waters.
During their visit to the river site, the YYCI team uncovered a rich oral tradition regarding the springs' origin. According to a local narrator, Madam Ruth, the unique thermal and cold rivers are linked to the legacy of an ancient herbalist who migrated from Ile-Ife and settled in Ikogosi.
The narrative reveals that this herbalist possessed profound healing abilities, ministering to the body, soul, and mind of the community using water. Driven by a desire to establish a continuous legacy of healing for the people, the herbalist is said to have miraculously transformed into the warm river at a specific spot.
This tradition continues with his family: his son is credited with transforming into the less warm river, and his two wives are said to have become the cold rivers. "Amazingly, all the Warm and Cold Rivers never mixed but met and flowed alongside, and that was a mystery," the research noted, highlighting the site's enduring appeal to both scientists and historians.
The YYCI mission successfully documented this historical and spiritual perspective, providing a rich, non-geological counterpoint to the site's geological uniqueness. The findings are intended to be used as a powerful tool to inspire youth, demonstrating the rich heritage and profound stories embedded within Nigerian history, and encouraging them to pursue their own paths of legacy and transformation.
