Assessment of Ecotourism Potentials of Ado-Awaye Suspended Lake in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed ecotourism potentials of Ado-Awaye Suspended Lake in Oyo state, Nigeria with special interest to investigate the socio-economic impact of the lake on host community and determine the challenges facing the development of Ado-Awaye suspended lake. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the resident and staff of Ado-Awaye suspended Lake. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistic. The demographic characteristics of the respondents showed that 59.8% of the respondents were male with 40.2% of the respondents were between 31-40 years. Majority of the respondents secondary education with 37.9% and 58.6% of the respondents are married. It can equally be noted from the finding that majority of the respondents are Muslim (52.9%). Majority of the respondents (97.7%) are aware of the lake. Nine ecotourism attractions are identified in Ado-Awaye suspended Lake. The socio-economic impacts of Ado-Awaye suspended Lake showed that the Lake provides jobs and business opportunity are ranked as the most socio-economic impacts of the suspended Lake on the host community and the major challenges confronting the development of Ado-Awaye suspended Lake is lack of government interest and lack awareness. The study concludes that there are enormous socio-economic impacts accruing from the ecotourism resources of Ado-Awaye suspended Lake.

Keywords: Ado-Awaye, Suspended Lake, Ecotourism, Potentials