THE VALUE ENHANCEMENT ROLES OF HERITAGE SITES ON THE HOST COMMUNITIES IN THE ANCIENT CITY OF IBADAN

This study examines the value enhancement roles of heritage sites on host communities in the ancient city of Ibadan, utilizing a sample population of 366 respondents gathered through questionnaires administered in five inner-city local councils: Ibadan North, South-East, South-West, North-East, and North-West. The research investigates community perceptions regarding the impact of heritage sites on social, cultural, and economic aspects of life within these localities. Findings reveal a significant variation in perceptions across different local governments. In Ibadan South-East, 50% of respondents agreed that heritage sites add value to their communities, while 31% disagreed and 19% remained undecided. Contrastingly, Ibadan North showed a stronger agreement, with 60.3% acknowledging the positive impact of heritage sites, 18.3% disagreeing, and 21.4% undecided. Further analysis on the role of heritage sites in generating income for both the government and host communities demonstrated compelling support in Ibadan South-West, where 86.7% of participants agreed, just 3.6% disagreed, and 9.6% were undecided. In comparison, Ibadan North-East indicated 74.4% agreement, 4.7% disagreement, and 20.9% undecided, illustrating a favorable perception, though less pronounced than in South-West. Overall, the study underscores the importance of heritage sites not just as cultural landmarks but also as pivotal assets for economic development and community enrichment in Ibadan. The disparities across local councils highlight the need for targeted heritage conservation and promotion strategies to maximize their value to host communities, ensuring sustainable development and preservation of cultural identity.