Published Paper Details:

The study examined the socio-economic contributions of Ikogosi Resort to local communities in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The impacts of urban development and environmental threats on the preservation of sacred cultural sites, the role of indigenous knowledge and community participation in sustaining these sites, and the extent of policy and institutional support available for their safeguarding. A descriptive research design was adopted, and primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 150 respondents. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlational techniques, while Cochran's equation of finite population was used to determine the sample size. The findings revealed that urban expansion, infrastructure development, and environmental pollution have significantly compromised the physical integrity and sacred values of cultural sites. Although elders and traditional leaders continue to play a vital role in heritage preservation, the transmission of indigenous knowledge to younger generations is weakening due to modernization, religious change, and socio-economic pressures. The study further found that community participation remains central to effective sacred site management but is constrained by limited government engagement and weak institutional collaboration. It concludes that integrated heritage management approaches combining indigenous knowledge, active community involvement, and stronger institutional support are essential for the sustainable preservation of sacred cultural sites in rapidly urbanizing environments.