… Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye Dazzled by BAO’s Tourism Vision
… Visits Ekiti Airport, Fajuyi Memorial Park, Arinta Waterfall and Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort
… Pledges to Work with Ekiti on Destination Development
The tourism investment drive of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has attracted another giant icon of tourism investment to Ekiti State, as Ambassador Olawanle Akinboboye, President and Founder of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, led a 14-member investment and technical team to the state on a strategic tourism investment visit.
Ambassador Akinboboye, widely regarded as one of Africa’s foremost tourism entrepreneurs and destination developers, arrived Ekiti State with his business partner, Mr. Mohammed Fazzani, an intercontinental aviation investor, alongside economists, technical experts and a media crew.
The visit, which was at the instance of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s tourism investment initiative, was designed to expose the team to the state’s rich tourism assets, investment opportunities, hospitality culture and enabling infrastructure.
The delegation was received at the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, by the Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, and members of staff of the Bureau.
In line with Ekiti’s renowned culture of hospitality, the visitors were ushered into the Governor’s Office with pomp, colour and cultural grandeur by the Bolarinwa Oselusi Cultural Troupe, which treated them to traditional drumbeats, songs and dance performances showcasing the depth of Ekiti cultural tourism.
The colourful reception immediately set the tone for the visit.
Visibly impressed, Ambassador Akinboboye described Ekiti as a state with rare hospitality consciousness, saying the reception at the Governor’s Office demonstrated that the state understands the power of first impression in tourism promotion.
He confessed that Ekiti stood out as one of the most impressive destinations he had encountered in terms of reception, cultural packaging and hospitality influence.
At the Bureau, Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre took the delegation through the Ekiti Tourism Map, exposing in detail the hidden tourism wealth of the state, including its hills, caves, waterfalls, warm springs, forests, cultural festivals, historical sites, food heritage and adventure tourism possibilities.
He explained that Ekiti is naturally created for tourism, noting that the name “Ekiti” is derived from “Okiti,” meaning hills, thereby making the state a natural paragon of tourism.
According to him, Ekiti’s tourism assets are largely virgin, authentic and waiting for serious investors who understand the value of destination development.
He told the delegation that return on investment in Ekiti tourism is fast, sustainable and inestimable because the state possesses the assets, the peace, the policy direction, the infrastructure and the leadership commitment required to drive tourism as a serious economic sector.
Barrister Ojo-Lanre also highlighted the state’s strong investment advantages, including its growing number of tertiary institutions,
improving road network, security, the new Ado-Ekiti flyover which is easing traffic flow, the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, the bus terminal, and the generally conducive investment atmosphere created by the Oyebanji administration.
He further informed the team that investors have no reason to fear, as the Ekiti State Tourism Policy and the Ekiti Tourism Development Master Plan have been completed and approved by the State Executive Council, awaiting formal public presentation.
He said Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has prepared a reliable, investor-friendly and sustainable economic atmosphere for tourism and other sectors to thrive in Ekiti State.
Speaking after the presentation, Ambassador
Akinboboye said he was deeply impressed, not only by the volume of tourism assets in Ekiti, but also by the deliberate efforts of Governor Oyebanji to lay the fundamentals for a tourism economy to germinate, sprout and blossom.
“Honestly, I must confess that I am not only impressed by the evidence of tourism assets in Ekiti as exposed by Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, I am overwhelmed by the efforts of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji in planting the fundamentals for tourism economy to grow, and in creating an atmosphere that protects investors and their investments,” he said.
Ambassador Akinboboye commended Governor Oyebanji for giving tourism focused attention through the creation of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, separate from Arts and Culture.
He noted that the decision has placed Ekiti on the path of global tourism recognition and has contributed to the state’s growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s most active tourism states.
According to him, tourism is a multi-sectoral economic engine which should not be buried under ministries where it cannot breathe or grow effectively.
He said any state that genuinely wants to move its tourism potential into economic reality must give tourism its own focused institutional platform and appoint a tourism-minded, passionate and competent driver to lead it.
He added that Ekiti is fortunate to have a Governor who is genuinely committed to sustainable development across all sectors, particularly tourism, and who is personally searching for credible investors to bring value to the state.
Ambassador Akinboboye also praised Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre for his aggressive and passionate marketing of Ekiti tourism, describing him as a committed Chief Marketer of the state’s tourism economy.
He recalled the Director-General’s tourism advocacy at the national level, including his presentation before the Senate on the need for Nigeria to establish a dedicated Federal Ministry of Tourism.
He said the next important step for Ekiti is to transform its numerous attractions into market-ready destinations.
“Attractions do not generate wealth until they are transformed into destinations,” Ambassador Akinboboye said.
He assured that he and his team were in Ekiti for serious investment sightseeing and pledged to work with the state to convert selected tourism assets into profitable, experience-driven destinations.
Before embarking on the site tour, the delegation was treated to Ekiti food tourism. Ambassador Akinboboye and his team enjoyed Ekiti pounded yam with worowo soup, richly garnished with egusi, plenty iru, bush meat and palm wine.
The occasion also provided Barrister Ojo-Lanre the opportunity to inform the visitors that the Bureau of Tourism Development had trademarked the “Ekiti State Pounded Yam Cultural Tourism Carnival — One Thousand Mortars and Two Thousand Pestles,” a concept designed to project Ekiti’s food heritage to the world.
Ambassador Akinboboye described the initiative as wonderful, proactive and capable of placing Ekiti on the international food tourism map.
After tasting the meal, Mr. Mohammed Fazzani described it as one of the most delicious Nigerian meals he had ever eaten, praising both the taste and cultural value of Ekiti cuisine.
The delegation later paid a courtesy visit to Senator Babafemi Ojudu at his residence in Ekiti. The distinguished journalist, elder statesman and prominent Ekiti son warmly received the team and joined them on the tourism excursion.
Their first major stop was the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, where the team was received by the Head of Airfield Services, Mr. Fakorede Ayodeji.
He explained the operations of the airport and highlighted its strategic importance to Ekiti’s economic development.
According to him, the airport is already handling both cargo and passenger operations, with passenger traffic increasing steadily. He noted that the recent governorship election witnessed a remarkable increase in arrivals and departures, proving that the airport is fast becoming a major gateway into Ekiti.
The delegation agreed that the airport represents a major advantage for tourism growth, as easy access is one of the strongest factors that attract tourists, investors, conference delegates and business travellers to any destination.
From the airport, the team visited the Fajuyi Memorial Park, which is presently undergoing major rehabilitation and redevelopment under the Oyebanji administration.
The visit exposed the delegation to the historical significance of the park as a memorial site honouring the courage and sacrifice of Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, one of Nigeria’s most respected military heroes.
The team commended the ongoing work and noted that, when completed, the park would serve as a major heritage, educational, recreational and patriotic tourism site in Ekiti State.
The delegation thereafter proceeded to the breathtaking Arinta Waterfall at Ipole-Iloro, one of Ekiti’s hidden wonders and a powerful testimony to the state’s immense eco-tourism potential.
The waterfall, with its seven distinct layers, crystal-clear water, rocky landscape and serene environment, fascinated the visitors.
Barrister Ojo-Lanre explained that Arinta Waterfall is not just a natural attraction, but a potential world-class destination for adventure tourism, hiking, photography, research, relaxation and nature-based experiences.
He said its unique seven-tier formation distinguishes it from many waterfalls in Nigeria, most of which have only a single drop.
The final destination of the day was the world-renowned Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, where the team witnessed the extraordinary natural phenomenon of warm and cold springs flowing side by side without mixing.
The delegation toured the resort, inspected its facilities and observed its management structure and tourism activities.
Ikogosi, according to Barrister Ojo-Lanre, remains one of the strongest proofs that Ekiti is naturally blessed for global tourism, and that with the right investment, packaging and marketing, the state can become a preferred destination for both domestic and international tourists.
Throughout the tour, Ambassador Akinboboye carefully assessed the sites, identifying areas where the expertise of La Campagne Tropicana in destination development, cultural packaging, experiential tourism and international marketing could add significant value.
The visit ended on a highly optimistic note, with both parties agreeing that Ekiti possesses enormous untapped tourism potential waiting to be converted into wealth, jobs, visibility and sustainable economic growth.
Ambassador Olawanle Akinboboye pledged to return soon with deeper technical engagement, assuring that his team would work with the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development to help transform selected attractions into world-class destinations.
With his proven experience in developing La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort into one of Nigeria’s most celebrated luxury tourism destinations, his collaboration with Ekiti is expected to open a new chapter in the state’s tourism investment journey.
The visit further confirms that Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s vision for tourism is not mere rhetoric, but a deliberate economic strategy aimed at attracting credible investors, creating jobs, generating revenue, projecting Ekiti’s identity and placing the state firmly on the global tourism map.
Indeed, Ekiti is no longer waiting to be discovered.
Ekiti is opening its doors.
Ekiti is ready for investors.
And under Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the tourism economy of Ekiti State is set for explosion.
Story By Victor Ogundipe, Dolapo Ogunleye Adewumi and Kehinde Ajayi
