In its bid to develop tourism in the face of dwindling oil price at the international market, Oyo State government has completed the first phase of the estimated N15 billion Agodi Resort and Conference centre in Ibadan.
The first phase of the project cost about N4 billion and when fully completed in the next three years, it is expected that the resort center, the first of its kind in Ibadan, would generate about N500 million revenue annually.
The center would complement the zoo in Ibadan as a tourist attraction.
When completed, the resort center would accommodate world class conference center, recreational facilities and 5 star hotels near the venue as it is expected to host international events comparable anywhere in the world.
To ensure that the center which is sitting on about 62 hectares of land in-between the state government secretariat and the Premier Hotel in Ibadan is well run and sustained, the government entered into partnership with a private sector operator, JD Capital, a multidisciplinary group of companies focused on infrastructure development and entertainment.
Speaking to BusinessDay on Thursday in Ibadan while announcing the first official concert that will hold at the venue tomorrow, John Darlington, the chief executive officer of JD Capital, who commended the visionary leadership of the governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, said the governor was inspired to embark on the rejuvenation of the garden for its tourism traction and in view of the long years of abandonment by successive governments in the state.
He said the concert will feature international and Nigerian artistes, namely D’banj, Yemi Alade, P-Square, Shina Peters, Demola Olota and other exciting acts.
To wrap up the year 2014 and usher in the brand new 2015, Darlington said the organisers will hold event tagged ‘Sharing 31st’ and ushering in the new year with the governor’, a festival of fireworks and lights.
Promising that the center will run purely as a business enterprise, Darlington said their focus is on long term between the next 18-36 months, “we plan to transform Agodi Resort and Conference to a world class facility with 21st century eco-friendly type architecture featuring an international conference centre with 1,000 seat capacity sitting on 8,000sq metres with parking for 300 cars. World class eco-friendly villas and types of accommodation with lease options”.
He also said that they will develop and maintain other recreational facilities within the resort such as canopy walk, zoo, and the events center to attract high profile destination events such as wedding, concerts.
He appealed to corporate organisations to ensure that the dream of the center is achieved by sponsoring and partnering with the project.
