Last year, the Nigerian tourism industry witnessed a first-of-its-kind event with the inaugural edition of the IPADA Celebrations.
The initiative, which spanned days, drew thousands of visitors to the shores of Nigeria, especially the Diaspora, to discover, rediscover or reconnect with their African roots.
Riding on the success of the maiden edition, the IPADA Celebrations 2025 is promising even more excitement for the visitors and better impact on the economy.
However, Wanle Akinboboye, founder and president, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, and the initiator of the all–year IPADA celebration, is not relent in his quest to boost the blue economy with value for money offerings.
In line with the above, Akinboboye has introduced the first ever La Campagne Africa Beach Safari event, spanning seven African countries.
This year, from Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia, and to Cote d’ Ivoire, visitors will enjoy the best of beach safari across designated routes.
Akinboboye, who is also the initiator of Motherland Beckons under whose auspices the IPADA Celebrations was activated, outlined the details and benefits of the new products, which is expected to consolidate on the gains of IPADA celebrations and create a platform for people to further explore the offerings and beauties of the continent.
Designated routes
The first ever La Campagne Africa Beach Safari will take place in a unique venue; a crystal clean white sand, which is sandwiched by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and palm trees on the other side.
It will be the first ever trans-state and continental beach safari to take people from one state to the next and one country to the other.
Speaking about the upcoming event, Akinboboye explained that the idea started first with interstate activations within Nigeria. “We are going afterwards to take it all the way to Badagry and then to Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and other countries on the routes,” the foremost tourism investor noted.
According to him, people who like to trace the slave trade route can start from Badagry, cruising on the beach to Ouidah in Benin Republic, and move from there to Togo and then Ghana where they will experience Elmina Castle, which has been there for three centuries now. They will proceed further to Senegal where they will visit Goree Island.
Transformation of the blue economy
Explaining the import of the new project on tourism in Nigeria and other host countries, Akinboboye assured that it will transform the blue economy, especially now that Nigeria needs to boost its economic diversification and earn foreign exchange from tourists.
“It is something that we believe very strongly will change the ocean (Blue) economy of the entire riverine stretch and I am sure we all know we have over 850 kilometres of beach front across nine states in Nigeria and a lot of the riverine people really have not experienced commerce”.
Beyond the economic impact, he noted that the project will offer value for money excitement for discerning leisure buffs.
“I think you are likely to define it as a massive excitement that will pump your adrenaline. Massive fun would be guaranteed.
“So, we bring tourism, commerce and the middle class to meet with fishermen and women, who will catch fish and cook food for them to eat”.
Moreover, with the creation of the beach safari, Akinboboye believes strongly that it will boost the ocean (Blue) economy.
According to him, when you have thousands of people travelling with quad bikes, hiking, horseback riding, jet ski, boats, and paragliding, all the way from one state to the other, fun and revenue would be created for leisure seekers and tourism outfits.
He posited that those on quad bikes will need rest, which calls for more hotels to be established and that means a massive hospitality industry that has absolutely no entry level, which can employ the riverine people.
“More hotels will be established and they will create jobs for bricklayers, carpenters, engineers, architects, waitresses, and different people in the value chain of the hospitality industry.
Promotion of rural development and economy
“We believe very strongly that this will also keep the rural people, especially riverine communities in their environment. There won’t be the need to go to urban areas in search of jobs and the cities would be decongested,” he said.
With the project in please, Akinboboye assured that many riverine populace will continue with their fishing and farming to galvanise them to massive economic transformation through tourism, hospitality, creative art and so on, which will suddenly be available to them at their fingertips.
Focus on Diaspora
He also looks to the diaspora’s buy-in.
“We created Motherland Beckons for Africans in the Diaspora and lovers of Africa to heed the call. Then, we gave buzz to IPADA Celebrations, which is the return of people of African descent to African hospitality.
“No country has developed without the support of its Diaspora. The United States of America was developed on the power and strength of the Diaspora that came into that environment.
“That return is not supposed to be only a physical return, but also a psychological return because they really don’t have to be in Africa to add value on the continent”.
President Tinubu as the brand ambassador
The project also has necessary endorsements, especially from the Nigerian government.
“We have Bola Ahmed Tinubu, president of Nigeria, as the brand ambassador for this movement. So, the beach safari has the engagement of all the federal ministries and we have all of them working with us very effectively.
Priority is also given to security.
“During the beach safari tour, apart from the creation of the rest areas, we have created security points and different camera points that will monitor the entire route. We also have the Navy protecting the entire coastline and support from Nigerians.
“We hosted all the ambassadors of Africa in Abuja last year, so all African countries are expected to be at the event”.
Commencement date
The project is kicking off on a weekly basis until it gets popular.
“We expect a lot of people from the Diaspora, who will be here for one week, two or three weeks, to experience this big event. We feel that they should be able to enjoy the safari anytime they are here”.
The safari project, according to him, was created because of two initiatives: the IPADA that requires people to travel back to the continent on a daily basis.
With the IPADA, people return to experience different opportunities on the continent, protect opportunities that can elevate them, and help the continent at the same time.
Akinboboye further urged Africans at home and abroad to explore the project, starting from Nigeria,which is the gateway.
“The idea is that when they arrive in Lagos or Abuja they can then fly or move to other parts of the African continent,” he concluded.
