The proposed Idanre Tourism District; The propounded Idea That’s Distinct

 

Graphic illustration of the current territory proposed for Idanre Tourism District by Dr. Adetolu Ademujimi

As the earth marks the year 2022 World Tourism Day on the 27^th day of September with the theme “Rethinking Tourism”, kindly join me on this lengthy read. It unveils an original idea innovated to berth in Idanre town within Idanre Local Government Area (LGA). It’s not out of place to be reminded that Idanre LGA is one of the four LGAs with the largest geographical (land & water) mass in Ondo State (others being Ose, Odigbo and Ilaje LGAs) and the single largest cocoa-producing LGA in the State.

Imagine waking up to this news item on all media outlets - “BREAKING NEWS! Ondo State Governor to launch 10-year Idanre Tourism District masterplan; Directs Ministry of Culture & Tourism to begin Town hall meetings with Kabiyesi - Owa of Idanre, and his subjects; State Government leads search for private investors, multi-lateral organizations and other development partners; Ministry of Infrastructure, Lands & Housing ready for land mapping of planned man-made tourist sites to complement the natural Idanre Hills; State Executive Council approves a consultant.” Would a newsflash of this first-of-its-kind idea not be a jinx-breaker for Ondo State and Nigeria?

With an open-minded and outside-the-box approach, I’m convinced we can complement the naturally occurring Idanre hills with artificially diverse attractions - recreational tourism, cultural tourism, sports tourism, culinary tourism, nature tourism etc. along a lengthy and well-planned geographical area within Idanre. That’s the Tourism strip, zone or district, which my humble self - a resolute reformer, development driver, tourism torchbearer and an Idanre indigene, meticulously innovated on paper over a period of two years and four months, with my ‘polishing’ team. Today, we have a multi-functional document that recalls its nomenclature and intentions at this stage as a Blueprint, Masterplan, Investors’ book, Tourists’ guide, Concept paper and a Vision map. Of course, the next stage is for the draft to attain the much-needed position of a State working document to be named after our noble intention - Idanre Tourism District, and thereafter, advance to the stage of gradual implementation.

Central Business districts, Industrial districts, Amsterdam-like red-light district and Manhattan Skyscrapers District are examples of intentional but tactical geographical creations. Therefore, the proposed Idanre Tourism District is a purposeful & strategic tourist belt designed to fit the narration on the designed cover of the draft blueprint; “Facilitated by Ondo State Government; Favoured by Idanre community; Friendly to investors; Fuses natural & man-made tourist attractions; Fascinating to tourists; and Fitted into 6 phases over 10 years”.

Where does the projected district cover? It is an approximate 10.1km span that runs from Owena junction along the Akure-Ondo Highway to the foot of Idanre Hills at Odode-Idanre. It thus passes through Idanre LGA Council Secretariat, Onikokodiya settlement, the Golf course at Atosin, Alade-Idanre junction, General Hospital at Alade, Methodist High School at Odode, Owa of Idanre’s palace junction and terminates at the foot of Idanre Hills. The average speedometer readings of some cars deliberately (though primitively) used to measure the length of the proposed area was calculated to arrive at 10.1km (although the State Ministry of Infrastructure, Lands & Housing is expected to help with the exact measurement at the appropriate time). The 2 entrances into the district (Owena junction and Alade junction) are proposed to each have what the blueprint has christened a PADD (Protocol, Arrival, Departure & Data) center and an overhead Porch (with pillars) but may not be gated. As the name implies, all tourists patronizing this proposed district would be required to register at either of the PADD centers at entry & exit, for data collation, security coordination, possible interaction with representatives of hotels and the various tourist sites proposed. An Amotekun (Ondo State Security Network) station and Police post with well-trained, tourism-acquainted officers are also proposed to be placed beside each of the proposed PADD centers.

A snapshot of the 6 project phases (details in the blueprint) conceptualized to be spread over 10 years and implemented in succession, which the proposed Idanre Tourism District is divided into, are;

Phase 1: Non-medical support service projects – Development of electronic apps for tourists’ booking; registration of tour & travel agencies; partnership mapping with Akure airport & several airlines; accreditation of befitting taxis (cars, buses & tricycles); fire station, waste management; security posts (Amotekun and Police); supermarkets & bakeries; banks, ATM & PoS points; and public markets, all planned along the proposed layout;

Phase 2: Medical support service projects - 5 health care institutions that currently exist along the proposed district’s span have been mapped for upgrade to cater to the health care needs of 21^st century tourists;

Phase 3: District-laying projects – This includes the first set of ‘artificial tourism sites and their attendant routine activities comprising historical/heritage, culinary, recreational, nature, sports and cultural perspectives of tourism at different points between Owena junction of the Akure-Ondo highway and the foot of Idanre Hills.

Phase 4: Oke-Idanre conservation project – The decades-awaited development of the heritage site on top of Idanre Hills is strategically placed fourth because the first 3 man-made phases have been designed to daily attract a minimum number of tourists to the district and this number (to be captured at the PADD centers), alongside a unique funding model proposed in the blueprint, is expected to stimulate a lucrative business case that’ll convince potential investments into the conservation project on Oke-Idanre (top-of-the-hill).

Phase 5: District-consolidating projects – It includes some other man-made creations at the foot of the Idanre Hills (as seen at Olumo rock resort in Abeokuta), some routine sports-related tourism items and several other unique propositions for the district.

Phase 6: District-escalating projects – It’s the endless and unstoppable expansion stage of the envisaged Idanre Tourism District that includes for instance, extension of the Lagos-Calabar rail line to pass through Ore, Ondo and Owena junction of Idanre en route Akure. The recently inaugurated Honourable Minister of State for Transportation and Prince of Akure Kingdom, Hon. Demola Adegoroye, had started well by indicating (at the palace of the Deji of Akure Kingdom on the 16^th of July, 2022) his patriotic & proactive moves to persuade appropriate authorities to expand the masterplan of the said rail project to branch off at Ore and extend through Ondo to Akure. A major train station at Owena intersection, projected to serve the proposed Idanre Tourism District, is thus expected to be a component of the sixth phase.

Conservatively, 5,905 direct jobs have been logically estimated to be created by this revolutionary initiative. The most important note about implementation is the fact that the blueprint is designed to be about 80% realized by private participation (investors - private individuals, consortia, multilateral organizations etc.), 10-15% of it to be executed by the Ondo State Government and about 5% reliant on Idanre community and/or Local Government Council. For instance, the State Government can gain the commitment of either the African Development Bank (AfDB) or World Bank for the major road across the proposed district that is proposed in the blueprint, which is an approximate 7.5km-long dual carriageway with requisite road-side furniture from Owena to Alade-Idanre intersection. It is designed for all the tourism projects and the numerous attendant routine activities comprehensively mapped in the document. These multilateral organizations merely need to be intentionally and properly served copies of the transforming blueprint with Mr. Governor’s signature to see its gigantic social, economic, political and cultural potentials.

The blueprint/masterplan of the proposed Idanre Tourism District has 4 sections. These sections are further divided into 26 subsections with subtitles whose first letters correspond with letters A to Z (the 26 English alphabets). The 4 steps traversed in the development of this distinct idea into a blueprint over a draining period of two years and four months are;

·         idea-mooting (Innovation & Perceptive intellect);

·         idea-scripting (Documentation);

·         idea-designing (Branding); and

·         idea-copyrighting (Intellectual property).

Meanwhile, the 130-page blueprint (the final number of pages may exceed that figure) that was inventively, voluntarily and painstakingly developed over 28 months (April 2019 to August 2021) has been revealed to some high-profile individuals across government, political, traditional, community and academic spheres. Distinguished Idanre indigenes with whom the innovator has held physical meetings to share this vision are Chief Olu Pius Akinyelure (a Board member of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC] Group, on Saturday, 1^st August, 2021); the Chairman of Idanre Local Government, Prince Kayode Aroloye on Tuesday, 1^st February, 2022; Chairman, Ondo State Pools & Betting Agency, Mr. Jide Akinroluyo, on Wednesday, 2^nd February, 2022); Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Community & Rural Development, Mr. Femi Aladenola on Friday, 4^th March, 2022; the Hon. Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Sunday Akinwalire, on Monday, 5^th August, 2022; and the State Chairman of All Progressives’ Congress (APC), Engr. Ade Adetimehin, on Tuesday, 16^th August, 2022.

Other eminent natives of Idanre who have had a foretaste of extracts of the blueprint are High Chief Charles Akinde, Ph.d, and Prof. Akinseye George, SAN (sometimes in September, 2021), while a 28-minute phone conversation between the innovator and Lagos-based Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the 45^th anniversary of Kabiyesi the Owa of Idanre, Chief Dr. Anthony Omolola, took place on Wednesday, 18^th May, 2022. The three legislators of Idanre origin are not also in the dark - Senator Patrick Akinyelure, representing Ondo Central Senatorial district, through Mr. Charles Akinwon; the Member, House of Representatives (MHR) representing Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye; and the Member, House of Assembly, Hon. Festus Akingbaso. They have been individually informed at different times between August, 2021 and August, 2022.

Top government functionaries with whom the innovator has interacted since August 2021 till date are the Chief of Staff to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Chief Olugbenga Ale (first interaction on Monday, 9^th August, 2021); the then Chief Executive of the Ondo State Development & Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), Mr. Boye Oyewumi and his management team (first interaction on Tuesday, 14^th December, 2021); and the Hon. Commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Hon. Wale Akinlosotu (first interaction on 14^th February, 2022, like a Valentine’s day gift). The innovator also unveiled the implementable vision to two strategic and highly revered partners of the current administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN. They are; Ms Cecilia Akintomide, former Vice President of African Development Bank (AfDB), with whom I held a physical meeting at Mydas Hotel, Owo in the early hours of Saturday, 5^th February, 2022 (between 12midnight and 1.30am) in the presence of Mrs. Boladele Akinyanmi, Permanent Secretary (P.S), Ondo State Ministry of Culture & Tourism; and Dr. Patrick Tolani of the Transition Monitoring Committee of Gov. Akeredolu’s second term (first interaction on Saturday, 18^th December, 2021).

One momentous interaction on the proposed Idanre Tourism District was with the 95-year-old paramount ruler of Idanre Kingdom, the Owa of Idanre, His Imperial Majesty (HIM), Oba (Dr.) Frederick Aroloye (OFR, JP), Gbolagunte IV on Sunday, 10^th July, 2022, wherein Kabiyesi concurred that no masterplan on Idanre’s tourism had ever been penned down, thus prompting his royal blessings and articulated action points. From all the earlier mentioned individuals to Kabiyesi, the enthusiasm, advice and nudge across board are priceless and well-acknowledged.

Previously, the innovator also held virtual meetings with Sterling Bank (Tourism desk at its Head Office, on the 13^th & 26^th July, 2021) and a telephone conversation with World Bank Country office in Abuja on 27^th August, 2021. Both organizations separately advised that the blueprint be officially adopted by the State Government as the first step, while the World Bank official added that it’s after the adoption that the document could be routed through the Federal Ministry of Information, Culture & Tourism to the World Bank office for further discussions. In any case, the innovator’s first official communication with the State Government on the proposed Idanre Tourism District blueprint was via a 4-page letter submitted to the Office of the Hon. Commissioner, Ondo State Ministry of Culture & Tourism on the 21^st day of March, 2022 and followed up with another 2-page letter on the 21^st of April, 2022. The Ministry has since initiated relevant actions, such that it forwarded an official Memo to the appropriate quarters on the 25^th day of May, 2022, albeit we look forward to more decisive steps by the State Government in days ahead. Likewise, an official letter on the proposed Idanre Tourism District was tendered to the office of the Chairman, Idanre LGA Council on 25^th April, 2022.

Permit me to add that a 3D Video (two editions so far produced) of the proposed Idanre Tourism District is available and has been shown to some of these highly rated persons hinted at earlier. After corrective processes, the final video will be a suitable audiovisual multimedia tool for advertisement & marketing of this propounded investment idea, even on a global news medium such as the United States-based Cable News Network (CNN). When talks are sealed and signed, an architectural model will also be produced in 3 copies – one to be kept at Owa of Idanre’s palace, one at Ondo State Ministry of Culture & Tourism and the last at ONDIPA’s office. 28 months (in the first instance) and enormous personal funds (in millions of naira) of the innovator have been willingly sunk into this blueprint development. Why? I’m persuaded that “the best way to predict the future is to create it” (so said Peter Drucker and Abraham Lincoln) while Habakkuk chapter two and verse two of the Bible reads; “and the Lord answered me, and said, write the vision, and make plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it”

What are the urgent next steps? For Idanre community, town hall meetings with representatives of various local stakeholders (traditional, academic, social, political bodies etc.) to own the vision and form relevant committees; possible donation/construction of 2 branded signboards and 2 Porches (one each at Alade intersection and Owena junction - both are already designed) by some clubs, wealthy individuals and/or philanthropists; and so forth. The community discussion is important to, for instance, aggregate thoughts on possible land donation or compensation framework along the Owena-Atosin-Alade Road being proposed to host the majority of the anticipated multi-billion-naira district.

For the Ondo State Government, her expected political commitment would include some necessary official pre-adoption proceedings; an adoption ceremony to double as a foundation-laying event for the district, (with the Honourable Minster for Information, Culture & Tourism leading relevant tourism-related agencies to the event); renaming of the Owena-Atosin-Alade-Odode stretch and official unveiling of the branded signboards as well as overhead Porches at the ceremony by Mr. Governor & the Hon. Minister; and some other actionable steps. The event should be aggressively publicized as the ground-breaking of the new investment destination in Southwest Nigeria while hundreds of potential investors (local, national & global). Remember, investors don’t always mean foreign businessmen or corporations. There may be some wealthy local players and tycoons who already have plans and funds to construct hotels, bars, restaurants, casinos, clubs etc. in other ‘enterprise-crowded’ parts of Ondo State or Nigeria. The ability of Idanre community and Ondo State Government to convince them that the proposed Idanre Tourism District is the new investment cluster and haven for huge Returns on Investment (ROI) could convince tens of them to participate in the vision within the 10-year implementation window projected by the blueprint. Clearly, the implementation of Idanre Tourism District is a marathon, not a sprint.

Also, it is worthy of note that the brand outlook of Idanre Tourism District has been in operational gear for several months with its bespoke logo, powerful & relatable marketing slogan, social media accounts (@Idanretourismdistrict on instagram & facebook, and @Idanretourismdi on twitter) and an electronic mail address (idanretourismdistrict@gmail.com) moderately functional. At this point, ‘my’ passion and life-long ambition desperately need to be transformed to ‘ours’ (of Idanre indigenes, first; and then, Ondo state citizens) for this distinct district to emerge. Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 2 in the Holy book is enough food for thought that development is not by wishful thinking but by intentional visualization, physical plan and execution of a course, especially in the area of a community or State’s comparative advantage. By innovating, conceptualizing, mapping and documenting this great dream into an implementable document, my humble self and team have done one of the most difficult tasks in bringing life to Idanre Tourism District.

Summarily, physical copies of the Idanre Tourism District manuscript/draft have so far been printed and given to six notable individuals who enthusiastically received same. These include the Chairman of Idanre LGA, Prince Kayode Aroloye; the then Chief Executive of the Ondo State Development & Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), Mr. Boye Oyewumi; the Owa of Idanre, His Imperial Majesty (HIM), Oba (Dr.) Frederick Aroloye (OFR, JP), Gbolagunte IV; the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Ondo State, Chief Olugbenga Ale; Hon. Commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Hon. Wale Akinlosotu; and the Chairman of APC in Ondo State, Engr. Ade Adetimehin. For a fact, the latter three personalities have recurrently deployed their influential positions, without parochial interests, to facilitate Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s much-courted ‘executive’ attention and ‘political’ will & action needed to accomplish the official adoption and subsequent implementation of this first-of-its-kind tourism masterplan in Nigeria, for the benefit of the Sunshine State.

Therefore, as soon as the Governor meets our yearnings by signing it off, the blueprint (hard & soft copies; written & 3D-video formats), accompanied by a strongly worded letter also signed by the Governor, is expected to be officially shared with and ‘marketed’ to relevant bodies - the Federal Ministry of Information, Culture & Tourism, Arican Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank (WB), Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), National Commission for Museums & Monuments, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), United Nations Educational Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO), consortium of private investors, high-net worth philanthropists and many more, for each of them to pick their areas of business & developmental interest from this bespoke tourism bouquet. That’s how strategic development is facilitated all over the world and anything short of that is wishful thinking!

Certainly, Idanre Tourism District will emerge and the gate of hell shall not prevail. Going forward, regardless of the political divides of the natives of Idanre kingdom and citizens of Ondo State therefore, let’s collectively engage and encourage the Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led State Government in the embrace of Idanre Tourism District. The retinue of envisaged private investments to the proposed district, alongside their anticipated tax returns to the coffers of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) when this unique idea is tangibly realized is a sufficient driving force for the State Government to move fast in the process of officially adopting this document and hasten the phased realization of the ideas therein. Idanre Tourism District is arguably the most refreshing developmental idea since the descent of Idanre’s forefathers from ancient Oke-Idanre (top of the hills) in 1928 to today’s Idanre land. It may as well just be the cheering news needed to upturn the gloomy broadcast of socioeconomic downturn that’s palpable all-around. Lest we forget, Idanre Tourism District is a genuine idea that emanated from “Rethinking Tourism” in line with the 2022 World Tourism Day theme and from time immemorial, ideas have ruled the world!

Dr. Adetolu Ademujimi is an Ondo Service Improvement (ODSIP) Change Ambassador, a Medical Doctor, Author, Coach, Reformer, Public Policy expert and the Lead Innovator of the proposed Idanre Tourism District who wrote in from Akure in Nigeria via idanretourismdistrict@gmail.com. Idanre Tourism District is being promoted by Sartorius Resources.