Kunle ADELABU
-Clocks 10years in tourism business
Following the allocation of over 50 hectares of lands to Origin Gardens & Resort Limited in June 2017, the Lagos State Government has also endorsed the initiative of Prince Abiola Kosoko, the Alashe of Ebute-Iga and Chief Executive Officer of Origin Gardens & Resort Limited, to build world class monuments in Ikorodu division.
In a press release by the management of the company, the endorsement letter, which was dated December 12, 2017, was presented to the management of Origin Gardens at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture in Alausa Secretariat on Wednesday, December 20, 2017, exactly 10 years after the tourism company completed its temporary structure and moved animals into its zoo.
Origin Zoo & Garden was opened for the public on December 22, 2007, and experienced its first wave of visitors.
According to the release, the Lagos State Government had on Friday, June 30, 2017, officially allocated over 50 hectares of land to Messrs Origin Gardens & Resort Limited for the development of wildlife and leisure arcade.
It added that the allocation was a boost to the efforts of Prince Kosoko in placing Ikorodu and indeed, Lagos State, on global tourism map.
The stretch of lands, located along Ikorodu-Lagos road sharing boundary with the Lagos Lagoon and two rivers in Itowolo area of Ikorodu division, was officially released to Prince Kosoko by the officials of the Department of Forestry Services of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, who inspected the erection of signpost on the site.
The project is expected to be a world tourism hub with a five star hotel, largest shopping mall, cinema, art gallery, eatery, amusement park, ferry service, pool, aquarium, masquerade museum and Lagos State Historical Museum and others. The site is also to conserve Ikorodu manatee and other animals that are almost going into extinction.
Project Wildlife Park, which has being in existence in a smaller version with Origin Zoo & Gardens at Ebute-Iga and Aginju Eko, both in Ikorodu Division area of Lagos State, is aimed at expanding the revenue generation of Ikorodu and Lagos State, and above all, to achieve the company’s primary goal – conservation, entertainment and employment.
According to the statement, the mission of the company is to, “facilitate participatory travel experience to environments, both natural and cultural, in such a way that would ensure sustainable use, whilst providing viable economic opportunities for the tourism industry and host communities”.
“The project is expected to provide a fun arena as never seen before in the history of Lagos State and Nigeria. The difference in what this project provides is that, apart from establishing a functional wildlife park/zoo, it would also serve to encourage arts/crafts exhibitions, accommodate tourists and shopping within one facility”, the statement added.
“Our aim is to achieve value added services by enabling people to enjoy and learn about nature, historic and cultural characteristics of unique environments while preserving the integrity of those sites and stimulating the economic development opportunities in the local communities.
