In the South-Western part of Nigeria, there are some famous tourist sites like the Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, the Ikogosi Warm Springs in Ondo State, the Erin-Ijesha Water falls near Ilesha etc. But there are a few get-away spots that have been developed by local entrepreneurs, which are becoming quite popular with the public.

LA MANGA ILASHE BEACH, LAGOS
One of them is La Manga Villas at Ilashe beach, an idyllic island off the coast of Lagos. It is accessible only by boat and it is right on the Atlantic seashore, with stunning beaches, luxury accommodation and a spectacular view of the ocean.

It is bordered by the Badagry creek and surrounded by luscious and towering coconut palm trees, with just 15 minutes boat ride from Ikoyi and Victoria Island..

INAGBE RESORTS, LAGOS
Inagbe Grand Resorts & Leisure is a natural island with beautiful structures developed by Gran Imperio Resorts Limited, a subsidiary of Gran Imperio Group, a formidable real estate development consortium. The resort is a first of its kind on over 3 million square meter land within a 100 kilometer stretch Island along the Atlantic Ocean.

It is just a 20-minute boat ride away from Victoria Island, within a friendly community rich in culture and history of ancient Lagos Monarchy; It is also home to the Esinmikan Royal Family. The Leisure facility is built on a natural island between the Lagos Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. According to the Chief Executive Officer of Gran Imperio Group, Mr. Adeyeye Ogunwusi, ‘Explore’ would enable visitors and guests enjoy all the goodies that the city offers with very little financial commitment.

Ogunwusi emphasised the Nigerian component of the project, which he said was almost 100 per cent, stating that homes on the island were built using local raw materials, including the lighting systems like chandeliers that are made by people from the eastern part of the country...

The company, he said has resolved to be buying locally made products as a policy to encourage the growth of local industries. “If Nigerians do not buy locally made products then who will?”

Besides, the chalets, there is a huge hall that can hold 1,500 guests to reception, conferences, seminars and training, workshops, team-bonding events for corporate clients, among others.

Ogunwusi said there are 125-room chalets on the island and that they are still expanding. There are two sections; one by the Lagoon area and the other by the Atlantic Ocean shore line and both carry different price tags. Every chalet and recreational facilities on the island were built in one year, beginning from September last year, he said.

The island is about 15 to 20 minutes boat ride from any jetty on Walter Carrington Avenue, Victoria Island. The Resort is close to Snake Island, and is just a distance of 10km from Lekki and Victoria Island, with an exciting boat ride of less than twenty minutes is the best get-away spot for individuals and families. With proper infrastructure being put in place, the resort will at the end of the day look like a snatch of Vegas in Lagos but with a cultural twist that brings the Nigerian tradition to the forefront with the traditional ambiance of thatched roof and coconut souvenir factory.”

It offers five-star hotel service; 650km floating platform for social outdoor activities; 18 holes golf course; several four chalet rooms with Jacuzzi; beach buggers for racing and other; paint ball shooting; common living room for guests with wide expanse area; swimming pools; productive machines to sustain the luxurious need of guests; and contains 3,000 people on a working day.”

The promoters of the leisure island also incorporated manufacturing into their local content theme. There is a furniture factory which raw materials are grown either on the island or in other communities in the country.

They produce handwoven chairs that are used in top-class hotel lounges and, according to Ogunwusi, it is unfortunate that these hotelier import these chairs but that now that they were being manufactured on the island, “we are very excited that it can be done.
We have been able to train our people to do this very well and we have potential for the export market.” There is a showroom where all the products are displayed.

The raw materials like raffia, rattan and willow, are abundant in the country, particularly on the coastal belt. Foam is also produced in the country by reputable companies.

He said when a palm tree is cut for use in the factory they plant seven, explaining that no part of the palm tree is wasted, particularly from five years upwards.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/promoters-of-inagbe-grand-resorts-leisure-invite-visitors-to-explore-/214487/
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Am still trying to find out if the owner of Grand Imperio that developed the Inagbe Resort is the same person who was recently crowned as the Ooni of Ife. Their names are so similar.

who changed the thread title?
I dislike the new title, pls.

laudate:
In the South-Western part of Nigeria, there are some famous tourist sites like the Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, the Ikogosi Warm Springs in Ondo State, the Erin-Ijesha Water falls near Ilesha etc. But there are a few get-away spots that have been developed by local entrepreneurs, which are becoming quite popular with the public.

LA MANGA ILASHE BEACH, LAGOS
One of them is La Manga Villas at Ilashe beach, an idyllic island off the coast of Lagos. It is accessible only by boat and it is right on the Atlantic seashore, with stunning beaches, luxury accommodation and a spectacular view of the ocean.

It is bordered by the Badagry creek and surrounded by luscious and towering coconut palm trees, with just 15 minutes boat ride from Ikoyi and Victoria Island..

INAGBE RESORTS, LAGOS
Inagbe Grand Resorts & Leisure is a natural island with beautiful structures developed by Gran Imperio Resorts Limited, a subsidiary of Gran Imperio Group, a formidable real estate development consortium. The resort is a first of its kind on over 3 million square meter land within a 100 kilometer stretch Island along the Atlantic Ocean.

It is just a 20-minute boat ride away from Victoria Island, within a friendly community rich in culture and history of ancient Lagos Monarchy; It is also home to the Esinmikan Royal Family. The Leisure facility is built on a natural island between the Lagos Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. According to the Chief Executive Officer of Gran Imperio Group, Mr. Adeyeye Ogunwusi, ‘Explore’ would enable visitors and guests enjoy all the goodies that the city offers with very little financial commitment.

Ogunwusi emphasised the Nigerian component of the project, which he said was almost 100 per cent, stating that homes on the island were built using local raw materials, including the lighting systems like chandeliers that are made by people from the eastern part of the country...

The company, he said has resolved to be buying locally made products as a policy to encourage the growth of local industries. “If Nigerians do not buy locally made products then who will?”

Besides, the chalets, there is a huge hall that can hold 1,500 guests to reception, conferences, seminars and training, workshops, team-bonding events for corporate clients, among others.

Ogunwusi said there are 125-room chalets on the island and that they are still expanding. There are two sections; one by the Lagoon area and the other by the Atlantic Ocean shore line and both carry different price tags. Every chalet and recreational facilities on the island were built in one year, beginning from September last year, he said.

The island is about 15 to 20 minutes boat ride from any jetty on Walter Carrington Avenue, Victoria Island. The Resort is close to Snake Island, and is just a distance of 10km from Lekki and Victoria Island, with an exciting boat ride of less than twenty minutes is the best get-away spot for individuals and families. With proper infrastructure being put in place, the resort will at the end of the day look like a snatch of Vegas in Lagos but with a cultural twist that brings the Nigerian tradition to the forefront with the traditional ambiance of thatched roof and coconut souvenir factory.”

It offers five-star hotel service; 650km floating platform for social outdoor activities; 18 holes golf course; several four chalet rooms with Jacuzzi; beach buggers for racing and other; paint ball shooting; common living room for guests with wide expanse area; swimming pools; productive machines to sustain the luxurious need of guests; and contains 3,000 people on a working day.”

The promoters of the leisure island also incorporated manufacturing into their local content theme. There is a furniture factory which raw materials are grown either on the island or in other communities in the country.

They produce handwoven chairs that are used in top-class hotel lounges and, according to Ogunwusi, it is unfortunate that these hotelier import these chairs but that now that they were being manufactured on the island, “we are very excited that it can be done.
We have been able to train our people to do this very well and we have potential for the export market.” There is a showroom where all the products are displayed.

The raw materials like raffia, rattan and willow, are abundant in the country, particularly on the coastal belt. Foam is also produced in the country by reputable companies.

He said when a palm tree is cut for use in the factory they plant seven, explaining that no part of the palm tree is wasted, particularly from five years upwards.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/promoters-of-inagbe-grand-resorts-leisure-invite-visitors-to-explore-/214487/
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Am still trying to find out if the owner of Grand Imperio that developed the Inagbe Resort is the same person who was recently crowned as the Ooni of Ife. Their names are so similar.

Yea...he is the same person....

shizzy7:
E kaaro ooo,
se dadá la ji?

Suggestion - In +100 pages we've talked about our progress so far, planned projects and those making us proud in the diaspora...
BUT
We still have a lot of problems which I think this thread should basically be about. I think its time we enumerate them and debate on possible suggestions to solving those we have the ability to solve(not necessarily about money).....
Besides Lagos, Oyo & Ogun I'm not so impressed with the rest of SW states, so far they've been developing in a snail pace....
whatwegonnado?

I concurr...there's this level of poverty in the hinterlands...m soo sick of it. What're we gonna di

shizzy7:
E kaaro ooo,
se dadá la ji?

Suggestion - In +100 pages we've talked about our progress so far, planned projects and those making us proud in the diaspora...
BUT
We still have a lot of problems which I think this thread should basically be about. I think its time we enumerate them and debate on possible suggestions to solving those we have the ability to solve(not necessarily about money).....
Besides Lagos, Oyo & Ogun I'm not so impressed with the rest of SW states, so far they've been developing in a snail pace....
whatwegonnado?

I concurr...there's this level of poverty in the hinterlands...m soo sick of it. What're we gonna do

scholes0:
who changed the thread title? I dislike the new title, pls.

Seconded.

post=:

Demographic Trends.
.

There is considerable migration
in Nigeria, especially between the
north and the south. Large
numbers of southern migrants
have settled in the northern cities
of Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Jos,
while migrants have
often moved from the northern
Sokoto and Kano areas to
southern areas where cacao is
grown -the southwest-. A more significant
number of people have migrated
from the southeast to the more
industrialized and urbanized
western states.
.

http://www.britannica.com/place/Nigeria


Britannica confirms that the west is more 'urbanized and industrilized' than the east.

>>>>>>>

angiography:

Yea...he is the same person....

Yes he is the current Ooni of Ife.

The guys into property business.

angiography:

Yea...he is the same person....

OBAGADAFFI:

Yes he is the current Ooni of Ife.
The guys into property business.

Wow! Thanks for the confirmation guys. I hope he would be able to transform Ife using his expertise in property development.

Good day my people! It's nice to return and see wonderful inputs and contributions covering diverse grounds and aspects of progress in substance and ideals. Many thanks to the regulars and as well the seasonals, like myself.

Shizzy,
Your input is well received. We have a anthem in Yorubaland, it has featured here two or more times already -

Mu'ra si ise Ore mi
Ise la fin'di eni giga...

I'd like to step out of popular interpretation and give it a broad meaning but before that I invite opinion on what "giga" means in the context used here.

On deeper thought, when we arrive at this position of one who attained "giga", then what?

Are there different realms of "giga", and if so...then imura si ise is a continuum for the span of life.

If we contemplate on this, it is not difficult to see that "mura si ise" would connote unique applications under different circumstances.

A school student is encouraged to study dilligently, the reward is becoming an elite in society.

One who is already an elite is addressed by this anthem also....and is admonished to deliver on his duty responsibly, the reward is greater ascent.

It is wise to view the spirit of this anthem in broad interpretation and recognize that is not only for the student aspiring to become famous, it is also for the politician desiring to win our support and followership.

As Premier of Western Nigeria, Baba Awolowo mura si ise...that's why even in death his memory remains aloft, he continues to be eni giga!

The aim of this thread just keep changing and getting worse. What is the meaning of this title now ehn?

MayorofLagos:
Good day my people! It's nice to return and see wonderful inputs and contributions covering diverse grounds and aspects of progress in substance and ideals. Many thanks to the regulars and as well the seasonals, like myself.

Shizzy,
Your input is well received. We have a anthem in Yorubaland, it has featured here two or more times already -

Mu'ra si ise Ore mi
Ise la fin'di eni giga...

Gee... I thought it was a poem?? I remember reciting these words in school, when I was much younger! Now, i have forgotten half of it...

Awon eniyan mi, Eku ojo isegun yi o.

Isegun a je ti gbogbo wa ni agbara Olodumare.

Since this is a Yoruba thread, I believe it is only right that we sprinkle a bit of Yoruba religion on the thread here and there. So, as previously agreed upon by the Moderator in person of alagba Aareonakakanfo, I will upload an 'Iyere Ifa' by Araba of Osogbo, Baba Elebuibon for listening pleasure but most importantly to be learnt and recited as prayers in the mornings (or anytime).

Here goes the first one after battling with compression.

Egbon Shym3x, I'm still with you on the Jalumi war, I'm converting a text to word document so I can just copy and paste and we can all discuss it.

shizzy7:
E kaaro ooo,
se dadá la ji?

Suggestion - In +100 pages we've talked about our progress so far, planned projects and those making us proud in the diaspora...
BUT
We still have a lot of problems which I think this thread should basically be about. I think its time we enumerate them and debate on possible suggestions to solving those we have the ability to solve(not necessarily about money).....
Besides Lagos, Oyo & Ogun I'm not so impressed with the rest of SW states, so far they've been developing in a snail pace....
whatwegonnado?

So what do you think we can do to empower these states?

Ekiti - Tourism (IlekeHD, any ideas?)

Osun - I think Agriculture and Tourism would be two options. The state government started OREAP which I think is a really good initiative but needs a lot of private investment.

OSUN RURAL ENTERPRISE & AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME

To achieve its agricultural development objectives, the State of Osun has designed and is implementing the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Program also known as O-REAP. Agriculture has been the main stay of Osun’s economy over the decades, especially since the giant strides made by the old Western Region Government. However, very little progress has been made over the years in building on this foundation to transform the economy of the State using agriculture as a driver. Due to a lack of focus in the agriculture sector, the gains achieved by the Western Region government have been gradually eroded. O-REAP is the State’s programme to achieve agriculture reformation and economic growth.

Vision

To make the State of Osun the food basket of the South West

Mission
Serve 10% of the Lagos food market

Strategic Objectives
◾Food Security
Increase the cultivation of arable crops such as maize, cassava, cowpea, vegetables, etc. for local consumption. This will ensure that food is available in the State of Osun in sufficient quantity and at affordable prices. It also ensures that the State is adequately protected against natural disasters such as drought; food shortages; and the vagaries of the market place such as price inflation.
◾Job Creation and Youth Empowerment
Create job opportunities for farmers through massive increase in agricultural production. Agribusiness opportunities will be created by linking farmers to consumer and industrial food markets for the selling of their produce. Their capacity to capture more value along the agricultural value chain will also be enhanced through the development of support schemes towards their participation in the establishment and operation of upstream and downstream ancillary agro-allied industries.
◾Economic Transformation Using Agriculture as a Key Driver
Leverage the comparative and competitive advantages of the State in agriculture to transform its economy. As a producer driven industry, the majority of farmers would fall into the category of small and medium scale enterprises (SME). SME’s have been known to be the driver of economic growth in several countries around world. They account for 90% of businesses and employ on average 50% of a nation’s workforce.
◾Wealth Creation
Increase household income for individuals engaged in the agriculture sector and other agro-allied industries. As farmers will now be part of the formal sector, O-REAP will also lead to an increase in the internally generated revenue of the State through the payment of taxes.


Source: http://osun.gov.ng/empowerment/oreap/

django1:
The aim of this thread just keep changing and getting worse. What is the meaning of this title now ehn?

Aareonakankafo , CabbieAC kindly revert the title of this thread to the former.

9jacrip:
Awon eniyan mi, Eku ojo isegun yi o.

Isegun a je ti gbogbo wa ni agbara Olodumare.

Since this is a Yoruba thread, I believe it is only right that we sprinkle a bit of Yoruba religion on the thread here and there. So, as previously agreed upon by the Moderator in person of alagba Aareonakakanfo, I will upload an 'Iyere Ifa' by Araba of Osogbo, Baba Elebuibon for listening pleasure but most importantly to be learnt and recited as prayers in the mornings (or anytime).

Here goes the first one after battling with compression.

Egbon Shym3x, I'm still with you on the Jalumi war, I'm converting a text to word document so I can just copy and paste and we can all discuss it.

you need Jesus in your life regardless of your ethnicity.

django1:
The aim of this thread just keep changing and getting worse. What is the meaning of this title now ehn?

The title is so that we include all Yorubas regardless of geographical location e.g. Diasporans, Kwarans and Kogi

Aare did ask for opinions before he changed it and no one spoke against the change or suggested title name.

angiography:

I concurr...there's this level of poverty in the hinterlands...m soo sick of it. What're we gonna do

Revive the arts, crafts, traditional skills, cane furniture weaving and farming collectives that existed in the hinterlands in the past. My sister did her Masters' project on commerce within traditional Yoruba communities, and I was her unofficial driver on that project. In the process we toured several communities in the South-West. Are you aware that in some locations, it is Ghanaian and Senegalese weavers that are now weaving aso-oke??

In many of these communities, traditional crafts such as pottery, cloth weaving, black smithing, casting etc have totally died out. The old grandmasters have died or are far stricken with old age, and younger folks who should take over from them have run into the cities to do menial work and become agberos.

django1:
The aim of this thread just keep changing and getting worse. What is the meaning of this title now ehn?

a suggestion was made earlier that the thread title be changed, why didnt you make an objection then ?

scholes0:
who changed the thread title?
I dislike the new title, pls.

suggest another title. There is more to the Yoruba nation than south west Nigeria

9jacrip:
Awon eniyan mi, Eku ojo isegun yi o.

Isegun a je ti gbogbo wa ni agbara Olodumare.

Since this is a Yoruba thread, I believe it is only right that we sprinkle a bit of Yoruba religion on the thread here and there. So, as previously agreed upon by the Moderator in person of alagba Aareonakakanfo, I will upload an 'Iyere Ifa' by Araba of Osogbo, Baba Elebuibon for listening pleasure but most importantly to be learnt and recited as prayers in the mornings (or anytime).

Here goes the first one after battling with compression.

Egbon Shym3x, I'm still with you on the Jalumi war, I'm converting a text to word document so I can just copy and paste and we can all discuss it.

Ase Adura o!
Mo ki gbogbo ku iroju...Edumare ko si lekun eroo!

laudate:


Revive the arts, crafts, traditional skills, cane furniture and farming collectives that existed in the hinterlands in the past. My sister did her Masters' project on commerce within traditional Yoruba communities, and I was her unofficial driver on that project. In the process we toured several communities in the South-West. Are you aware that in some locations, it is Ghanaian and Senegalese weavers that are now weaving aso-oke??

In many of these communities, traditional crafts such as pottery, cloth weaving, black smithing, casting etc have totally died out. The old grandmasters have died or are are stricken with old age, and the younger folks who should take over from them have run into the cities to do menial work and become agberos.

I think regional integration holds the key. The hnterland must be made accessible to urban centers and between states.

scholes0:
who changed the thread title?
I dislike the new title, pls.

shymexx had included places like cuba and latin america right from the getgo.

obviously, that was closer to the op's original intentions for the thread.

MayorofLagos:


Ase Adura o!
Mo ki gbogbo ku iroju...Edumare ko si lekun eroo!

Ase, awon alaale ti fi ase gun.

itstpia8:



you need Jesus in your life regardless of your ethnicity.

Have you wondered why the whites who gave you Jesus are trooping to SWest in droves to learn the belief system of your forefathers if you're Yoruba?

Soon, folks like you will have to start paying the whites to learn your own culture and tradition.

Arogunmasa:


I think regional integration holds the key. The hnterland must be made accessible to urban centers and between states.

Thank you, baba Arogunmasa.

The reason why SWest held the front spot in development in the 1950s/60s was because of the regional system put in place. It helped to spread development across Swest even to places it normally would not have reached because there was a level of balance achieved whereby places with that generated revenues and grew at a fast pace pulled the other places along. It is different now, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo are doing their thing while the younger brothers Osun, Ekiti and Oyo are struggling to keep it together.

FFKfuckedBIANCA:
a suggestion was made earlier that the thread title be changed, why didnt you make an objection then ?

I must have missed that part, but i still think the scope is too wide.

Awon e yan mi.....she Alafia lewa......mo fe dupe lo won yin gani fun ise ti eyin she lori NL......oluwa a ma ron yin lowo....

Arogunmasa:
I think regional integration holds the key. The hinterland must be made accessible to urban centers and between states.

Yes, regional integration holds the key...but who would teach the young ones these fast-dying skills before the old brigade dies off, or before regional integration becomes a reality??

In the past, apprenticeship was one way through which skills were passed down from one generation to another. My maternal grandmother's late sister (may God rest her soul!) had a great talent for mixing effective herbal products, used in treating a wide variety of ailments and injuries. There was one she used to make for upset stomachs, which had lemongrass, dongoyaro leaves, barks of various medicinal plants etc. But sadly, none of her children were interested enough in learning this trade. I still tease her kids that they could have become Nigeria's answer to Anita Roddick of The Body Shop, UK. In some cases, these skills were part of a family tradition, handed down from father to son and then on to grandson.

But since the sons and grandsons have departed for the cities, and the fathers, grandfathers and uncles are dying off.... who or what will serve as the repository of such skills?

Now, there is revived interest in Agriculture, because of former Minister of Agriculture Akinwunmi Adesina's programme & multi-faceted approach to Agric. Now, I see catfish being processed and sold in fancy packaging in shopping malls. I see locally processed Moringa tea in a wide variety of attractive packs, and I actually have to pinch myself that it is not imported. A lot of agricultural entrepreneurs or 'agropreneurs,' have started earning a comfortable living from their farms, or by partnering with farming establishments to process their food

Who will do the same thing to revive all these traditional crafts and skills, that were mentioned earlier??

PrincessJaneDoe:


So what do you think we can do to empower these states?

Ekiti - Tourism (IlekeHD, any ideas?)

1. Rock climbing

2. Rock sight-seeing.

All around the perimeter of Ekiti state are huge mind-blowing rocks. One thing I know about Americans is that they're amazed by mountainous rocks (Appalachian mountains, mt Everest, great canyon, etc). Why don't we give Ekiti state the same attention. Have activities centered around the landmarks, such as rock climbing, zip lining, etc?

3. Ikogosi Spring

The spring is amazing! It's one of the wonders of the world. We can start a water park on the spring (i.e Yellow Springs National Park).

4. Ojo Ibile

A big festival. This we can start local and advertise throughout the SW.



I haven't toured Ekiti state since I was like 10.......I'm sure more attraction exists. We need awon omo Ekiti to contribute.


@Ufeolorun,

Okun o.

Yellow springs national park