La Campagne Tropicana Rainforest Beach Resort   is currently making history as it is set for a massive project at the  Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda. 

There, the resort will not only replica its very popular African themed leisure experience, but will also create the first ever African Tourism Free Trade Zone solely devoted to promoting Africa to the world.

This historic resort project is coming almost four decades after La Campagne, founded by Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, debuted on Nigerian scene at the Ikegun Village in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos where it has shown the resilience and power of audacious dream and vision. The resort is powered by the drive and vision of its founder  Otunba Akinboboye, who started the resort while in his was in his late 20s.

So far, he has made concerted efforts at entrenching the brand in Nigeria, with a replicate in Koton Karfe in Kogi State extending to Africa by having a foot hood in Cote d’ Ivoire, among others. The world has certainly taken notice of Akinboboye’s audacious vision and what his La Campagne resort has stood for, hence, the government of Antigua and Barbuda is partnering with him to establish an historic enclave in the island for Africans and the world to interact.

According to the management of La Campagne, the resort project will be located on a 100 hectare of land at Willoughby Bay Saint Philip, which is one of the most popular and economically viable bays of the island.

A platform for the world to explore Africa

It further stated that, ‘‘the project is a step towards bringing Africa to the world, it is time for us to stretch our hands to our brothers in the Diaspora. To connect with the entire continent of Africa from those in Diaspora, from those in the Caribbean to Americans, to United States of America and of course, to Brazil.

‘‘It would be the first ever African Tourism Free Trade Zone in the world where anyone can come and experience Africa as a stepping stone to connecting with the continent. From the West, South, East, North and Central Africa,’’ it stated, adding that, ‘‘the entire continent of Africa will be represented.’’

Speaking further on this project, Akinboboye explained that, ‘‘it is to give an opportunity to people of African descent and lovers of African throughout the world to come to a safe Africa where all the cultures can be showcased to the world. Where the world and all children of African descent that are born in the Diaspora can come, for example to learn about Yata, Camp Africa and get connected to Africa first before they then  now move on to the continent.

 Economic base of Africa

As the first African Tourism Free Trade Zone, he said it would open doors to the different aspects of Africa to be developed and promoted, starting with expanding the economic base of the continent, as he noted that;

‘‘We believe very strongly that out of the 1.1 billion people of African descent in the Diaspora; in Brazil, Americans others, minimum 10 per cent would want to patronise an African themed resort and when they do that what happens to our exports?

‘‘If we build 1, 000 chalets for example, because if you are expecting five million people, then 1,000 chalets is a drop in the bucket. For 1, 000 chalets you need about 15 million mats. What happens to the mat weavers? You need talking drums. What happens to that market?

‘‘Therefore, Nigerians and Africans can now go abroad and take advantage of their advantage and become expatriates. Because we believe very strongly that once the tourism free trade zone in Antigua and Barbuda is built, other islands, in the Caribbean, there are 36 islands, the other 35 islands maybe interested  in replicating it for their people, for their children and for the future of their children.

‘‘I will not be surprised that Europeans, Asians, Americans and others may want it in their respective countries also because that will give them a monopoly of having a base where people can connect with the continent of Africa without visiting Africa and as they do this it is expanding the export capability of African.

Connecting Africa from Antigua and Barbuda

Another interesting aspect of the project, as revealed by Akinboboye is not only that it would be a playground for the world to explore Africa but that from Antique and Barbuda, they can easily connect to all Africa.

This, he explained thus, ‘‘so, the idea is that when you have the first Africa Tourism Free Trade Zone everybody will come to play there. If the Mountain will fail to come to Mohammed then Mohammed will come to the Mountain. We are taking African to the world.

‘‘Come to Antigua and from Antigua tourists can book to come to Lagos and from Lagos they can go to different parts of Africa. There are about 1.2 billion people of African ancestry and so you know what that means for Africa. What has been happening for long is that Africans don’t know that they are first regarded as Africans and not as Nigerian, Senegalese or Gambian.’’

It is time to go back to Africa on luxurious flights and cruises

For Akinboboye, Antigua and Barbuda is located in a strategic part of the world, with it playing a unique role during the obnoxious slave trade era as passage for Africans ferried across the world, he said it is now time to reverse that history by making it a return passage for people of African descent in the Diaspora and others back to African continent.

Focus is purely Pan – African

In terms of its offerings, Akinboboye disclosed that it is going to be African centric, with African music, arts and crafts served in a unique palate for the visitors, as he stressed further that,

‘‘When we do this we create endless jobs for our people because it is African themed concept. Our focus is going to be very pan – African presentation. Our focus is purely going to be African.

‘‘Africa music, Africa folklore, Africa storytelling, and Africa dances. When we do our launch, we are looking at the middle of the month of May, we are going to present the best of African music, the authentic African music and that is what I have groomed Atunda Entertainment all these years for’’

It took 16 years to work on the project

Getting the government of Antigua and Barbuda to decide to partner La Campagne on this project, Akinboboye said it wasn’t an easy ride as it took 16 years and countless meetings.

‘‘There are two things that we are presenting to the world, we are presenting African’s architecture, structure and culture to the world. The culture doesn’t have to wait, so we are going to start with the presentation of the culture as we build the structure.

African Destination wedding beckons

For a starter, he disclosed some of the initial projects and activities to commence to include what he described as African wedding paradigm by making it a wedding destination enclave. Hear him, ‘‘the structure will come as we are building the culture, so we are going to start with African destination weddings in Antigua. We are going to take exceptional weddings to Antigua.