La Campagne Tropicana River Resort Berths at Koton Karfi

History was made last month when the ground breaking ceremony of La Campagne Tropicana River Resort Koton Karfi in Kogi State held at the resort’s site amidst colourful celebration and feasting by the people of Koton Karfi and others in attendance at the event.

Thirty years on La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, which first debuted in Ikegun Village in Lekki axis of Lagos as African theme resort has extended its tentacles, the first, outside its traditional Lekki home where it has played host to both the high and mighty and people of all sorts who over the years have not only found solace but pleasure, entertainment and fulfillment as well as profound joy in the blend of rare African and sophisticated offerings of the resort.

The new resort is to seat on 89.7 hectares stretch of land with the River Niger forming a lake across the land. Interestingly, just like the Lekki resort, which has the Atlantic Ocean and the lagoon with the mangrove swamp and stretch of forested land harbouring some animal habitats, the Koton Karfi resort also comes with its complete blend of natural elements such as the lake and forest area, which hopefully would make the resort a distinctive natural hideaway as well.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Founder and President of La Campagne, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, described the new venture as a new dawn and celebration of industry and successes that have been achieved in the 30 years of the existence of La Campagne in Lekki and that he hopes to replica the same in Koton Karfi and even surpass it.

He urged the people to embrace the resort because it is for them as it is meant to bring development to the community and open it to the international community thereby improving on the socio- economic and cultural development of the people and the community.

According to Akinboboye, the resort, which is an African themed resort would entirely promote the culture of the people of Koton Karfi and its environ as well as the people of Kogi even as he charged them to be culturally aware, to polish and refine their various cultural products and traditional practices in such an appealing manner to attract the hordes of visits especially international tourists that are expected to patronise the resort.

The focus of the project, he said is that tourism and that it will be of great benefit to the people especially the youths as he said that ‘‘this youth of today will have a bright tomorrow because what we are building here today is not only for today but for tomorrow. The youth and the children here will be the ones to benefit from it.’’

Furthermore, Akinboboye said that ‘‘the entire Koton Karfi will begin to benefit from it today.’’ And to give effect to his word, he announced the employment of 25 bricklayers, 25 carpenters and 25 security men, all of whom he ordered to register with the secretary to the emir palace and be deployed to site immediately.

This pronouncement was greeted with great ovation and celebration by the people as many of the able bodied men and women, youths and even children scrambling later on to be registered for the job offers.

It was elated emir of Koton Karfi, Alhaji Gambo Abdulrazak Isa – Koto, rose in commendation of Akinboboye whom he described as a visionary and dedicated advocate of African culture. He assured him of the corporation and commitment of the palace and his people towards the successful delivery of the project as planned.

He urged the people to fully embrace the resort because it is for the benefit of the people and the community. He also charged them to ensure that they improve on themselves and their skills, talents, cultural and economic products so as to be of service to the project and benefit from it.

The event ended on a colorful note with glamour, cultural celebration and entertainment headlining the day.