Ife Grand Resorts and Leisure is a hub of cultural heritage of Africa — Princess Fadekemi

Princess Fadekemi Fadojutimi is the Managing Director of the Ife Grand Resorts and Industrial Park, Ile-Ife, Osun State. She is an uncommon leader destined to take the industry to the next level. In this interview with Jeleel Olawale, the entrepreneur cum motivational speaker, spoke on hospitality industry and how Ife Resorts stands out in the comity of tourism industry in Nigeria and Africa. The excerpts:

How unique is Ife Grand Resorts and Industrial Hub in hospitality industry in Osun State?

The Ife Grand Resorts and Industrial Hub just stands out among the industry. The uniqueness has no equal in Osun State and even in the Southwest. Although, we are building another one in Akure, Osogbo and Ibadan to ensure that other places enjoy these kind of facilities and in Nigeria as a whole.

As we all know, Nigeria is the giant of Africa, and being the giant of Africa, we have what it takes to that effect and tourism is an aspect or area that we are yet to tap into. It will create a lot of revenue for the country and also create employment which our Chairman, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is doing now.

He is creating jobs for Ife indigenes especially the youths, the widows and single mothers. The hospitality created by Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ife Grand Resorts and Industrial Hub is not an hotel, not a storey building, but we have many facilities in between facilities and that is why we call it industrial hub.

We have the Adire Oodua Textile Hub, Eclipse night club, the Ojaja Arena hall, Bar, Chalets, Ostrich Garden, African Kitchen, African Village, the Mall among other facilities. For Oba Adeyeye to have created something like this, it means he has a long vision and I am glad that the Ife Day 2022 which has 2050 vision and thus is part of the vision.

The projection is that in the next five or 10 years, Ife which is the source of Yoruba race, is going to become the hub of traditionalists, just as Mecca is for the Muslims, Jerusalem for Christians. So, the same thing, Ife will become in future. The facilities are there for international and local tourists especially for those who are living in diaspora when they are planning to come home, most of them are looking for a comfortable place to stay.

A lot of them will not want to stay in their family house and so this is like a safe haven for them. It is a home away from home. Ife Grand Resorts and Leisure is a hub of cultural heritage of Africa. They will stay here and meet their family members especially during Olojo Festival which attracts a lot of people. So, we have spaces people can stay and feel at home and there is security.

Although, we are not there yet, but we will be there soon. The foreigners prefer our local foods to foreign ones because of its African quality. So, Oba Adeyeye established the Resorts to generate fund, and create jobs for people.

It is believed that industry like this could have been established in big cities like Lagos, Abuja etc. Why did Ooni Adeyeye decide to establish the Ife Grand Resorts and Industrial Hub in Ile-Ife?

Oba Adeyeye had acquired this property before he became king. He felt that it is a right thing to do especially on the issue of economy and did not look for profit. He was looking for opportunities and livelihood for the indigenes of Ile-Ife.

And this is not for Ife alone but people from different works of life like CBAAC, an international organisation among others which used a hall that has 3,000 capacity seaters. Ooni Adeyeye has foresight because he attracted people from local and international to hold their programme here.

Oba Adeyeye is trying to put the name of Ile-Ife, Osun State and Nigeria in the world map through the Resorts.The motive is to create job, generate revenue and promote Ife as traditional home for people.

People come from far and near to hold events here. This an African village, a destination where you can do everything you want. Traditional wedding is usually done here. It is not limited to Ife, Nigeria but the world at large.

Ile-Ife is known as tourist destination, what are the contributions the Resorts has made since its establishment? 

It has created an avenue where people are safe and feel at home, knowing that the environment is conducive. People came for Olojo festival from Brazil, Cuba, United States of America etc.

They came because Oba Adeyeye has created the environment for them to participate in most of the festivals.

Is there Africanism in the facilities?

All facilities have African contents. Oba Adeyeye is promoting the artisans, the local people. When foreigners came here, they loved our culture, besides the foods, the artifacts etc. So, these are what Oba Adeyeye is trying to advocate patronage for “made in Nigeria” for Nigerians and for the enjoyment of Nigerians and also for foreigners because our culture and tradition should not go into extinction.

The Resorts is an enclave of Africanism based on the core cultural values of the Yoruba race which has been credited of having the most robust sense of hospitality in the world. It is an experience in Africanism and Yoruba values and it is truly home away from home.

How has the industry faired in the outgoing year?

Thank God that COVID-19 is over as this affected the industry drastically. So, things are getting back, but raining season also affected us because there was power outage during the period. The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) strike dampened our sales and productivity.

The students are also our target, they visited different sections of the industry. The major challenge we faced in the outgoing year is electricity problem. There are incessant power outage and we are thinking of how we can tap into solar energy because the cost of diesel is on the high side.

We were also faced with manpower problem, because to get professional workers and managing people hasn’t been an easy task. Thank God that universities have resumed and now have those who studied Hospitality, Tourism, Home Economics and National Youth Service Corps members do come for their service year. So, we want to balance it with professionals to take the business to next level.

 Your advice for people of Ile-Ife?

We are soliciting for their patronage and support to promote the industry because it is for Ife indigenes and Oba Adeyeye cannot take it away. They should help us to patronise the industry. We extend our hands of fellowship to hotels around us with a view to promote other businesses around us especially during major festivals in Ile-Ife. So, they should let us work together.