With Destination Ouidah, Motherland Beckons spreads tentacles to Benin Republic

Signs Tourism Pact With Union Bank
In pursuance of its continental expansion project, which is already active in countries such as Cote Di’ Ivoire, Tanzania and Ghana, Motherland Beckons has once again extended its tentacles to another part of Africa. This time, it has berthed in the Republic of Benin, where the wholly Nigerian brand will create Destination Ouidah, which has been tagged Anglophone – Francophone Amalgamation.

Already, the deal to activate the destination has been sealed between Motherland Beckon and the government of Benin Republic during a recent three-day working visit to Cotonou, led by the president and founder Otunba Wanle Akinboboye. The visit saw the team hold a fruitful deliberation with the Beniniose team led by the Tourism Minister, Ange N’Koue, where the partnership was birthed.

Speaking on the new project, Akinboboye emphasised the need to build synergies and partnership that would promote economic and human capital development within the continent. He noted that with close affinity between the Republic of Benin and Nigeria, there’s need for both countries to engage constructively.

“Hence, Motherland Beckons has taken the initiative to force a mutual relationship between the two countries, just as it has done in places like Cote Di’ Ivoire, Tanzania and Ghana.

Ghana, he said is enjoying from the outflow from Nigeria and with the Republic of Benin closest to Nigeria, there is no reason why it shouldn’t benefit tremendously from such outflow from Nigeria.

“With Destination Ouidah, the country should expect to reap from Nigeria, as the new initiative will be a rich fusion of dance, music, movies, poetry, culture, cuisines, fashion, and all the gamut of the creative industry,” he hinted.

Akinboboye, who is also the president of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Ikegun Village, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, disclosed that Motherland Beckon would deploy all the resources within its powers to ensure the successful development and promotion of Destination Ouidah.

Meanwhile, after the meeting with the Tourism Minister N’ Koue, Motherland Beckons team had the opportunity of meeting with a powerful delegation of major stakeholders in the country, which included the ministers of finance, defense and interior, as well as officials of customs, police, immigration and the Ambassador of Republic of Benin to Nigeria, Mrs. Paulette Adjovi Yekpe, who actually travelled from Abuja to be part of the team.

Motherland Beckons team also was treated to a foretaste of the destination with visit to some of its memorable attractions and facilities, such as the Python Village, slave trade point of no return, Casa Del Papa Beach Resort, Benin Royal Hotel, Sheraton Hotel and Marriot Hotel and Cinema complexes like the Cinema Le Benin, Concorde Cinema and Canal Olympia.

In the end, a high level committee was set up to immediately work out action plan with timeline for the implementation of the formal launch of Destination Ouidah for January 11 – 13, 2018. Part of the deal is the replication of La Campagne, an African theme resort, in Ouidah and other parts of the country.

Meanwhile, a new chapter may have opened for Nigeria tourism sector, as Union Bank Nigeria Plc and Motherland Beckons have signed a partnership geared at the development and promotion of tourism and entertainment across the country.

As disclosed by Motherland Beckon source, the agreement between both parties, which is the first ever and historical to have one of Nigeria’s biggest and leading financial institution, and a privately owned tourism and entertainment outfit, would offer credit facilities to the bank’s customers, staff and other professionals, to invest and patronise all Motherland Beckons destinations and facilities throughout the world.

Tagged ‘Take a trip today, pay gradually over one to three years,’ the beneficiaries would among other incentives built into the package get reasonable discounts at La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Ikegun Village, Lekki, Lagos, which is Motherland Beckons’ prime destination and headquarters.

The agreement will also help in the development of tourism and entertainment infrastructure in the area of music and movies.

“This is a milestone in the tourism and entertainment sectors as young executives, entrepreneurs, adventure lovers, music/movie makers will now have the opportunity of getting the necessary exposure with very easy payment terms,” the source disclosed.