Africa Has Home-Grown Solutions for Tourism Challenges, Says Ajaokuta Steel CEO

Africa possesses the capacity to develop home-grown solutions for its tourism sector challenges, according to Prof. Nasser Naeem Abdulsalam, Managing Director and CEO of Ajaokuta Steel Company. His conviction was reinforced after a tour of the La Campagne Tropicana Forest River and Beach Resort in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

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African problem deserves African solutions, which means that we have to bring our hands together to solve our problems. Nobody should come from anywhere to solve our problems. So we should speak Africa, do Africa, and see Africa.

Abdulsalam lauded the resort's founder, Otunba Chief Olawanle Akinboboye, for a "42-year vision" that has created a "complete ecosystem of human existence." He was particularly impressed by the resort's integration of luxury accommodation, ongoing construction, and natural forest environments. "What has been done here is a complete life cycle. Nothing, and I mean nothing, has been left out for the complete ecosystem of human existence," Abdulsalam stated, noting that such comprehensive development is rare even in major cities.

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What has been done here is a complete life cycle. Nothing, and I mean nothing, has been left out for the complete ecosystem of human existence.

He observed that both the staff and the domesticated animals appeared content, highlighting the resort's attention to detail in operations and welfare. Abdulsalam described the VVIP Private Luxury Chalet as unparalleled, stating, "I’ve been at the VVIP Chalet and I can say I have been to the entire continent of the world and I’m not sure, and I’m not exaggerating, I’m not sure I’ve seen anything close to what I’ve seen here in terms of originality, in terms of culture, in terms of modernization."

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I’ve been at the VVIP Chalet and I can say I have been to the entire continent of the world and I’m not sure, and I’m not exaggerating, I’m not sure I’ve seen anything close to what I’ve seen here in terms of originality, in terms of culture, in terms of modernization.

Abdulsalam emphasized the immense potential of Africa's young population, calling them the "greatest opportunity in the world." He urged the Nigerian federal government and the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to visit the resort and learn from its model. "African problem deserves African solutions, which means that we have to bring our hands together to solve our problems. Nobody should come from anywhere to solve our problems. So we should speak Africa, do Africa, and see Africa," he declared.

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The greatest opportunity in the world is the human race and human capacity. To us, the greatest opportunity is that we have young people. We have a population that can turn things around. We have a population that has got the energy. We must use this energy to turn our continent around.