It was an evening event that sparkled and glittered like the global award ceremonies of international footballers and music legends. The stage was colourful and dignitaries expected were regal and upper-class.
The venue was equally the peak of the nation’s event centers, the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, tucked in the neck of woods of the nation’s capital city of Abuja, popularly known as Aso Rock.
The event was the Presidential briefing of Ambassadors and High Commissioners from African countries, all in preparation for the grand hosting of IPADA Initiative and IPADA Carnival by the the Chief Host, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, come November 29th to December 8th 2024, at the sprawling 65 acres, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Ibeju-lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.
The guests arrived early. Protocol at the villa is strictly adhered to, and cognisance is also taken and expected of guests to prepare for moments of screening before eventual entry into the hall.
Straight from Lagos. The IPADA initiative, IPADA Carnival team were beaming with excitement. And very early in the day, IPADA Initiative founder, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye, was already at the venue, as a moving motivator for the day’s event.
Rehearsals completed in record time, the guests, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, in entourages, from Egypt, South Sudan, Namibia, Ethiopia, Cote d’voire, Philippines, Togo, Sierra Leone, Jamaica, Mexico, Liberia, Iran, Ghana, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Cape Verde, and others arrived.
More diplomats from countries outside the African continent also came to witness this epoch making event, including His Majesty Rex Semako I & VI, Timothy McPherson, the Lord of the Sixth Region House of Kings, who presides over the House of Kings in ECO-6, that brings together innumerable indigenous Monarchs and Chiefs all over the continent of Africa and the Diaspora, including indigenous nations in Canada, Australia, the USA, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. The Governor of the New African Diaspora Bank.
There were also top government officials from the Federal Ministry of Tourism led by the Minister, Mrs Lola Ade-John, who were among early arrivals. And so were collaborating government officials from stakeholder agencies and tourism agencies from Cross River State, Ondo State, Lagos State, Edo State, Jigawa State, Kano State amongst others.
Traditional rulers were not left out of this auspicious occasion. The Alaramoko of Aramoko, other Kings, Regents and Her Royal Majesty, Queen Aruk 11, Obonganwan Marie Ikpeme Erete, who all arrived in royal splendour, capturing the attention of the State House media and all present.
The anchor for the day was famous actor, producer and multi talented, Yemi Shodimu, who did a pleasant job for the evening. The Minister of Tourism, Mrs Lola Ade-John who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief Host, Grand Patron and Global Ambassador of IPADA Initiative, read the Presidential address for the evening, calling for African unity, and assuring the sitting Ambassadors and various High Commissioners of the different countries, of the readiness of the presidency, to support the IPADA Initiative and the grand hosting of the IPADA Carnival, coming up between November 29th and December 8th in Lagos.
The Presidential address also assured the foreign guests of flexibility in related issues like visa processing, to ease foreign guests coming into the country to participate at the event.
An opportunity came for IPADA Initiatives to be further explained and broken down into a simpler message to the diplomatic community. And this was excellently done by no other person, but the Founder of the initiative himself, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye.
After a rousing ovation for his well delivered speech, Atunda Entertainment Troupe took over the stage with a dance – drama, laced with poetry and African beats which appealed greatly to the audience this particular evening.
The performance interpreted the essence of the African spirit, the much needed unity in Nigeria and Africa and the clarion call for IPADA, the Return of African people in Diaspora, back to the African continent, to build and to grow the continent, which is what IPADA is all about!
The performances of each of the Atunda Entertainment Brands: Olo Omidan Bata, TASHA and the Queen of African drums, ARA THUNDER came next.
From the exhilarating, tantalising outing of Olo Omidan Bata, to the fast tempo songs and beats of Tasha, it was not surprising to see that ARA THUNDER exploded in Aso Rock to the consternation and extreme excitement of the dignitaries at the Presidential Banquet Hall this particular evening.
The performances were breathtaking, holding the audience spellbound to the end. And when the appreciation came, it rocked the Banquet Hall, with thundering applause.
The night was still young and there was room for goodwill messages from each of the countries represented in the Hall, including messages from the Governor of the New African Diaspora Bank, His Majesty Rex Semako I & VI, Timothy McPherson.
There were also other goodwill messages from CEOs of banks and from owners of Malaika Air, well represented by Prince Richard Nwaobi, the Deputy CEO and Vice Chairman, who promised people coming for IPADA Carnival from abroad, reduction in air fares, as support for the carnival.
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation was also not left out in the open pledged support for the success of IPADA Carnival.
The evening was rich with soothing speeches, warm pleasantries, great entertainment and enlightenment about the elaborate collaboration that can galvanise the immediate pursuit and growth of Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye’s dream being, “from slave ships to cruise ships, and luxurious airlines,” as highlighted by him at the evening event, and re confirmed by the Lord of the 6th region, His Majesty, Rex Semako I & VI, Timothy McPherson.
The grand evening drew to a close with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Sunday Bisong, the Director of Domestic Tour Promotion, Federal Ministry of Tourism, who represented Mrs Ibiene Robert, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, at the evening event.
– Paul Ukpabio is Nigeria’s Tourism Writer Of The Year Award Winner 2023
