Another epoch making IPADA tree planting ceremony took place today at the sprawling La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort at Ibeju-lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.
The ceremony sprang into life, when the team from Hotel Managers Conference, led by the Lead Consultant of Tojum Hospitality, and Convener, Hotel Managers Conference, Mr Olugbenga Sunday, came calling at the 65 acres beach resort, to officially congratulate Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye, whose beach resort, won the Best Resort In Nigeria Award, at the just held Award Conference, in Lagos.
With him was Lydia Aluoch Akunja from Kenya, Edna Rosen from Botswana and Charity Isong from Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.
After a satisfactory stay at the luxury beach resort, the team had the grand opportunity to plant their individual IPADA trees in a ceremony led by Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye.
The colourful ceremony started with a brief speech about IPADA and IPADA Carnival, by Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye, followed by plant identification by each individual taking part in the ceremony, a speech of intent and the eventual planting of the tree with prayers and blessings.
Lydia Aluoch Akunja from Kenya, prayed in her native dialect, for her tree to sprout and grow into a mighty tree. Edna Rosen on her part prayed in her native Botswana language for her tree to give shelter for those in this generation and the generations to come. And so did, Charity Isong who prayed in her native ibibio language and Olugbenga Sunday who prayed in his native Oyo language.
Narrating their feelings about the exercise immediately after, Lydia Aluoch Akunja who is also a lecturer at a University in Kenya, said that she is very emotional after planting her IPADA tree. “This exercise has gone deep inside of me, and stirred various feelings inside of me. I want to thank the Founder of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye, for giving me an opportunity to take part in this IPADA tree planting exercise, to put in place shelter for the people unborn.”
Edna Rosen from Botswana, Charity Isong from Akwa Ibom and Olugbenga Sunday all shared similar feelings about their emotional tree planting exercises, while thanking Otunba Akinboboye, for the opportunity to do same. They all said they are looking forward to return to the resort during the upcoming IPADA Carnival in November and December, which will grant them an opportunity to return to water their individual plants.
