The tourism Minister Mrs Lola Ade-John during her recent visit to La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, left her name in indelible ink in the book of history of the 40 year old resort.
Fishing is a great past time activity at the coastal areas of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, where La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort is located.
From the casual tourists who enjoys fishing at the ‘point and kill’ pond by the luxury beach front homes known as ‘Laba homes,’ to the professional major fishing expeditions at the edge of the Atlantic ocean, fishing is a joyful experience in this rich green environment, endowed with an Atlantic ocean and a lagoon.
So when the Tourism Minister, Mrs Lola Ade-John visited La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort last Friday, the Founder of the beach resort, Tourism Icon, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye, cornered the Minister and told her, about the custom of the resort, which is to give opportunity to every special guests to try their luck and expertise at catching a fish, through fishing at the pond by the Laba luxury homes of the resort.
And the excitement was real, because the tourism Minister, Mrs Lola Ade-John immediately accepted and took up the challenge, as everyone watched with anxiety and perhaps trepidation (laugh). Yes, the question, that was silently passing through most people’s mind was, what if the Minister failed to catch a fish?
But to the surprise of all, no sooner did Mrs Lola Ade-John released her fishing rod into the pond, she caught a huge fish with her fishing hook! Just 3 seconds! The Minister pulled out a fish from the pond, securing ahead, a plate of barbecued fish for herself.
It was a big relieve for those who might have doubted Minister Lola Ade-John’s dexterity, at fishing!
Cheered by her host, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye and others, the Minister enjoyed her new found fishing feat and success, as she sailed into the Hall of Fame, of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort.
Mrs Lola Ade-John later confessed that she has not really been a fishing person, but from now on, she is ready to take up fishing, as a hobby!
“This is the first time, I have ever caught a fish in my entire life!” Said the Minister.
– Paul Ukpabio is Nigeria’s Tourism Writer Of The Year 2023
