Founder’s Note

The Continent Building Initiative (CBI) has its roots in a vision I conceived at 24 years old and my desire to contribute my skills towards developing Africa.

My name is Otunba (Dr) Wanle Akinboboye and I was born in Lagos, Nigeria .  I undertook my primary and secondary education in Ondo State, Nigeria . I then obtained a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the Kaduna State Polytechnic, Kaduna. In common with many other Nigerians at the time I re – located to the USA, where I obtained a degree in Business Management at Bowie State University and a Masters degree in Hospitality Management at Florida International University. I also have a Doctorate degree from the European American University, USA.

I returned to Nigeria at 29 years old. I decided to drive my vision through a focus on 3 sectors of the economy; Security, Entertainment and Tourism (SET). My belief was that, as none of these sectors had or has a minimum educational entry level, it was (and still is) possible for skilled and talented individuals that have little or no formal education to successfully participate in these sectors.  This was important given the overall lack of formal education in Africa as well as the need to generate worthwhile employment for all

I am pleased that my vision has birthed 15 organizations (companies) and provided direct and indirect employment over the years to thousands across Africa.

The organizations I founded include :

SECURITY.

Corporate Guards Limited:
Corporate Guards Security Ltd was founded in 1989, and was the first private security firm in Nigeria to focus its recruitment policy on graduates .

Corporate Guards Security changed the narrative of private security , which was previously viewed as an occupation for old and retired service men, to a profession for young, skilled and intelligent graduates.

Over the years, Corporate Guards has been instrumental in generating employment for millions across Africa , who range from the manufacturers and suppliers of security uniforms and gadgets to the businesses established by entrepreneurs that saw the investment opportunities in private security and copied the business model and concepts of Corporate Guards.

ENTERTAINMENT

Atunda Entertainment (Atunda)
Atunda Entertainment was founded in 2000 . It focus was (and is) to nurture young African talents to present and reposition African culture, art, music and fashion in a cosmopolitan manner.

This initiative has empowered thousands of African creative talents and exposed them to international audiences in countries that include Nigeria, France , USA, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Brazil and the Caribbean.

Movies That Foster African Unity
In line with my goal of fostering African Unity via cultural and artistic exchanges that leverage off the collaboration amongst creatives from different African countries, while creating economic prosperity through entertainment, I recently created the East and West Africa Amalgamation (EWA) and Anglophone – Francophone Amalgamation(AFA) programmes.

These programmes focus on tourism and the creative arts. One of Nigeria’s foremost movie scripts writers has already crafted four movie scripts that are aligned to the goals of this particular activation. It is envisaged that these movies will portray the diverse cultures of Africa, while promoting Africa’s unique attractions.

Africa International Music Festival (Aim Festival)
The AIM Festival is an annual festival which takes place in Lagos, Nigeria. The festival, which is in its 6th year, features the live music, dance, fashion and food of Africa’s 54 countries

TOURISM

La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort
La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort (the Resort) is located in Lagos, Nigeria and was founded in 1984. The Resort is the world’s first African themed resort that focuses on presenting African culture and architecture in a cosmopolitan manner.

The Resort’s offerings are weaved around Africa’s culture and hospitality. It has created tremendous economic opportunities for people living in its host community and immediate environs. This is because the Resort’s unique African theme creates job opportunities for the indigenes that would not normally be available from a western type tourist establishment.

The Resort adopted African style architecture and buildings. It’s construction methods have created jobs for persons skilled in the indigenous crafts of roof thatching (for roofs), mat making (used for ceilings) and talking drums (used as door bells). The use of thatch roofs , local mat ceilings and drums for these huts has  driven the demand for these items, created  new markets  and expanded the job opportunities  for local craftsmen.

The Resort has also provided nearby rural communities with the opportunity to interact with both domestic and international tourists. Such tourists have also discovered investment opportunities through such interaction and a Billion-dollar free trade zone is currently under development in the Resort’s host region.

The La Campagne Tropicana brand is growing rapidly with franchises springing up or under discussion at Oniru, Lagos State , Ondo State , Kotonkarfi Karfi , Kogi State , Koffi – Nassarawa State , Akosombo Ghana , Grand Bassam – Cote D’Ivorie ,Wolyta Soddo ,Ethiopia and in Antigua and Barbuda .

Tropicana Spas and Pools
This company which was founded in 1989 was the first spa and swimming pool company in Nigeria and specializes in the supply, installation and maintenance of spas and pools.

Tropicana Tourism Initiative Limited (TTI)
This company was founded in 1992, as a consultancy firm whose primary focus is  providing technical assistance to investors interested in developing  tourist facilities.

Motherland Beckons Destinations (Destination creation)
Africans , on an annual basis, spend billions of dollars travelling to other parts of the world for various types of tourism . For Africa to harness its huge tourism potentials, it is important that Africans put in place the required infrastructure and create experiences that will encourage tourists to patronize destinations in Africa, thereby growing the economy.

Tourists who sign up for Motherland Beckons Destination packages are offered and can enjoy packages designed for kids, young adults and corporate organizations.  The destinations in Africa currently being promoted by this organisation are:

1. Destination South West Nigeria (this comprises of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states)
2. Destination Ouidah, Benin Republic
3. Destination Akosombo Ghana
4. Destination Grand Bassam, Cote D’Ivorie
5. Destination Goree Island, Senegal
6. Destination Al Nejashi/Lalibela, Ethiopia ( this now a war zone, please remove )

Kamp Afrika
This activation consists of a pan – African summer camp for tweens and teens aged from 10-16 years old .

The camp is designed to expose young people to African culture and mores. It focuses on awakening the potential, passion and values of African youths through the fun – filled presentation of adventure, recreation, crafts, storytelling, arts and theatre. KAMP AFRIKA is part of Motherland Beckons’ efforts to ensure that Africa’s culture is inculcated into its youths and is thereby preserved for generations yet to come.

Youth African Tourism Expedition (YATE)
This activation focuses on African students in Tertiary institutions. The program includes exposure to camping and bonfire sessions, and is targeted at establishing links among young people from various African countries with a view to encouraging these youths to travel within Africa.

Corporate African Eco retreat (CAER)
This has been established as a retreat and bonding exercise for corporate organizations which takes place in an ecofriendly African themed environment. Participants conduct these retreats in a serene environment , where they have access to a variety of activities that include volley ball, basketball and paint balling. They also undertake other activities specifically designed to enhance team bonding. It is hoped that these Retreats will benefit corporations via the increased effectiveness of their teams.

The Waki Waki show.
The Waki – Waki show is a customised musical concert , performed on an ad hoc basis and designed to attract the world’s attention to African music.

Asun Carnival:
The Asun Carnival is held annually in Ondo town in South West Nigeria. It is the only carnival in Nigeria that is weaved around a traditional food item. The carnival is dedicated to Asun, a goat meat delicacy of the people of Ondo people, . The carnival features colourful display of local fabrics, fashion, music, dance, street parties and sports.

Mare Festival
This Festival was created in 2009 in Ondo State Nigeria. It leverages off the beautiful landscape of the Idanre hills and the diverse culture of the people of Ondo State. The festival features mountain climbing, marathons, hiking competitions, music, dance, a beauty pageant and an African styled carnival.

As someone who once lived in the diasporas, I am acutely aware that our brothers and sisters in the diaspora could, if properly motivated, mirror the role that was assumed by the Jews in the Diasporas towards the development of Israel. It is with this in mind that I am currently promoting a number of programmes that specifically target Africans in the diasporas and lovers of Africa

AFRICANS IN DIASPORA PROGRAMS.

1. Motherland Beckons:
Motherland Beckons is a movement, portal and spiritual calling for people of African descent and lovers of Africa to be part of the African experience through travelling and to directly impact on the economy of the continent. Since its inception in 2000, Motherland Beckons has facilitated the return of a number of African American Mayors in the USA , Marlon Jackson, and several Nigerians in Diaspora.

2. Motherland Beckons Investment Ltd.
This is a platform for Africans in the Diaspora to invest and do business in the continent. Motherland Investment Ltd has two activations:

a. Business Bridge: created in 2018 to solve the challenge of funding for medium and small scale enterprises (MSMES) by linking Entrepreneurs in Africa with Investors living in Africa and Diaspora and inviting them to act as partners.

b. Africa Turkey Trade Center (ATTC): Africa Turkey Trade Center (ATTC) was founded in 2017 in partnership with MUSIAD – one of the largest business organizations in the world. With its head office in Turkey, ATTC provides investors from any part of the world a solid support system for investing in Africa. It also provides Entrepreneurs in Africa with the much needed platform to do business in any part of the world. Since inception, ATTC has facilitated millions of Dollars in investment from Netherlands, Switzerland, Dubai and Turkey to Nigeria , Ghana, Cote D’Ivorie and Ethiopia .

3. The Americas Celebrate with Africa
While I am aware of the importance of developing Africa as a whole, I am also currently promoting a number of initiatives that are fully Nigerian focused. These initiatives are targeted at growing Nigeria’s economy and assisting it to becoming a giant , not only in terms of its population, but in terms of its economic prosperity

NIGERIAN FOCUSED INITIATIVES

1. Diaspora Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (DNERGP) is a tourism and investment initiative designed to offer Nigerians, lovers of Nigeria in Diaspora and their friends a template for contributing their own quota of resuscitating the economy by holidaying and /investing in Nigeria.

DNERGP offers investment opportunities in holiday homes or in franchises of the exquisite LaCampagne Tropicana Beach Resort.

Also, leveraging off Motherland Beckons partnership with MUSIAD (one of the world’s largest business organization with over 55,000 members, 11,000 corporations spread over 175 locations world wide) , DNERGP provides opportunities for business partnerships, franchise ownerships and distributorship of products from over 11,000 companies on the MUSIAD platform.

2. Hope Unity Rebirth and Prosperity (HURP): HURP was formed from the need to create awareness of the issues that cause challenges in Nigeria and the manner they can be addressed. HURP , which is an acronym for Hope, Unity, Rebirth and Prosperity, is a creation of Motherland Beckons, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, and the Federal Government of Nigeria. It is designed to chart a path for the Nigerian nation that take account of current realities . The HURP project involves about 25 major activations across the country and in the Diaspora and has the potential to create a humungous and positive spiraling effect on individuals, the private sector and eventually the economic health of the nation.

I am excited about the opportunities that are available to my country and continent if we can only grab them.

For years all Africans have done is to talk about what can be done. However they consistently fail to change talk into actions citing the challenges caused by infrastructure , lack of enabling policies etc.

However in my humble opinion and based on my life experiences , these are merely excuses.

Where there is a will there is always a way.
If overcoming challenges was easy, the word challenge would no longer exist.

Youths have the energy to challenge the status quo and create a new narrative. Given Africa’s huge youth population our continent perhaps more than any other has the ability to reinvent itself and become an economic powerhouse .