The Tigray region of Ethiopia is fascinating for its rich history as well as the rugged terrain. It is the home to ancient kingdoms like the Axum and Yeha. It is also home to the first mosque in the world.
In the light of this, Motherland Beckons is unveiling to Nigerians and the world a holiday package for Nigerians and the people from all over the world to visit Al Negashi and Lalibella, the two holy sites in Ethiopia for Christians and Moslems.
The formal launch of Motherland Beckons Destination Al Nejashi and Lalibela was recently held at La Campagne Beach Resort, Ikegun, Lagos State.
Destination Al Nejashi and Lalibela, which is Motherland Beckons’ activation and otherwise known as East and West amalgamation through tourism and creative arts, is part of effort by the organization to bridge the gap between the different regions of Africa and the rest of the world.
The launch was attended by the founder of Motherland Beckons, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, the Ethiopian Ambassador to Nigeria, Samia Zekaria Gutu, and the General Manager of Ethiopian Airlines, Nigeria, Solomon Begashaw, and other guests.
It was a colourful event which witnessed a mix of entertainment by Atunda Entertainment. Accompanied by the orchestra of Atunda Entertainment, the trio of Anu The Lady Ekwu, Olo Midan Bata and Ara (Thunder) gave a powerful and moving rendition of both Nigerian and Ethiopian national anthems which were well received by the audience.
Akinboboye talked about the concept of Destination Al Nejashi and Lalibela as he spoke extensively on the historical and economic derivatives of the project. He paid glowing tributes to the Ethiopia nation for standing against the divisive war of the colonialists by resisting every attempt at colonising it.
He said the symbolism of the war won by the Ethiopians and made reference to Al Nejashi which is a mountainous region and what it meant to the people playing on the symbolism and slogan of the people known as “Gara le Gara” or “Mountain to Mountain.”
Continuing, Akinboboye disclosed that ”the essence of our gathering this afternoon is to share from that strength and that conviction and vision that when we are together everything is possible. Not just the strength that you derive, but the platform that you create from it that will enable you create industry and develop your economy.
”There is so much that we can learn from each other and we can discover great things together as a people,” he said, adding that ”the continent of Africa will not know progress until we decide to come together.”
He insisted that ”we must create prosperity together and when we create prosperity ultimately we create unity.”
Therefore, the essence of the east and west amalgamation is to forge unity and release the creative potency that would enhance the economic growth of the people and development of the continent.
According him,” tourism and creative arts are where the economic salvation of the continent lies, saying that ”for over 30 years I have held the belief that tourism can create prosperity for us and for over 30 years, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort has created wealth and prosperity for its community.”
He revealed that ”it took a concerted plan and effort to remove from Africa its soul, which is its culture and it will take also a concerted effort and plan by us, Africans, to get it back.”
Destination Al Nejashi and Lalibela is to him part of the concerted effort and plan to regain the lost soul of Africa and implode its economy.
”We are gathered here today to begin the journey of the east and west amalgamation through tourism and creative arts because when we travel within our continent, we begin to build our economy and our creative forces will come to being,”he said.
According to him, the bridge building process would be in two parts with the first being the creation and promotion of tour packages to Al Nejashi and Lalibela, two great historical sites in Ethiopia, with each having their respective strong attractions for the people.
The tour packages would involve the long stretch of value chain in the travel business with Ethiopian holidays serving as the ground handlers, Ethiopian Airlines as the official carrier and Mountain Ice Consultancy, Travels and Tours Limited as the tour company, all working closely with Motherland Beckons to achieve the aim of the amalgamation.
The second part of the deal as revealed by Akinboboye is the building of La Campagne Mountain Resort Al Nejashi. The resort, which is soon to commence construction, he said, would be a themed resort that would utilise extensively the cultural materials of the people of Ethiopia and the region.
Ambassador Gutu amplified Akinboboye’s submission, giving credence to the amalgamation project which, according to her, is opening her country to the world even as she insisted that Ethiopia has a lot to offer to the world.
Given its historical and political antecedents, as a country that was never conquered by the colonialists, she said that Africans and the world have a lot to learn from the country, hence the country is teaming up with Motherland Beckons to promote two of its most revered locations.
The ambassador is elated about the prospect of the project as she promised visitors a swell and fun-filled time in the country, even as she disclosed effort at improving on its environment and creating the necessary infrastructure for tourism to thrive.
”Though we don’t have beaches, but we would use our Gara le Gara to entertain you,” she said joyfully, adding that ”we want to build synergy in Africa by working with Africans to build Africa.”
On the proposed resort, she expressed delight over it and the eagerness to see it come to fruition soonest.
”We are going to start with our brother Wanle Akinbobye as he is going to put up a place like this (reference to La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort) in Ethiopia. We can’t wait for it to come to life because it is going to serve as a boost to developing our tourist attractions,” said Gutu.
On his part, Begashaw assured of a seamless travel as he said that ”we are here to partner and ensure that it works to the best interest of our tourists. We would do everything possible to make it work.”
