Foremost tourism promoter, Founder and President of La Campagne Tropicana Seaside Resort and Motherland Beckons, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, clocks 62 today Sunday August 16. In commemoration of his special day, he has once again called on his friends, family, associates and well-wishers to use the occasion to reach out to those in need around them in his name.
This, he said, is in recognition of the special times we are in due to the current COVID-19 global pandemic.
“As I celebrate my 62nd birthday, we face a very different world due to the current global pandemic. We have become increasingly aware of the fact that we are our brothers’ keepers. We are also aware that Africa must seize the opportunities available to change the narrative for the continent positively.
“I ask that where anyone was thinking of giving a gift to mark my birthday, they instead give such gift, in my name, to an African in need, whether that African is in Nigeria or in any of the other countries that make up our great continent. Once again the choice of the beneficiary lies with the donor.
“My aim, as it has been in previous years, is to ensure that on a day my family, friends, and associates are celebrating my life, others who are in need feel the impact of this celebration as well,” he said.
He promised to, at a later date, acknowledge these gifts publicly while asking to be kept in the loop of whatever is given, to whom, and if possible get a receipt for onward transmission to him.
This is not the first time that Otunba Akinboboye will be going this route. When he turned 60 years in 2018, 60 blind Africans regained their sights courtesy of a mass cataract operation sponsored by one of his close associates, Dr. Lutfi Simsek from Turkey.
The cataract operations restored the sight of 60 Africans and radically changed the lives of the beneficiaries for the better. He described that gesture as “particularly touching” as it was aligned with his desire to change the lives of and perceptions about the people of the African continent.
Early life and career:
Wanle Akinboboye was born on the 16th Of August 1958, and began his educational pursuit at St. Josephs College Ondo and bagged a diploma certificate in Mechanical Engineer from the Kaduna Polytechnic. Afterward, he jetted out of the country at exactly 18 years old to the United States of America where he studied Business Administration and Security Operations as his first degree before capping it with a Master’s degree in Hospitality Management from Florida International University, Miami, USA.
In 1986, Akinboboye returned from the United States of America to pursue three things he had developed capacity in – Security, Tourism, and Entertainment.
Some of the companies he floated to launch his feet into these sectors include Corporate Guards, Motherland Beckons, Atunda Entertainment and La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort.
The beach resort is a first of its kind African-themed resort that sits on a 65-acre land-space at the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos, featuring a unique blend of natural environments which include a freshwater lake, accessible mangrove forest, a savannah, extensive sandy beach, and the warm Atlantic sea.
Passion For Tourism:
Akinboboye is a lover of Africa who believes firmly that African culture, art, music, and cuisine can bring prosperity to the continent if well harnessed. He refers to his efforts as continent- building, which explains why he engages his experience in tourism, hospitality management, security, and entertainment to create employment opportunities for people in Africa.
He created a business bridge that encourages Africans in the Diaspora to invest in the continent, thus helping to boost the economy of Africa.
He founded the continent building initiative (Motherland Beckons), a Non-Governmental Organization made up of Africans in the continent and in the Diaspora who are committed to the development of Africa through tourism, hospitality, entertainment, and security.
Over the period of 32 years, Dr. Akinboboye has founded companies and organizations in tourism, hospitality, entertainment, and security which he hopes will serve as activations in his continent building agenda. Some of these organizations and initiatives include; La Campagne Boutique Homes, Atunda Entertainment, Atunda Television, Africa International Music Festival (Aim Festival), Africa Musical Jamboree (The Wakiwaki Show), Mare Festival, KAMP AFRIKA, YATE (Youth African Tourism Expedition) and HURP (Hope, Unity, Rebirth, and Prosperity).
Awards & recognitions:
His contribution to the development of tourism and promotion of the sector has not gone unnoticed as he boasts of several awards in his kitty. He was conferred with the Most Creative and Resilient Tourism Personality of the Year in 2019 and Tourism Man of the Year in 2015 by Africa Travels Award amongst several others.
