Akanran, a town in Ona–Ara Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State is not new in the history of political struggle in Nigeria.
It is a town which gained its popularity being the base of the early traditional self–determinant group known as Agbekoya. Thus whenever Akanran is mentioned, the memory that comes to the mind is the territory of Agbekoya!
Though, the headquarters of Ona–Ara Local Government Area, since the demise of Agbekoya, Akanran has been struggling to make an impressive act of significant importance and performance in the socioeconomic theatre of Oyo State.
Despite the fact that this local government area could be described as the major producer of the intellectuals and economic giants of Ibadan, since the day of the Agbekoya, strident efforts have not been made at empowering the town commercially and developmentally.
And in response to the quest of the people of Akanran, one of the governors who ruled the state promised to develop and bless Akanran bountifully for not only being the local government area that has reared notable Ibadan heroes and heroines, but being the least developed local government area in the state.
And in his magnanimity of vision and purpose, the governor glowingly announced that Akanran would be the general headquarters and dump site of refuse in Oyo State.
However, while a governor in his wisdom thought that the only visible or notable project which could benefits the people of Akanran and Ona Ara local government area is flit, dirt, squalor and a refuse site, someone has seen Akanran as a golden territory full of honey and manure fit for the creation of heaven on earth!
It is with this frame of mind that Engineer Dotun Sanusi acquired over 600 hectares of land from the proposed dumpsite for the creation of the first ecotourism–sport resort in Ibadan christened Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort.
In his habit of providing basic infrastructure in any place where he plants any venture, Engineer Sanusi on his own has ensured the tarring of over six kilometres of road with solid concrete and patching of the major road that leads to the Resort, thus putting at bay the fear of travelling on potholes-laden road to the Resort.
Apart from this, he ensured the extension of electricity line to the village at a whopping cost of 78 million naira.
Conscious of the imperative of security, an ultra-modern police station has been built by Engineer Sanusi outside the perimeter wall of the Resort which has been fully equipped and staffed by the Nigeria Police Force.
Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort seems to be the biggest Resort in South West as it harbours a sports academy, stadium, playing pitch, swimming pools, tennis courts, a continental gym, event hall, amusement park, horse stable, water based recreational centre, ecotourism bar, zoological garden and a 60–bedroom hotel.
The hotel is a luxury affairs which has three four brands of rooms, the silver, the bronze, gold and diamonds. These categories of rooms are set up with exotic sets of furniture, fixtures and fittings and sophisticated beddings and lovely bathrooms.
The hotel’s seminar hall and conference centre is fitted with academic and conference enhancing gadgets and facilities while a sophisticated jukebox is permanently installed for those who desire an exciting venue for conferences and seminar.
The bar parades both locally-brewed and exotic liquors while the restaurant is manned by chefs who have acquired professional qualification and intercontinental experience on how to leverage on the products of the kitchen at retaining the loyalty of guests.
Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort is deliberately crafted to serve as heaven for those who earnestly desire an awesome getaway from the maddening crowd to a blissful environment with facilities and service honed so well that can make guests to temporarily forget that they are in this part of the earth.
Adejimi Okunlola, who operates a bar in the village described Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort as “the best thing that has ever happened to Akanran and to Ona Ara Local government area. Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort is a fortune bearer, agent of prosperity and catalyst of development. My brother, before its emergence here, a plot of land was 50 – 60 thousand naira, now, a plot of land has gone up to 350 thousand naira now. Also, traffic of people to the hotel and to this town has been on the rise which rubs off on many businesses like my bar. It has pushed up Akanran as the cynosure of all eyes.”
Okunola added: “The man who owns that hotel needs a national award. He was the one who used his personal money to tar the road from where it was so bad on the major road to the Resort. He spent his personal money to extend electricity facility here and built that police station. He is a blessing to this local government area.”
Engineer Sanusi revealed: “Whatever you see here now is just a tip of the iceberg. Our plan is to turn Akanran into the seat of the best homeland resort in Nigeria. As it is, we have been able to ensure the provision of first-class facilities and we have fetched for good hands who are super hospitality vendors. It is specially created to fit your dream of a resort for conference, seminar, AGM, meetings, honeymoon and exciting holydays. Some of those who have been here described it with various adjectives and in superlatives which dovetail into the fact that a great thing is here. But you can only appreciate what is here if you venture out to see what we have been able to plant here. Visit and feel the beat of Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort, Akanran. It is great.”
And to this writer, it is not only great; it is also but awesome. It is an oasis of splendour in the jungle of Akanran, the town of the brave Agbekoya.
and then