Aside from the rich cultural heritage of Ile-Ife in Osun State, Nigeria, famed as the cradle of the Yoruba race, another alluring attraction to the ancient town is Ife Grand Resort & Leisure.
Referred to as ‘the People’s Palace’, the resort which is planted on over 328 acres of land, adjacent to the Ife-Ibadan expressway, at about 4km from the heart of the ancient city of Ile-Ife, is worth experiencing while in the ancient town.
Ife Grand Resort & Leisure is a tropical utopia for leisure seekers and discerning guests who cherish tranquillity and communion with nature amid personalised hospitality services.
Fresh air welcomes you from the entrance. The firm, courteous and professional security personnel approaches convey almost a perfect assurance of the lives and properties of visitors to the ‘People’s Palace’ with pristine hospitality offerings.
A well-trained security personnel, who heads the security team of the resort, Mr. Jimoh Joel, assured guests of adequate protection: “Apart from stable security on the premises, we have a relationship with the police and local vigilantes who can easily reach the resort in a few minutes in case of an emergency”.
The lavish reception which is decorated with a combination of foreign and local materials sets lovers of aesthetics in the mood of indulgence. The locally crafted concierge table, the bespoke furniture decorated with local fabrics such as Ankara and Adire, the centre tables made from timber cuttings, and the beautiful artworks that dotted the walls, combine to delight the five senses, especially sight, tell stories and create memories.
On offer at the resort are single rooms and chalets. For the rooms, there are standard, premium, super-premium, executive, royal/and diplomatic rooms, while there are options for standard, premium, super-premium, and executive chalets. The intrigue is that the furnishings are variants of local and foreign materials.
There is also a focal attraction, sitting comfortably within the Ife Grand Resort – a 3000-seating-capacity Meeting Incentives Conference and Event (MICE) Centre branded ‘Ojaja Arena’ – a complex of architectural wonder planted to add value of relevance to urban renewal in Ile-Ife.
For culture aficionadi, the resort hosts an African Village with 51 stylish huts named after the past Ooni (paramount rulers of Ile-ife). The huts come in one-room in-suite amid world-class facilities.
It is thrilling moving around the tropical vicinity of the resort and across streets named after some Yoruba towns such as Abeokuta and Ijebu, among others.
Suffice it to say that African Diasporas would find the huts and the African Village, which hosts a Bamboo Restaurant and a local kitchen where guests can visit to witness how local food menus are prepared and served to them in local pots.
While in the village, guests can access standard swimming pools and children’s pools.
A big restaurant and a stylish open bar are part of the ice on the scale of the resort.
While the numerous sports and fitness offerings such as lawn tennis, basketball, and football at the mini stadium, which also hosts concerts, and the well-equipped children’s playground, are available for interested adults and children to enhance their fitness. Additionally, there are local games at the African Village.
Heightening visitors’ experience at the resort are fascinating primates, playful and mischievous nature; these monkeys are an absolute joy to watch and play with, while the growing zoological garden of Ife Grand Resort & Leisure is blessed with a flock of ostriches, among other animals.
The Ife Grand Resort & Leisure project is, no doubt, a work in progress as more projects are ongoing to accommodate the growing demands. Work is ongoing at the 200-capacity cinema hall, 6,000-guest-capacity civic centre, and the indoor spa centre for manicures and pedicures, while the Olympic-size swimming pool and the standard football field are close to completion.
The Managing Director of Ife Grand Resort & Leisure, Reuben Abib in a chat with REPORTERS AT LARGE over the weekend disclosed that “We are the People’s Palace where everyone can feel and be treated like Royalty.”
On the vision of the resort, Abib said: “The resort seeks to boost the economy of Ile-Ife, empower the people and use the resort to spotlight the ancient town on the world map by luring global tourists to the many attractions that abound in the town.”
Against the possible assumption that the cost of enjoying the classic four-start resort might cut off visitors’ throats, Abib said “Ife Grand Resort & Leisure is the most affordable four-star resort in Nigeria. I can assure you of that. Can you imagine a standard room for N10,000 in a four-star resort?”
The resort, promoted by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, is positioned to rival services at Inagbe Grand Resort, located in-between Lagos Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, which is also the brainchild of the Ooni.
A former Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola commissioned Ife Grand Resort & Leisure on Friday, July 16, 2021.
Oba Ogunwusi, while speaking at the official commissioning of the resort, witnessed by dignitaries across the country, explained that the facility was established for youth development and capacity building.
Ooni Ogunwusi announced that he deliberately planted the 3000 seating capacity event centre in the resort to make Ile-Ife the epicentre of MICE in Africa.
According to a statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, “Ife Grand Resort, is a brand new city of hubs driven by urban renewal initiatives of the Ooni Ogunwusi to serve as the hub for sustainable development, a fountain of employment generation, radar of empowerment and satellite for branding and showcasing the cultural heritage and value of Ile-Ife the source and natural headquarters of the Oduduwa race globally.”
