By Damilola Adeyera
So many things might be going through your mind as you read the headline. How can a group from a school for the blind experience the beauty of a beach resort? What would such a tour look and feel like? Have no worries, because it wasn’t students of Pacelli School for the blind but rather the dedicated staff members whose daily commitment ensures that visually impaired children receive quality education, care, guidance, and encouragement.
A glorious day it was when their buses arrived at Ekaabo, the welcoming area of La Campagne Tropicana Forest River and Beach Resort on Monday, July 27. Little wonder the rain began the moment their buses came to a halt.
But the heavy downpour would ultimately not affect the welcome arrangements that had been planned for their arrival by La Campagne because here, there’s always an alternative fun arrangement, that comes with a new experience!
Excitement filled the air as the rain slowly subsided. It was time for the tour of the resort to begin, starting from the founder’s campsite, the place where Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye first settled, upon his arrival to Ikegun community. It was from there he built what is today known as La Campagne Tropicana Forest River and Beach Resort.
At this location, curiosity was heightened. Many questions were asked about the early beginning of the resort. Some wondered the kind of guts it took for a young chap of twenty-six years to leave the excitement of the city for the uncertainty of an unexplored rural area. “People called him a strong man for having that audacity”, the tour guide answered. This tour had offered them an opportunity to learn about the vision behind La Campagne Tropicana.
After this, the staff members of Pacelli School for the blind engaged themselves in various sporting activities like football, volleyball, table tennis amongst others. Sports like football are a major part of the school’s curriculum. These sporting activities are recognized at the Paralympics.
Therefore, La Campagne Tropicana’s decision to keep the staff engaged in sporting activities during their visits offered them an opportunity to further acquire knowledge on how they can communicate better the ideas and ideals of these various sporting activities to their students.
No visit to La Campagne is complete without being introduced to the traditionally designed architectural edifices which serve as lodges for guests. From Ile Rigi, to Kodi, down to Obieze, then to Laba, to Oso, further down to Eti Oso, Anago, Amosan, and Ilerimi. Each of these chalets tells a story of African structural heritage while offering world-class hospitality.
The journey of the tour continued with the guests exploring the resort, taking in the calmness of the forest, the soft breeze of the freshwater lake, the dancing of the monkeys in the mangrove, and the harmony of the Atlantic Ocean. This immersive experience gave the guests new knowledge on how to describe nature to their students.