By Onyekachi Victoria Philip
Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, founder of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort and promoter of African tourism, has consistently spoken about the role of young people in Africa’s development.
His views have covered education, skills, entrepreneurship, culture, employment, agriculture, entertainment and tourism, while several of his initiatives have been designed specifically to give young people practical opportunities.
1. He believes Nigerian youths need the right role models
Akinboboye has said one of the major problems facing young Nigerians is the lack of focus on the right examples.
In an interview, he questioned why many young people look up to politicians instead of entrepreneurs and people who have built businesses and institutions.
He believes young Nigerians need to see successful people who have created something tangible and understand that they too can build something of value.
2. He wants youths to see that Nigerians can build world-class businesses
Akinboboye has used La Campagne Tropicana as an example of what Nigerians can build.
He has argued that when young Nigerians travel abroad and see developments in places such as Dubai, Europe and America, they should not conclude that such developments can only happen outside Nigeria.
Seeing a Nigerian-built tourism destination, he believes, can help change that mindset.
3. He created YATE specifically for young people
Akinboboye introduced the Youth African Tourism Expedition (YATE) in 2023 as the 2nd of his 52 tourism products.
The programme was designed to expose young people to tourism, travel, recreation and business opportunities across Africa.
4. He believes tourism education should go beyond the classroom
Akinboboye has promoted practical tourism education through YATE.
Rather than limiting tourism education to theory, he wants young people to experience destinations, hospitality, recreation and other aspects of the industry directly.
His argument is that practical exposure can help young people understand tourism as a serious career and business opportunity.
5. He wants youths to become tourism entrepreneurs
YATE was not created simply to produce young tourists.
Akinboboye has also promoted the programme as an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to participate in tourism and earn from the industry.
The programme has been presented as a way for young people to take tourism experiences into schools and other communities while developing business opportunities.
6. He believes tourism can help reduce youth restiveness
Akinboboye has linked youth tourism with the need to provide young people with productive activities.
While explaining YATE, he said the programme could help take young people away from restiveness by giving them opportunities for travel, recreation, learning and entrepreneurship.
7. He is concerned about youths losing touch with African culture
Akinboboye introduced Kamp Afrika as the 3rd of his 52 tourism products.
The initiative was created partly because of his concern that African youths are becoming increasingly disconnected from their culture as a result of foreign cultural influence.
8. He believes parents have a responsibility to preserve culture
While discussing Kamp Afrika, Akinboboye also placed responsibility on parents.
He argued that parents must deliberately expose their children to African culture, traditions and values instead of allowing them to grow without knowledge of their roots.
9. Kamp Afrika teaches culture through fun
Kamp Afrika combines cultural education with tourism and recreation.
Young participants are exposed to African food, dressing, history, languages, dances, storytelling, crafts, bead-making, tie-dye, basket-making, music and other traditional activities.
The idea is to make cultural education an experience rather than simply a classroom lesson.
10. He wants youths to acquire skills and education instead of turning to crime
At a Motherland Beckons youth engagement at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Akinboboye urged young people to maintain a positive outlook and shun criminality.
He encouraged them to acquire skills and education that would enable them to contribute to national wealth.
11. He sees entertainment as a tool for youth development
Akinboboye has promoted music, sports, cultural activities and entertainment as ways of engaging young people.
Through initiatives associated with Motherland Beckons and his wider tourism programmes, he has promoted cultural and sports tourism as avenues through which youths can develop talents and participate in the economy.
12. He believes rural tourism can create jobs for youths
Akinboboye has repeatedly connected tourism development with employment.
His strategy has involved developing attractions in rural communities and creating businesses around them.
He has cited employment generated around La Campagne Tropicana and tourism development in Ibeju-Lekki as examples of how tourism can provide opportunities for people living around destinations.
13. He believes tourism can reduce rural-to-urban migration
His rural resort development model is also connected to employment.
His argument is that if economic opportunities are created within rural communities, young people will have more reasons to remain, work and build businesses there instead of moving to major cities in search of jobs.
14. He wants agriculture to become attractive to young people
His recent Taraba project has taken his youth philosophy into agriculture.
Akinboboye has argued that many young people see farming as synonymous with poverty, hardship and suffering.
His response is to combine agriculture with tourism, hospitality, entertainment and heritage.
15. He wants youths to see farming differently
The 2,500-hectare agro-ecotourism project in Taraba represents an attempt to create a different image of agriculture.
The project combines agriculture with tourism and hospitality, with the aim of creating economic opportunities while making farming more attractive to younger Nigerians.
16. He believes today’s generation must build for tomorrow’s youths
One of the strongest philosophical statements associated with Akinboboye’s work is his argument that the platform available to tomorrow’s generation depends on what today’s generation builds.
His position is that young people should not simply inherit society; the current generation has a responsibility to create opportunities for those coming after them.
17. He believes children should discover their own potential
Akinboboye has also spoken about allowing children to discover their abilities.
In discussing parenting, he argued against forcing children to become what their parents want them to become.
Instead, he believes children should be guided and supported while being allowed to discover their own potential.
18. He does not believe children must follow their parents’ careers
Akinboboye has said he would not necessarily expect his children to follow his career path.
His position is that children have their own visions and abilities and should be allowed to pursue what they are capable of becoming.
19. He has promoted young African entertainment talent
His youth development philosophy extends into entertainment.
Through music and cultural programmes connected with his wider African development vision, he has promoted opportunities for young African musicians, performers and people working behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.
20. He believes young Nigerians can take African tourism further
Akinboboye has praised younger Nigerian tourism entrepreneurs and described them as an important part of the future of the industry.
Rather than seeing his generation as the final authority in tourism, he has encouraged younger entrepreneurs to take the industry to another level.
21. He has incorporated technology into youth empowerment
The youth-development aspect of his wider IPADA agenda has also moved into digital skills.
Among the activities associated with the programme was free AI training for 300 participants, aimed at providing young Nigerians with digital skills and exposure to emerging technology.
22. His youth philosophy is ultimately about building platforms
Across his statements and projects, one theme continues to appear: Akinboboye believes young people need platforms, not just promises.
YATE provides a platform for youth tourism and entrepreneurship.
Kamp Afrika provides a platform for cultural education.
His entertainment initiatives provide platforms for talent.
His rural resorts provide employment platforms.
The Taraba agro-ecotourism project seeks to create an agricultural and tourism platform.
And his digital initiatives introduce young people to new technology.
