Having read books on how great cities were built by the people and empires of the past, my penchant for seeing such in our days became very heightened. Transversing through our country, Nigeria gives the impression that cities were built and developed by governments. What comes close is a consortium of developers coming together to build an estate. Little did I know that something remarkable would happen in the largest city in West Africa, Ibadan.
Oyo State, as we know it, is the pacesetter state. We have it in the books of history, how many events and projects happened for the first time in Ibadan, Oyo State. The first television station in Africa, the first stadium in Africa, and so many monumental projects we have in the beautiful city.
I once heard about a certain city within Ibadan city, called the Ilaji Resort, but thought it was one of those resorts with 2 or 3 buildings to show, but my visit to the resort made me ask questions. Was this the vision of one man? How did he come about such a vision? A tour around the city convinced me beyond a doubt that such a gentleman would posses such rare leadership skills that a lot of us don’t have. I saw a stadium, other sports facilities, hotels and apartments, restaurants, and a legion of workers.
The precision and acumen to bring together architects, civil engineers, plumbers, electrical engineers, men and women builders to build such a city, projects nothing but the leadership capacity of the man in question, Engr. Jubril Dotun Sanusi, the CEO of Ilaji Hotels and Resort. These are the types of individuals needed in leadership positions in our dear state and nation. Talk about professionalism, foresight, courage, determination, compassion, integrity, experience, native intelligence and leadership, then you talk about the man JDS.
Olumide Omotoso writes from Ibadan.
