Ned Nwoko’s empire as Garden of Eden

It is a fortress of nature deliberately built to encourage rest and recreation. This strategic nature enclave may not be listed as Africa’s topmost tourism destination, yet its enchanting ambience compares favourably with the imaginative biblical Garden of Eden.
Tucked away but not totally hidden in the village of Idumuje Ugboko, Ned Nwoko’s hilltop nature empire sits on 43,000 hectares of prime and lush land, a princely property that signposts the making of a prince and the lure to luxury vacations.
Here, vacation is defined and not left to the imagination. Every piece of tourist infrastructure is designed to blend with the green vegetation, an opulent invitation to trail discoveries that abound in the incomparable tourist resort. A 10-hole golf course bids you welcome to this nature wonder and that is a story to be told in a different way and a message to challenge golfers in Nigeria who may wish to “horn” to their “tees” and improve on ranking.
It is a green facility that could create “green” eyes in other sports enthusiasts, which do not anyway tell the whole story of our new discovery. A trip to this location, ranked as one of Delta State’s top 10 tourist destinations, deserves an open mind and for a hardnosed nature tourism reporter like me to bask in this dream haven of nature and human creativity significantly strengthens the desire for a Nigerian tourism tomorrow.
Nwoko’s Muslim background probably influenced his “Moroccan home,” a 10-room edifice and architectural masterpiece that stands majestically in the forest of other visitor facilities such as a conference centre, Olympic-size swimming pool and a lawn tennis court.
There is a sports university awaiting the National Universities Commission’s approval, which would be located in this octopus tourism complex, possibly the first of its kind in Africa. And from what were structured on ground there, it wouldn’t be long before Delta State starts exporting “oil” from sports tourism.
To avoid being lost in this luxurious complex of natural resources, I was guided on a nature trail to a mini zoo where an ostrich welcomed our arrival, showcasing its buried head on its huge body. The monkey was not left out of this red carpet reception. One of them craftily left its den, danced around the caregiver (keeper) and held on to my left leg, possibly protesting against not having banana as a gift.
You can’t tell with this animals in human shape, yet it was an encounter that added to the deep appreciation and need to expose our nation to the benefits of protecting our flora and fauna resources for the sake of generations yet unborn.
If that encounter factors the need for great lessons on natural resource conservation and education, Nwoko’s futuristic investment in agriculture and fisheries is a testament to an entrepreneur with strategic insight on how the various components of tourism could create jobs across board and burst the crazy unemployment indices that have brought worrisome social dislocations.
Nwoko, on the sidelines of a very busy traffic of visitors and political associates, told me he would rather choose to serve as Minister of Tourism and Culture than become a governor in Nigeria. His empire in Idumuje Ugboko speaks volumes of a practical desire and ambition from which over 200 young people earn their daily living and also have a privileged training ground to master the tourism trade.
The booming oil palm plantation is an attraction that adds to the rich discoveries in this nature resort. To climb the over 100-foot tower leaves the heart racing with the panoramic view showcasing the thick vegetation and unspoilt natural ecosystem as a soothing balm. This tower also serves as a natural laboratory to pump natural air into damaged lungs, cleanse and lubricate the body from years of city air pollution.
To cinematographers, photographers, nature scientists and students, this tower, which stands on the mountain peak at 1,100 feet above sea level, possibly the highest in the entire southern frontier of Nigeria, provides an ideal and breathless contact with heaven and earth.
If this tower helps generate creativity and lubricates the lungs with fresh air, the tunnel craftily built to recreate the history of how kings and princes of old used adventure escape routes and retreats speaks of Nwoko’s unending desire to blend nature, culture, sports and history into a seamless tourism enterprise that may blossom as the true face of emerging Nigerian private-sector tourism initiative.
I would leave my encounter with Chinedu (Ned) Nwoko for another day. Unknown to many people, Nwoko, as a member of House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003, initiated and sponsored the now famous “Whistle Blowing” bill known as “An Act to Establish Public Funds Recovery and Reward Commission.”
A lawyer, businessman and politician, Nwoko sponsored over 22 successful bills as a member of Nigeria’s Green Chamber and is presently on the verge of launching a Nigerian tourism project in collaboration with Delta State and the Federal Government that will excite a private sector drive to stimulate domestic tourism and culture initiatives at the grassroots.
Indeed, his dream to liberate local government activities in Nigeria from the demonising hold of states governors makes him an interesting figure to watch in the emerging political landscape in Delta State in 2019.