Preparations are in full swing for the 2025 edition of the IPADA Initiatives Celebration a 10-day cultural and tourism showcase set to unite people of African descent and lovers of African heritage from across the globe in Lagos.
The festival, slated for November 28 to December 6, 2025, will hold at La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Lagos State. It will spotlight Africa’s cultural richness, tourism capacity, and spirit of unity.
The President of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort and founder of the IPADA Initiative, Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye, said Africa’s advancement depends on unity and strategic collaboration, especially through tourism and cultural exchange.
During a review of the Initiative’s 2024 activities, he explained that IPADA was created to position Africa not as an isolated attraction, but as a single, unified global tourism destination.
Akinboboye noted that despite being the most naturally and culturally endowed continent, Africa continues to be seen as the poorest, a situation he attributes to fragmentation. Tourism, he insisted, cannot flourish in isolation but must be driven by strong intercontinental cooperation.
Describing Africa as “a father with 55 children who do not openly acknowledge him,” he called for African nations to consolidate their strengths for shared prosperity.
He explained that the IPADA Initiative aims to make Nigeria particularly Lagos and Abuja, a major access point for seamless exploration of the continent. Drawing an analogy with Europe’s Schengen system, he emphasized that Africa must begin projecting itself as a unified tourism bloc.
He pointed out that Europe drew 747 million visitors in 2024 despite its smaller size and limited climate appeal, while Africa has the potential to exceed that figure if united.
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Reviewing 2024 achievements, he described IPADA’s progress as “remarkable,” citing partnerships with six international bodies including the Government of Vanuatu and the Republic of Rwanda to replicate La Campagne’s eco-tourism model.
Other major highlights included the unveiling of From Slave Ships to Cruise Ships, a project reframing Africa’s historical narrative; plans for the Ubuntu Towers Project in Lekki; the launch of the Taraba Experience with five Agro-Ecotourism Heritage Resorts; and the establishment of Blossom Retreats for young women’s mentorship.
Akinboboye added that the annual IPADA Festival will now officially hold from November 29 to December 7 each year, serving as a “harvest period” for tourism outcomes.
Looking ahead to 2025, he said the emphasis will shift from large-scale celebrations to boosting daily tourism traffic, with a target of 100,000 visitors moving across Africa daily through the IPADA platform. The aim is to celebrate the rejuvenation of African tourism sites and transform attractions into sustainable wealth.
He highlighted agro and eco-tourism as vital for youth empowerment and rural development, stressing that agriculture must regain its value on the continent.
The Agro-Ecotourism Heritage Resort model, he explained, blends farming, recreation, and cultural education offering visitors immersive farm experiences and generating new income streams for local communities.
The 2025 IPADA Initiatives Celebration is expected to draw thousands of participants, strengthening cultural reconnection and affirming Africa’s position as a unified global tourism powerhouse.
Oluchi