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one, two hours relaxing and
they end up spending the
whole day. We have several
packages that is new to the
Abuja people, the experience
is different. You can take a
boat cruise across the lake in
five, thirty minutes then you
feel like you are out of town.
There are different cuisines,
local and continental, a little
beach environment where
kids love to play. We are
amazed at the way Abuja has
accepted us.
Are there improvements
you want to see in the
Nigerian tourism space?
We have been lucky that the
tourism space, being run by
the NTDC, has supported us.
They have always been with
us, they have showcased
what we have to offer. They
have given us referrals and
brought initiatives that we
have had to align with and
created awareness. I feel
government can still do more
for young people. For the
JBC space, we have invited
different creative across
fashion, food, arts and its just
a place where everybody can
come interact, make friends
and make money.
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How will you describe the
growth of Abuja’s lifestyle
space?
What major work does
the government have
I have been here for twenty in the lifestyle and
years and I have seen the tourism space?
town evolve and I can say
the opportunities are more
ahead of us. Twenty years
ago, the things we see now
were not there. People have
travelled and come back.
People have migrated from
cities around Nigeria and
come to Abuja. So it is a mix
of different ideas, people and
cultures and the potentials
are getting better as the day
passes by especially with the
youth. The youths think faster,
they are smarter at thinking,
they are more innovative
and only have to embrace
ourselves and embrace the
youths and come up with a
better society. The tourism
industry is amazing. We have
only been here for one year
and it seems we have been
here for ages. We encourage
tourism practitioners to come
up with initiatives like this
to make Abuja a better place
for people to relax and enjoy
themselves.
Financing
startups
in
this industry helps a lot.
Government needs to do
more, be more engaging.
We try to bring them close
and they have been quite
responsive.
What is the Jabi Boat
Club experience for a
visitor?
Our location is idyllic, serene.
People want to come out
somewhere to meditate, think
about their future, set goals
and this environment is one
where people can clear their
head and relax. One of the
things I have done to attract
people is to provide content
at the JBC. Providing things
that appeal to the youths,
the watercraft, the fishing
club, the jet skiing club, the
rowing club. People come
and play team games like the
volleyball on our little beach
environment