By Peter Dansu In a renewed push to elevate Badagry’s tourism profile and unlock its full developmental potential, Prince Olu Kosoko, Chairm...
By Peter Dansu
In a renewed push to elevate Badagry’s tourism profile and unlock its full developmental potential, Prince Olu Kosoko, Chairman of the Badagry Tourism Development Centre, Aremo of Iworo Kingdom, and founder of the Olu Kosoko Foundation, hosted a high-level strategic meeting over the weekend in Abuja.
The session brought together some of Badagry’s brightest minds and technocrats — including celebrated filmmaker and culture advocate Viyon Awhanse, enterprise risk management expert Olufemi Iroko, and trade development professional David Opeyemi-Oke. The focus of the meeting was the upcoming Badagry Tourism Development Centre (BTDC) initiative — a bold and forward-looking project aimed at transforming Badagry into a vibrant hub for tourism, investment, and cultural innovation.
Speaking after the meeting, Viyon Awhanse, founder of the My Badagry My Future International Foundation (MBMF) and Badagry International Film Cultural & Sports Festival (BIFIF), expressed his passion for using creativity and unity as tools for transformation.
“We all possess an inherent capacity for greatness; I have embraced and am living up to that potential,” Awhanse said, stressing the importance of originality and purpose. “Our originality is our power. If we can harness our unique talents and work together, we can create extraordinary change — not just in Badagry, but across Nigeria and the world.”
Awhanse praised his fellow collaborators, including Babatunde Ajose, Olufemi Iroko, and Opeyemi, describing them as “invaluable assets not only to Badagry but to humanity.” He emphasized that with such unity of purpose, “the future of our dear Badagry is non-negotiable.”
The meeting concluded on a powerful and emotional note with a unified declaration:
We are from Badagry.
We are Unique.
We are the Future.
My Badagry, My Future.
Awhanse also reaffirmed his commitment to the vision: “We will continue to give our best in making our Badagry visible, attractive, and get the right attention.”
Each participant at the table brought a distinct set of skills and experience. Viyon Awhanse is a seasoned media entrepreneur, heading Saveoviyon Company and Gbagi Communication Ltd, known for high-quality audiovisual content. Olufemi Iroko, a certified Enterprise Risk Management Professional, was the pioneer ERM manager at Julius Berger Group and now serves the Federal Government of Nigeria in strategic capacities. His training programs have impacted over 30,000 youths nationwide, a feat that earned him recognition from the Ooni of Ife.
David Opeyemi-Oke, currently Head of Trade Services at the World Trade Centre Abuja, has built a strong profile in international trade facilitation and youth mentorship. Meanwhile, Prince Olu Kosoko, a business consultant with over 15 years of experience, continues to blend his expertise in development and leadership with his passion for community advancement.
As the team prepares to roll out the BTDC project, expectations are high that their collaborative efforts will reposition Badagry as a key destination for tourism, culture, and inclusive economic growth.
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