A Canadian-based hotelier, Mr. Oluwafemi Ayeyemi, has announced that the soon to be completed Feliza Hotel and Suites in Obada-Oko, Ogun State, will create employment opportunities for at least 100 youths within and beyond the host community.
Ayeyemi disclose this on Monday while taking journalists on a project tour of his multi-billion-naira hotel facility located in Ijeja community, Obada-Oko, in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the over N3 billion hospitality project, which is scheduled for commissioning in November 2025, is poised to significantly boost economic activity in the area and contribute to the transformation of the state’s tourism and hospitality landscape.
The 62-room luxury hotel, featured amenities including a modern elevator, swimming pool, spa and gym centre, industrial air conditioning system, three mini conference halls, and a 2,500-capacity event centre.
Ayeyemi recounted the challenges faced during the early stages of the project, noted that he was initially discouraged from investing in Nigeria after his first house at Laderin was demolished in 2016 for a railway project, without compensation, despite having all the necessary documents.
Ongoing construction at the hotel site
“I was first discouraged to do anything in Nigeria again because my first house was demolished at Laderin in 2016 for the construction of the railway line without any compensation despite having all title documents.
“Later in 2017, my father encouraged me to do something and rise again. That’s why I consulted a few of my friends in Nigeria on a thriving business, and they advised me to invest in hospitality. That’s when we started this project”he explained.
Drawing from his experience in Canada, Ayeyemi said he ensured the hotel was constructed using only high-quality, modern equipment and infrastructure that meet global standards.
However, he lamented the poor road network in the Ijeja community, appealing to Governor Dapo Abiodun to prioritize the construction of the Ijeja railway road in Obada-Oko.
He decried the lack of social amenities as factors discouraging many Nigerians in diaspora and foreign investors to invest in the country.
The young business tycoon noted that the majority of his colleagues in the US and Europe are scared of investing their resources due to the multifaceted challenges affecting Nigeria economy.
“In developed countries, access roads are the first step before any major construction begins. Here, it is the opposite. We hope that this facility will draw government attention and spur infrastructural development in the area,” he stated.
Ayeyemi also called on fellow Nigerians in the diaspora to return home and support development efforts, stressing that government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of nation building.
“I want to use this medium to appeal to our people abroad to come home and develop this country. We can not leave the development of this country to the government alone. The government should also encourage us by providing the necessary basic amenities for businesses to thrive.”
In her remarks, the wife of Canadian-based hotel investor, Mrs Elizabeth Ayeyemi appealed to the Nigerian government to prioritize security and infrastructure development in order to attract more investors into the country.
“My advice for the government is that they should please help everybody out,” she said. “A lot of people want to invest in this country, but because of the insecurity, they are scared. If the government can fix the roads and improve security, many more people will come and invest in this country.”
Addressing concerns about the hotel’s staffing plans, Mrs. Ayeyemi emphasized that the hotel’s operations both during and after construction would be entirely managed by Nigerians.
“A lot of people ask whether we are hiring foreigners to manage this hotel, but we’ve made it clear no, we are only hiring Nigerians.
“Everyone working on this project, from contractors to engineers, are Nigerians. And when the hotel becomes operational, all staff will be Nigerians as well,” she affirmed.
