The Lagos State Government cannot wait to see the JK Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History in Onikan come on stream but the builders are also promising to deliver it soon.
Studio Imagine Simply Architecture, the Principal Consultant on the reconstruction started during the Ambode administration, whichthe Sanwo-Olu government has since continued working on, says the inspiring arena will be completed by August.
Mr Damilare Ojewole, representative of the firm, disclosed this when officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, House of Assembly members and some tourism stakeholders visited the site during a familiarisation tour to tourism sites across the state on Wednesday.
The tour tagged, “bestoflagosfamtour22”, was organised by the ministry to familiarise tourism stakeholders and tourists generally with the sites for improved patronage.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Centre was orginally built in 1928. It used to serve as a hub for cultural tourism, recreation and entertainment. Its reconstruction started in 2018.
Ojewole said that the first phase of the construction which had to do with civil works, would be completed in May while the second and final phase which had to do with installation of artefacts, would be fully completed by August.
He said that the tourist attractions in the edifice comprised of swimming pools, restaurants, museum with artefacts, outdoor birthday party arena, tour stands among others.
“Other segments of the edifice are offices, seminar rooms, library, orientation theatre and more.
“The entire edifice will be fully constructed and ready for inauguration by August, we know the public is waiting to experience what we have in stock here.
“We have swimming pools for children and adults with standardised measurement and half of the Olympic size,” he said.
Ojewole said that the state government had also put the physically challenged individuals into consideration as there were plans to install the disable lift , which would aid their movements around the Centre.
Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, said that the state government had done everything necessary for the tourism site to be ready as they await the construction companies to do the needful.
She urged tour operators and other stakeholders in the industry to ensure proper marketing of the site as soon as it is completed.
“We have done everything needed of us as government, we are only waiting for these people to complete the construction.
“We have brought you here as stakeholders in the industry so that you can market it to the world.
“We want you to start marketing it as soon as the project is completed, so that we can have the desired traffic here,” she said.
Mr Idris Jadesinmi, a representative of Kaisa Construction, firm in charge of the main reconstruction , also said that the Centre would be ready by August, after which it would be inaugurated by the state government.
NAN reports that the team had earlier visited the Afrika Shrine, Freedom Park, Ikeja Bus Terminal and the Oshodi Bus Terminal.
Other tourist sites will be visited in the course of the 3-day tour.
