The ancient city of Badagry is set to witness another transformation with the proposed African Creative City, an innovative and sustainable green city initiated to offer a rewarding experience, especially for African-Americans.
The city, which would turn out to be a property masterpiece, is also known as the ‘Fatherland Badagry Creative City’ and is owned by Messrs Fatherland Global Corporation.
The city is a proposed residential estate of 500 housing units located at Agonrin Sea Beach, Badagry West Local Area of Lagos.
Badagry community in Lagos near Seme – on the Nigerian border with Benin Republic – is already rich with history and a natural tourist haven which remains untapped till today.
Recent investments in the Badagry area, including the discovery of oil, the ongoing reconstruction of the Lagos-Badagry expressway, and the proposed deep seaport, among others, have made the community a natural real estate destination .
Current developments in that axis are the Adron Homes’ Emirates Park and Gardens located a few minutes from Badagry Heritage Museum; the Badagry Homes, among others which have made the city come alive.
And now the Fatherland Creative City is joining to add to the rising investment value of Badagry.
Fatherland is currently one huge construction site, expected to be completed in 2026.
The city, according to the developer, Babatunde Oralusi, “will offer entertainment, education, tourism, and luxury diaspora residential villas, where subscribers can live, work and play in an extraordinarily cutting-edge, innovative, ecological, and sustainable green city.”
The project is a partnership between Fatherland Global Corporation, the United States, Nigerian Capital Development Fund, and ForeMedia Group Inc.
“The facility provides a rare opportunity to purchase a state-of-the-art, exclusive one, two, three, or four bedrooms, off-plan villa or maisonette, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean front,” said Oralusi.
He explained that the project was conceived many years ago when the Michael Jackson family came to Nigeria and were able to identify that they were from Badagry, and their forebear was taken as a slave to the United States. It was proposed then, to create a centre in Badagry for Africans in the diaspora or African-Americans to know more about their roots, but Michael Jackson died but the project which couldn’t see the light of day is now a reality.
The Fatherland Complex, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and glorious golden beaches is an African-American village that invites African descendants to explore the true African experience, its wonderful unique culture, and values, making it a global entertainment and tourist destination which in turn promises to bring more revenue and recognition to Nigeria.
“The choice of Badagry is quite deliberate,” said Oralusi. “To all intents and purposes, it is a beautiful, historical region that is renowned for being the largest slave port in West Africa,” he added.
According to the promoters, the objective of the Fatherland project in the cultural and historical city of Badagry is to link African descendants in the West who feel a deep bond and love for the African culture, the holistic stress-free environment, the vast scenic beauty, and the uplifting fresh air back to their origin.
“All have been put in place for the comfort of those interested in purchasing a fabulous villa as a holiday home, a rental investment, a home away from home, a retirement house, or those willing to move permanently from overseas,” he said.
Daily Trust gathered that the rich environment at the Creative City boasts of world-class amenities including wonderful, extensive gardens and parks with water attractions and exciting play areas for children; outdoor and indoor swimming pools; a luxury park; wellness and longevity centre; a gym; basketball, squash, and tennis courts; golf, jogging and cycling tracks.
Also available are a shopping mall, with brands to rival the best of the bests; a multi-screen luxury cinema, a theatre; a library; meeting/club rooms; service areas; the police and fire brigade stations; banking facilities; health facilities; schools for all age groups; a children’s club and varieties of restaurants and cafeterias offering a wide range of options of local and international cuisine.
Oralusi added, “Making the Fatherland even more fascinating is the beach lifestyle with emerald, green manicured lawns surrounded by ethereal waterfalls, fountains, trees, flowers, and bushes.
“Adding to the glorious experience are the welcoming cafes and open bars designed with natural décor from the Nigerian cultural heritage; picnic areas with natural, eco-friendly wooden park furniture; barbecue stations; shaded areas with tables and chairs for working on a laptop or reading newspaper or paperback.
“Included in the appealing city are the welcoming hotspots for fishing, swimming, boating, water sports like water and jet skiing, and recreational areas which offer table tennis, first-rate sports fields for baseball and basketball, a top-class golf course, high-end tennis courts, a horse-riding school, a cycle lane, and a running/jogging track.”
The African-American village was designed by leading architects and engineers and has been described as an architectural masterpiece and the perfect destination for leisure, entertainment, and luxury living.
And according to Oralusi, the masterstroke of the Fatherland is the “West Africa Theme Park” to promote a better understanding of Africa and forge stronger links between Mother Africa and its Diaspora.
“Therefore, Fatherland is poised to appreciate in value for all investors as soon as the development of the $2.59 billion Badagry Deep Seaport and other projects begin.
The promoters further said investors can purchase property as a buy-to-let which will substantially increase their rental income due to the anticipated 250,000 jobs that the new project is likely to create.
Fatherland Global Corporation is a holding company incorporated in Delaware and operates from New York, Atlanta, Florida, London, Dublin, Lagos, and others.
A real estate expert, Mr Taiwo Muili, believes Badagry, which was considered a no-go area before, would witness even more transformation after the completion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, providing an alternative for Lagos residents to run away from the rising rental rates in Lagos metropolis.
