Each country’s skyline is defined by her most iconic structures, be they natural or constructed. This is part of what determines the volume and quality of tourists that visit country, constantly.
Tourists visit some countries just to see iconic projects, or monuments. The Flames of Azerbaijan and Burj Khalifa, Dubai are two iconic projects that define the skylines of and confer dignity on their host nations – Azerbaijan and Dubai.
While some countries are famous for their religious/cultural landmarks, others are known for their man-made icons, such as the Statue of Liberty, New York, United States, the Eiffel Tower, Paris, and the Little Mermaid, Copenhagen, Denmark, to mention a few examples.
Nigeria’s efforts at scripting her name and skyline in the roll of international landmarks is traceable to 1997 with the famous national theatre, purposely built for the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC). Hosting the world was always going to be a big issue and Nigeria had to show her might on this occasion after Senegal (Dakar) hosted the maiden edition in 1966. An event where over 16,000 people were expected to participate, gave Nigeria a befitting national theatre and an housing estate.
Forty years down the line, it has taken a private initiative to attempt redefining, or improving on the Lagos skyline and the Nigerian national identity. The Oceanna – born of the Ocean, is springing up at the Atlantic Oceanside on Victoria Island, Lagos, it is an ambitious project aimed at redefining luxury, being championed by the Grenadines Homes, a member of the Palton Morgan Holdings.
Adeyinka Adesope, group man director, Palton Morgan Holdings, shares the vision behind The Oceanna. “We looked at Nigeria in the comity of nations and asked, ‘how do we make our little contribution to dignifying her and contributing to the economy from our segment?’ The dream is to hoist the green-white-green proudly high among other national iconic projects that distinguish their host countries.”
Armed with this dream, Grenadines Homes’ management had to study the Nigerian estate industry in comparison with what shaped other countries’ image profiles via the skyline and opted to trust the Nigerian dream to globally proven professionals and consultants.
Adesope said: “Having grown up knowing the national theatre as Nigeria’s landmark identity and watching it lose flavour to quality management, got us thinking about how to deliver a befitting landmark development, to fuel national pride, aspiration and help discerning people find their place in history. That’s what gave birth to The Oceanna.”
This idea, already entrusted to leading and proven professionals and consultants across the world has come with its little pleasant surprises.
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