By Ovie Okpare
Olomu, one of the ancient kingdoms in Urhoboland, came alive last week when dignitaries from all walks of life stormed Ovwodokpokpor, one of the communities in the kingdom for the opening of a multi-million-naira River Beach and Farm Resort, Jakesville57.
Jakesville57 River Beach and Farm Resort, spanning over acres of land, is established by a retired Exploration Manager with Chevron, Olorogun Jacob Diedjomahor, an Olomu senior chief.
Jakesville57 is the biggest and most sophisticated resort connected with security and good network of roads from Ughelli and Warri areas of the state.
The opening ceremony also commemorated Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary on Thursday October 1 with children, parents and fun-seekers coming to catch grip of the scintillating Jakesville57 natural environment.
Dignitaries led by the 103-year-old Ohworode of Olomu and chairman, Forum of Urhobo Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Ovie Richard Layeguen Ogbon, Oghoro 1.
Also, in attendance is the chairman, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Prince Austin Enajemo-Isire; President, Urhobo Social Club (USC), Olorogun Edoreh Agbah; VME Emmanuel Evue (chairman of the event), Engr. Alex Neyin, Engr. Mike Orugbo, popular columnist, Mr. Francis Ewherido and former Delta Commissioner, Mr. Tony Omonemu.
Why I Came Home To Invest – Diedjeomahor, Jakesville57 Owner
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the owner of Jakesville57 Resort, Diedjeomahor, told dignitaries that the resort is a replica of a beach resort he visited in London before his retirement.
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According to him, “Jakesville57 is meant give you the kind of comfort you get at home and much more. Those of you from Warri, Lagos and other urban centres can attest, even if grudgingly, that the kind of fresh air you have been breathing since you arrived in Ovwodokpokpor is different from the polluted air in the cities.
“Jakesville57 offers you a variety: a large open event arena for trade exhibitions and other outdoor events including open air parties, two executive conference halls with sitting capacities up to 100, a modern and exclusive bar and grill, a sports bar and viewing centre, two large gazebos for outdoor sitting and parties, several standard and well-furnished rooms, an exclusive restaurant with assorted dishes, two Olympic size swimming pools with a delineated children’s session, a games centre, a well secured parking space for up to 100 cars, a mini mart for your needs and an exquisite boutique for easy shopping.
“Jakesville57 also has children playground, artificial beaches and numerous fish lakes and farms. We guarantee you maximum security and 24-hour power supply. Shortly we shall do a tour round the resort to enable you see for yourselves.”
Diedjeomahor, who is also the current President-General of Ovwodokpokpor-Olomu community further stated that, “I have always been interested and involved in the development of Ovwodokpokpor, where I am currently the President General of Ovwodokpokpor Development Union. Before my retirement, I had gone into farming (cash crops, poultry, fishery and piggery) and upon retirement, I increased the scope of my farming activities and other economic endeavours in Ovwodokpokpor.
“I also started spending more time in Ovwodokpokpor. But I was still restless. I wanted to do more. In my restlessness, I remembered a resort I once visited in 2006 in London. It was in a very serene rural setting. Then it struck me I could do a similar thing in Ovwodokpokpor. Welcome to the birth of Jakesville57, a river beach resort and farms.
“People have asked me, why sink hundreds of millions into a project like this in Ovwodokpokpor? Will it be economically viable? Can you recoup your investment? The responses are: If not Ovwodokpokpor, where? If not me, who will help develop Ovwodokpokpor? No good businessman goes into a business venture to lose; I have done my homework. But beyond pure business sense, it is very important to give back to the community it has pleased God that I should come from.
“The perfect God, who made me an Ovwodokpokpor man has a reason for doing so. I believe part of my mission on earth is ultimately to leave my community a better place than I met it, which brings me to another question: if not now, when? I am retired. I had a distinguished career in Chevron. I am now a grandfather. God has been kind to me. All that is left is service to my people.”
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He commended the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, Olomu traditional chiefs, Urhobo Social Club and the people of Ovwodokpokpor community for supporting the dream of building a world-class resort in Delta State.
This’ A Dream Come True – Ohworode Of Olomu
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the king of Olomu, Oghoro 1, while praising Diedjeomahor for returning home to establish a magnificent resort in Olomu and Urhoboland, call on prominent Urhobo sons and daughter to emulate the gesture.
The 103-year-old traditional ruler further said he was happy that he witnessed the opening of the resort, stressing that it will turnaround the fortunes of Olomu people for good.
He called on Urhobo people especially the youths to support their kinsmen who are returning home to invest in the development of Urhoboland.
Jakesville57 Is A ‘Dubai’ In Delta – NSITF Boss, Enajemo-Isire
NSITF chairman, Prince Austin Enajemo-Isire, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, described Jakesville57 River Beach and Farm Resort as a ‘Dubai’ in Delta.
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Enajemo-Isire said, “This is Dubai in Nigeria, which in my opinion, will save many wise Nigerians and other Tourists their hard-earned resources to procure airfares and hard currency for a trip to the Middle East of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Europe as well as Disney land of Florida, USA.
“Your action and vision are worthy of commendation, considering the current insecurity challenges in different communities and the country at large. A time when many people of great ideas and means distant themselves from their home state and their father land for fear of their lives. I salute your courage.”
In his remark, chairman of the occasion, Olorogun Evue, who expressed delight in the siting of the resort in Urhoboland, called on the Delta State Government to support the resort by patronising and providing security for the area.
He noted that the success of Jakesville57 resort will attract more prominent Deltans to return home to invest in the development of Delta and their communities.
Evue further commended Olorogun Diedjomahor for his courage and business understanding, calling on the people of the area to turnaround the economy of the area.
