Year-on-year excellent performance, rewards sustained investments, long concession at Ikogosi – GM

As global destinations prepare to host tourists this summer, a Nigerian eco-tourism destination is beckoning for visits as well.

From its rare natural occurrence, tranquil environment, world-class facilities, and to other leisure trappings, Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort is well-positioned to receive and excite guests with its enthralling offerings across the year.

Tucked in a breathtaking tropical enclave in Ekiti, South-West Nigeria, the resort, which hosts the confluence of warm and cold water springs, one of the rarest across the world, has witnessed sustained investments resulting in huge facility upgrade, improvement on the pristine landscape, sustainable energy, product enhancement, skills development and broadening of its leisure offerings.

The above all happened within a short period of time as the resort was uninhabitable about four years ago.

“This place was completely dead when we came in. Then, one couldn’t stay here for one hour, the roof was falling off and we couldn’t even enter. But we were able to fix and restore the resort, even better, within a short period,” Lanre Sharafa Balogun, general manager, Glocient Hospitality, noted.

The general manager, who is leading a team of committed hospitality professionals in the turnaround exercise and sustainability of the feats in the last four years, gave credit to Cavista Holdings, the parent company and Niyi John Olajide, a Nigerian-born American entrepreneur and the group’s chairman, for believing in hospitality and in Nigeria against all odds.

He recalled that Cavista Holdings, the parent company of Glocient Hospitality, signed the concession agreement for the resort with the Ekiti State government in October 2022, took over the resort in December 2022, and commenced project upgrade with a mission to make Ikogosi a premier resort in the world.

“Our goal at Glocient Hospitality is to transform moribund assets in Nigeria’s tourism industry into profitable businesses, national treasures and attractions.

“A blueprint of that is Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, which is better experienced as you are experiencing it now,” he disclosed.

Looking back four years ago, Sharafa, who brings to bear in his role, over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry across international hotel brands including the Radisson Hotel Group, insisted that putting your money where your heart is and getting professionals to do their work have worked for the resort.

He attributed the quick turnaround and sustained feats at the resort in the last four years to the sustained investment for facility upgrade and the understanding that return on investment should not be the priority now, rather sustainability.

That focus on sustainability is becoming more pronounced at the resort with the huge investment being made currently especially on sustainable energy.

Speaking recently in the resort, the general manager commended the huge investment on renewable energy by the parent company, which has ensured stable electricity supply, cleaner energy, and most importantly, huge savings on power cost.

“When you came last year, I am sure we did not have an alternative source of energy. Then, we had diesel as our backup. Now we have invested close to $200,000 in renewable energy. This saves us 12 hours every day.

“The savings we are making with the benchmark of our 500 kVA is over half a billion naira in a year,” he said, detailing the savings.

He noted that the above feat has made it possible for the guests to enjoy the resort’s facilities without noticing any interruption in power supply as the solar power and battery alternatives are efficient and changeover is automatic.

“The procurement and installation of the renewable energy sources cost huge money to ensure value for money offerings for our esteemed guests. But the improvement and investments in the resort are across board and will continue. We will continue to upgrade,” he assured.

Also, there is an ongoing expansion project for the accommodation offerings at Camp A section of the resort, which mainly caters to staff members with 32 rooms being upgraded, amid other facilities for the guests too. When completed, the general manager assured that the resort will offer much more thrills in one destination.

However, the Camp A accommodation offering is in addition to other existing ones, with the most recent being the Presidential Villa in Camp C, commissioned by Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, last year.

It will also complement new facilities such as the Tree House, Nature Park, Basketball court, Volleyball court, five-a-side football pitch, among others.

Also, in addition to the 92 saleable rooms are the rejuvenating thermal swimming pool, pool bar, restaurant, spa, amphitheater, hiking trails, bush camp, boardwalk, landscaped areas, fish pond, vegetable farm, among others.

Sharafa stated that investments in meetings and conferencing are yielding fruits as many corporate organisations and government agencies are increasingly booking for retreats, seminars and workshops.

From the John McGee Hall that accommodates up to 100 guests, to the spacious CAVISTA Banquet Hall that hosts events for up to 260 guests, Sharafa noted that the emphasis on the Meetings Incentives Conference and Events (MICE) industry is obvious at Ikogosi.

Beyond hospitality, Glocient has also invested in farming, like Cavista Holdings, its parent company, that operates Agbayewa Farms, one of the largest cassava farms in Nigeria.

“We grow the vegetables we eat here. There is no waste here because waste is being consumed. The food waste; yam peel, banana peel are used to feed our livestock here”.

He described the resort’s operation as a sustainable ecosystem, pointing out that the water used in the resort is pure spring water. “The rooms you stay in, the water you drink, the water you use to take a shower is spring water. No chemicals in the swimming pool,” he said.

But within the four years in business, Glocient Hospitality has put up sustained performance, occupancy and review wise year-on-year.

“In 2024, our growth was about 1.7 percent. We more than doubled our revenue in 2025, and 2026 is looking even greater in terms of revenue,” the general manager said.

For him, yes, money is being made, and the growth is evident. But the focus is less profit, and more of sustainability in business. “We are getting to the sustainability level”.

The investment model, according to him, is a bit different from what is obtainable out there. “We make huge investments and money from them, but we reinvest most of these investments in the business. The investments we made are what we are using to improve the resort further”.

Sharafa also confessed that the company has been enjoying government’s support since the signing of the multi-year concession agreement in 2022. “We always say that the government has no business in business. But what it can do is to create an enabling environment for businesses like ours, and investors like ours, to thrive. That is just what the Ekiti State government has done in the Ikogosi resort case,” he said.

According to him, “The government is impressed by what we have been able to do”. Apart from turning around the resort in a short period, another thing Glocient has done that impressed the government is job creation for the locals.

“We have employed over 230 staff members. Almost 70 percent of the staff are female. Over 60 percent of them are from the community,” he said.

Explaining the focus on job creation, he noted that it is in line with the mission of Nyi John Olajide, chairman, Cavista Holdings, to create jobs, more jobs and even more jobs for the people.

“That is empowerment for the host community, for neighbouring communities, for Ekiti State and for the Nigerian hospitality industry as professionals are being employed from other places to train others here”.

He also noted that some indigenous people, who were part of those trained at the early part of the transformation as plumbers, electricians, masons, POP, tilers, among other artisanal skills, now work for the resort, especially in the maintenance section.

“These are people that were doing nothing, that were area boys in the town. One of them took me to his house and I was shocked that a boy that once had no life is a breadwinner”.

The above is the summary of it all, according to Sharafa; doing business with human face, breeding hospitality professionals, empowering staff members to empower more people and the host community at large.

In his conclusion, he urged Nigerians to show love to their country, especially with positive stories as the insecurity challenge is often taken out of context.

“We have great offerings, great resorts and a great country. All we need to do is to look inwards and patronize more Nigerian offerings like Ikogosi resort,” he said.