Nelson Mandela Park Keeping memories alive EMMANUEL OBE, who visited the Nelson Mandela Park and Gardens, Asaba, Delta State, captures its essence The Nelson Mandela Park and Gardens is located at the northeast corner of the new international airport along the Asaba – Benin expressway in Asaba, the Delta State capital. It is now a place flocked by residents and visitors in the Asaba and Onitsha axis of the country. The park, which is still being developed, was officially opened to the public last October by Ndaba, a grandson of the late South African legend, Nelson Mandela. But its gardens, built on a simulated map of Africa covering an area of about two hectares, have found attraction already for a potpourri of visitors – students, researchers, fun seekers and people who just want to escape the rigours of the neighbouring cities. Located approximately 20 kilometres from Onitsha, Mandela Park is at the same time a relaxant for those seeking to cool off from the pressure of the city and an academic stimulant for those seeking to protect and enjoy the environment. The beauty of the gardens can be well appreciated from the Asaba – Benin expressway, from where the greenery and shrubbery of the gardens give out a flawless blend of nature and artworks. There is an air of South Africa all about the place as one is confronted with the flags, and national colours of the former apartheid country. Lying tangential to the territory is a small stream, which the operators of the park say they are developing for fishing sport and conservation purposes. The events to make the park a reality began in July 2013 when in commemoration of the 95th birthday of Nelson Mandela, 95 trees of different species were planted by special guests including Governor Emmanuel Udaughan and the South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Mokgethi Sam Monaisa. Facilities already available include walkways, playgrounds, African huts, an information centre, bars and an aquatic zone. When our correspondent visited the park, pupils of a private secondary school were on excursion to the gardens. Also there were some family units taking shelter under one of the trees. The park is an initiative of Fight Against Desert Encroachment, a non-governmental organisation, committed to taming the Sahara Desert and restoring the fast depleting natural environment. FADE is doing it in partnership with Delta State Government, which provided the land. The chairman FADE, Dr. Newton Jibunoh, who is widely known as Nigeria’s environment ambassador, said on completion, the park would be a change centre for a lot of things relating to the environment. Jibunoh who has travelled across the Sahara Desert several times over in the last five decades said the park was concieved from his experience during the trips and international conferences he had attended on the environment. The Park Enquiry Officer, Genevieve Orji, told SUNDAY PUNCH that on completion, the park would house a library where the works of Nelson Mandela, other prominent world leaders and scholars would be available to the public. Already historical photographs and artistic works on Mandela, including that of the shirt used by him on the day he voted in the election that returned him as the President of South Africa are on display. The most prominent piece of art in the garden is a five-metre high statue of Mandela decked in suit with a raised fist situated at the centre of the garden. Orji said the statue was commissioned by the United Nations, and its replica can only be found in three other places in the world – Johannesburg, Washington DC and London. “The Chairman (Jibunoh) was at a UN conference where he was encouraged to come to Nigeria and erect the statue on the recognition of Nigeria as the greatest force that fought against apartheid minority rule in South Africa,” said. Other facilities at the centre include swimming pools, tennis courts, a zoological garden and playgrounds. The current development on site, according to her, comprises of an events centre, convention centre, exhibition/banquet hall. The location of the park right within the premises of the airport confers certain advantages on it. Orji said the suites, convention centre made it flexible for people travelling through the airport to relax. “They can hold their conferences and meetings here without stepping out of the airport. Those who might have flight problems can just stay over without going through the rigours of going into town. Jibunoh, in an interview said the park would be a base for championing the campaign to win back the environment. He added that he expected that people coming to Mandela Gardens would see the need to join the fight by FADE not just against desert encroachment but also all forms of degradation to the environment. He said, “It is not just what you get out of it today. But it’s also to retain those developments on a sustainable infrastructure so that those coming after us will have something to fall back on. “Our programmes, our initiatives are things that will be passed on to younger generations. You may know about desert warriors, an initiative that was started by FADE. “What are we doing with desert warriors, even though desert is very far away from us here in Asaba? But we have the effect of desert. The dust that comes down from the desert reaches Delta State. And that is known as desertification. “And it affects the ground condition. It affects the air you breathe. So, we started the desert warrior initiative mainly to take the younger generation through the desert to enable them have the effect, to enable them study and understand what the desert is doing, in not just only those countries bordering the Sahara Desert, but the effect it has on the whole nations in the sub-region. And that project is on-going. “Though the Sahara desert is not here, the effects of the deforestation it is causing is already here with us,” Jibunoh said, as he called on everyone south of the Sahara to sit up and protect the environment. “We are bringing in young environmentalists, young scientists. In the next few years, I don’t think I will be in a position to march on the way I have been marching. If we don’t contain it, one day we will be seeing the desert reaching Asaba.” He said the partnership of FADE and the Delta State Government has a lot to do with education and research, which is in line with the Delta Beyond Oil policy of the state government. “Here, we are going to have a library and recreational centres like a mini-zoo, where students from various institutions can come to carry out a number of researches.” The Chief of Staff to the Delta State Governor, Dr. Festus Okubor, said in going into partnership with FADE, the state government realised that the world of today is about partnerships. “South Africa has experienced the benefits of a legend like Mandela. We want to key into it. Mandela was an icon to the whole world. Delta State is domesticating it here with this project and using this opportunity to open up to the outer world,” Okubor said. He praised the patronage of the project of the South African embassy in Nigeria and expressed the desire that the American government would follow. An SS2 student of Faith Academy, Chisom Udogu, who was at the park on excursion, said he and his colleagues were impressed by the airy and green nature of the park. “I expect to come around when they are through with the zoo and aquatic zone. I want to see a lion and a crocodile,” Udogu said. Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: editor@punchng ift.tt/1uc0svI ift.tt/1uc0p2Y [[Boost your social presence with NAIRALIKES nairalikes ]] #nigeria x #nairalikes #vanguardng
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 23:43:29 +0000
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