Facelift for Akure

Akure, the Ondo State capital, is undergoing a major facelift certain to reinvigorate life in the once sleepy city, writes James Sowole

In the time past, it was a common thing for somebody driving along some major roads and streets in Akure, the Ondo State capital particularly at weekends to run into road blocks temporarily mounted by residents that are celebrating one form of event or the other.

The blocking of roads and streets are done without consideration on the need for vehicle to move in time of emergencies. This ugly practice on many occasions, had led to disruption of vehicular traffic as motorists were forced to look for alternative routes to their destination. In many cases, unnoticed diversion had led to physical confrontation among the people.

At a time, local government authorities give approvals to blocking of street roads as a means of generating revenue while sometimes it is done as a mark of respect for certain personalities particularly when a prominent person in an area dies or celebrating confirmation of chieftaincy titles.

However, things have changed for the better as people have embraced the use of open and locked event centres including playground of public primary and secondary schools to host their events. The use of schools’ playground has now become a source of internally generated revenue for those schools that have facilities to accommodate such event. In the time past, wedding receptions were held in assembly halls of secondary schools.

Observing that the use of public schools playground had been disrupting the normal school activities particularly on Fridays there are moves by the state government to stop the use of school facilities for social activities. The government has also been noting that the schools playground were being turned into other use apart from what they were made for.
In Lagos State, the government had outlawed holding of events in school premises and which some other states are considering now.

Apart from this, some hotels do have banquette halls which they give out for occasions. However, some people do not like using hotel banquette halls because they would not be able to bring in their foods and drinks unlike when they host their event outside hotel premises. Also, freedom to use some facilities are limited in hotels.

This is also the case in some event centres owned by churches as celebrants were restricted from serving alcohols during ceremonies.

The choice of a particular centre to use depends on budget and the type of event to be hosted. In many cases, wedding receptions are usually held in a closed event centres while burial ceremonies are held mostly in open fields. However, there is no law that specifies which type of place one can use for his or her event.

The embrace of decent and convenient places to host their events had been encouraging people who have the wherewithal to build event centres in Akure, the Ondo State capital. These centres are not built by only individuals as government agencies and churches, too have event centres as a source of generating revenue.

These centres, which are of different sizes and make are located in various parts of the metropolis and in the outskirts. From whichever points one enters, the state capital, these centres are sited in various sizes. As one enters from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) on Akure-Owo Highway, there are more than eight before one gets to Federal Government Girls College. Also, there are more than five as one moves towards the metropolis from the FUTA Junction before one gets to Oyemekun Grammar School just as many are located along Oda Road in the outskirt of the town.
One major feature of modern event centres is that they are air-conditioned and fitted with modern public address system.

In some cases those who hire a particular centre, dictate the colour of table and chair cover, which are charged together while owners of some event centres also provide catering services for their customers depending on the agreement.
One major advantage of using closed event centres is the ability of the organisers of event to control entry into the venue of event unlike in the case of open place where control can be difficult.

Another advantage derivable from using modern event centre is that it is a one stop place for hosting ceremonies. Unlike in the conventional and traditional place of event, organisers do not need to bother about looking for place to rent chairs, tables, canopies just as organisers need not to bother about storms disrupting their event that can happen if one uses open centre.

However, the establishment of event centres in Akure had been attracting comments from the people particularly when one considers those who owned most of the facilities. According to findings, some facilities were owned by politicians and civil servants not because of the money they will make immediately as rent from them but a way of tying down the money.

The proliferation had led to crash in the rent being charged due to competition as event planners have choices to make unlike the situation 10 years ago.
Owners and operators of some event centres, who spoke to THISDAY said there are several advantages when one has his or her event at a modern centre.

The owner of ABS Event Centre on the Akure-Owo Highway and which can sit up to 2,500 for a banquet and about 5,000 for other events, Alhaji Sikiru Basaru, said patronage of modern event centres was gradually coming up in the state capital due to convenience and safety of guests.
He said there were reports when rainstorm had disrupted ceremonies while some guests sustained injuries when canopies were affected.

He however said patronage depends on the size of the event place and number of guests being expected and the charges. He noted that this is why event centres that are smaller in size get more patronage than the big ones.
“As everybody knows, public power supply is not reliable. Even if it’s available at all, the current cannot power the air-conditioners. With that it means we have to rely on generator whenever event is holding here.

“We are using a 350 kva generator here. To start the generator at all, the minimum litres had been specified and anything below that would cause problem so this hall cannot be hired for small event and that is why the patronage for my facility is still low,” Basaru stated.
On some challenges being faced in the operation of those centres, owners of places visited by THISDAY lamented that several challenges like, power, multiple taxation by government agencies.
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