As cities across Africa continue to evolve, the conversation on urban development is increasingly shifting beyond infrastructure to the experiences that make urban spaces vibrant, memorable, and economically resilient. Through its upcoming waterfront development at Jabi Lake, Akida Hills is seeking to contribute to that conversation by creating a destination that brings together leisure, hospitality, entertainment, and public life.
In this interview with ROYALIBEH, the founder, KAYODEBAMISILE, shares the thinking behind the project, the opportunities it presents for West Africa, and why destination-led development is becoming an important part of the future of African cities. Excerpt…
Akida Hills recently announced plans to transform part of the Jabi Lake waterfront into a major leisure and tourism destination. What inspired this vision, and what future are you trying to create through this project?
For us, inspiration came from recognising that great cities are defined not only by the infrastructure they build but also by the experiences they create. The places people remember are the places where they gather, celebrate, relax, and connect with one another.
Jabi Lake has always had that potential. We saw an opportunity to create a destination that celebrates one of Abuja’s greatest natural assets while introducing experiences that are still largely unavailable in Nigeria today. Whether someone comes for an evening by the water, a concert, a cultural event, exceptional dining, or simply to enjoy the waterfront, there should always be a reason to return.
Ultimately, we are creating more than a development. We are helping shape a destination that becomes part of Abuja’s identity and one of the experiences people immediately associate with the city for generations to come.
Jabi Lake is one of Abuja’s most recognisable natural assets. What made it the right location for a destination of this scale, and what opportunity did you see in unlocking its potential?
Jabi Lake already possesses qualities that many cities spend decades trying to create. It combines a remarkable natural setting with strong accessibility, surrounding commercial activity, and widespread public recognition. What it needed was a more intentional vision for how people engage with it.
We believed the waterfront deserved to become more than a scenic backdrop. It has the potential to become one of Abuja’s defining public destinations, complementing its role as Nigeria’s capital while encouraging people to spend more time by the lake and experience the city in new ways.
Our philosophy has always been to work with the natural environment rather than compete with it. The lake remains the centrepiece, while every aspect of the development is designed to enhance, rather than overwhelm, its character.
The project will feature West Africa’s first dancing musical fountain. What role do landmark attractions play in creating destinations that people remember and return to?
People rarely remember cities by their buildings alone. They remember the moments they experienced there.
Landmark attractions create those moments. They give destinations their identity, encourage repeat visits, and become part of a city’s shared memory.
The dancing musical fountain has been designed as one of those defining experiences for Jabi Lake. By combining music, water, light, and technology, it creates something that families, visitors, and tourists can enjoy together.
We wanted to create an attraction that becomes woven into Abuja’s cultural story rather than simply adding another feature to a development.
Across the world, the most successful destinations are recognised by experiences that become instantly associated with them. We believe the fountain will become one of those signature experiences, supported by dining, recreation, events and year-round programming that ensures a visit offers something different.
The development combines entertainment, dining, water experiences, events, and public leisure spaces. How did you approach designing a destination that appeals to residents, tourists, and international visitors alike?
One of the greatest challenges was creating a waterfront that feels just as relevant to someone who visits every week as it does to someone experiencing Abuja for the very first time.
Rather than designing one audience, we created a layered destination where different experiences naturally complement one another.
Someone may visit for dinner, another for a family outing, and another for a business event, while others come specifically for the waterfront attractions.
The best destinations never feel empty because different people use them for different reasons throughout the day and throughout the year. Our ambition was to create a place that continually evolves with people’s lives, giving them new reasons to return again and again.
Around the world, successful cities have transformed waterfronts into economic and cultural hubs. What lessons from global destination models informed your approach to Jabi Lake?
We studied successful waterfront destinations across several continents, including places such as the V&A Waterfront and EpicCentral, not to replicate them but to understand the principles behind their long-term success.
What stood out was that the most successful waterfronts are ultimately about people rather than buildings. They remain vibrant because they combine culture, leisure, commerce, hospitality, and continuous programming in ways that encourage visitors to stay, return, and create lasting memories.
Those principles shaped our thinking, but our ambition has always been to create something that feels authentically Nigerian and true to Abuja. The lake remains at the heart of the destination, while every experience has been carefully designed to complement its natural setting and reflect the city’s aspirations.
Abuja has continued to grow as a business and diplomatic capital. How do you see a destination like this contributing to the city’s next phase of growth and its position as a leading African city?
Abuja has firmly established itself as Nigeria’s political and diplomatic capital. The next chapter is about becoming a city that people actively choose to experience, not simply one they visit for official business.
Today, cities compete not only through infrastructure but also through the quality of life and experiences they offer. The modern visitor economy is built on memorable experiences. People remember where they spent their evenings, where they discovered something unexpected, and where they chose to extend their stay.
We believe destinations like this strengthen Abuja’s international appeal by expanding its leisure and tourism offering while giving residents even more reasons to enjoy their own city. Over time, projects like these contribute to a stronger visitor economy, greater investment, and a richer urban identity.
Beyond the visitor experience, what economic impact do you anticipate from the development, particularly for local businesses, entrepreneurs, hospitality operators, and employment?
Leisure is often viewed as something separate from economic development, but in reality, it is one of its strongest drivers. The places where people choose to spend their free time are often the places where businesses grow, entrepreneurs find opportunities, and local economies flourish.
Every successful destination creates value beyond its own boundaries. Alongside construction, operations, and long-term employment, there is an entire ecosystem that benefits. Restaurants, retailers, hotels, event organisers, transport providers, creative professionals, artisans, and small businesses all thrive when visitor numbers increase and people spend more time within an area.
Our ambition is for the Jabi waterfront to become an economic catalyst for Abuja. Every additional visitor creates opportunities across multiple sectors, and that wider impact is ultimately one of the most important measures of success.
Building a destination of this scale requires expertise beyond traditional real estate. What capabilities and partnerships are necessary to bring a project like this to life?
Projects of this scale demand expertise that extends far beyond traditional real estate. Alongside architecture and engineering, they require knowledge of hospitality, tourism, entertainment, environmental planning, technology, operations, landscape design, and long-term destination management.
Just as importantly, they require partners who understand that this is not simply a construction project. Successful destinations are never truly finished. They continue evolving long after construction ends, responding to changing expectations and creating new reasons for people to return.
That requires strong collaboration between private investors, government, regulatory agencies, operators, and the wider community, all working towards the same long-term vision.
This project represents a significant milestone for Akida Hills. How does it reflect the company’s broader philosophy around real estate, place-making, and shaping how people experience cities?
At Akida Hills, we have always believed that real estate begins with people. Buildings are only the platform. What truly matters is what happens between them.
That is why we see ourselves not simply as developers but as placemakers. We create environments where people connect, businesses flourish, culture is celebrated, and communities continue to grow over time.
The Jabi waterfront project reflects that philosophy. It demonstrates our commitment to creating destinations that deliver lasting social, cultural, and economic value while shaping how future generations experience their cities.
As the project moves toward its first phase launch in December 2026, what message would you like to share with Abuja residents and Nigerians about what Jabi Lake can become?
This is an invitation to imagine what Jabi Lake can become.
It has always been one of Abuja’s defining natural assets. We believe it can also become one of Africa’s most memorable urban waterfront destinations, where leisure, culture, entertainment, and community come together in a way that reflects the confidence and ambition of modern Nigeria.
As we move towards the first phase of launch, we are excited to see people make this destination their own. We want families to build traditions here, visitors to see it as an essential part of every trip to Abuja, and Nigerians to take pride in a place that demonstrates what thoughtful placemaking can achieve.
Ultimately, our ambition is that, years from now, Jabi Lake will be spoken about in the same way people around the world speak about their favourite waterfronts: not simply as somewhere to visit, but as somewhere to experience, celebrate, and remember.
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