The expanding international footprint of the Okanlomo Oodua and Gbonka Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief (Engr.) Jubril Dotun Sanusi, is providing a fresh dimension to the development of hospitality, sports and tourism as strategic sectors capable of creating opportunities for Nigeria and connecting the country more closely with the global community.
At the centre of this expanding vision is Ilaji, a brand that has grown from its Ibadan base into an emerging international hospitality and sports enterprise.
The latest chapter of the journey is the Ilaji connection with Kigali, Rwanda, coming on the heels of a series of international investments and partnerships that have increasingly positioned Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi as an entrepreneur with a strong interest in building bridges between Nigeria and the global sports and hospitality industry.
The Kigali development is particularly significant when viewed against the trajectory of the Ilaji brand over the past few years.
Recall that Ilaji’s international hospitality expansion into Malta was announced last year, marking another major step in Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi’s ambition to take the Ilaji brand beyond Nigeria.
The Malta connection also builds on an established relationship between Ilaji and the European sports ecosystem. Ilaji Football Academy has previously worked with Maltese club Swieqi United, with the partnership focused on football development and creating pathways for Nigerian talents into European football.
The Malta expansion has since become part of the broader international footprint of the Ilaji brand, demonstrating that the vision is not limited to developing facilities in Nigeria but also creating a network of opportunities across borders.
In May 2025, Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi was also recognised in Malta with a sports ambassador honour for his contribution to sports development and international sports partnerships.
This year, the sports dimension of the vision took another major step with Ilaji’s acquisition of Club Deportivo Atlético Berja in Spain, with Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi subsequently assuming the position of President of the Spanish club documented his emergence as the club’s new president and his engagement with the Mayor of Berja alongside the club’s board, with discussions around potential cooperation in sports, hospitality, entertainment and agriculture.
The development adds another important European destination to the Ilaji sports network.
For a Nigerian-owned sports and hospitality enterprise, having a direct presence within the European football environment creates possibilities for stronger technical relationships, talent development, knowledge exchange and international exposure.
It also reinforces the long-term philosophy behind Ilaji Soccer Academy developing young talents in Nigeria while creating pathways through which promising players can gain access to international football structures.
Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi has previously explained the thinking behind the football project, emphasising the need to identify raw Nigerian talents, develop them professionally and provide opportunities for them to compete and progress within the international football system.
What makes the Ilaji story noteworthy is the deliberate convergence of hospitality and sports.
Rather than treating the two sectors as separate ventures, Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi has developed Ilaji around an ecosystem in which accommodation, sports, tourism, entertainment, events and youth development complement one another.
The Ilaji Hotels & Sports Resort in Ibadan reflects this philosophy, combining hospitality facilities with sports infrastructure and a range of recreational and event facilities.
The vision is therefore not simply about building hotels or owning football clubs.
It is about creating platforms where people can stay, train, compete, learn, connect, invest and discover opportunities.
Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi’s international expansion is also placing Ibadan in a wider conversation about African enterprise and global investment.
From the development of Ilaji in Akanran, Ibadan, to the Malta hospitality project, international football relationships and now the leadership of Atlético Berja in Spain, the trajectory reflects a deliberate effort to build an enterprise with an international outlook.
The move towards Kigali, Rwanda, consequently represents another chapter in this continuing story.
Each destination represents a different component of a broader vision hospitality, football, tourism, human capacity development and international partnerships.
For Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi, the objective is to demonstrate that Nigerian businesses can build competitive brands while creating opportunities for young Nigerians and strengthening connections between African and European markets.
As Ilaji continues to expand its international footprint, the journey from Ibadan to Kigali is becoming another expression of a vision that started locally but is increasingly taking an international shape.
Build at home. Connect globally. Create opportunities. Develop talents. Showcase Africa.
And as Ilaji looks towards Kigali, the African hospitality and sports community can expect another chapter in the unfolding story.
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From Ibadan to Kigali, Malta and Spain – the Ilaji vision continues to cross borders.
