![]() |
Sanwo-Olu and Ashimolowo at the unveiling of Makarios Water Display |
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday officially unveiled the iconic N6 billion Makarios Water Display Park, the first in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Makarios Water Display is the brainwork of the Senior
Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), Pastor Matthew
Ashimolowo.
The Makarios Water Display, situated in the vibrant district
of Lekki, Nigeria, is a pioneering marvel in Sub-Saharan Africa, capturing
hearts.
The beauty of the Makarios Water Display Park lies in its
stunning design and innovative technology covering a vast 6,000 square metres,
the park is a feast for the senses. Picture jets of water moving in perfect
harmony with musical rhythms, illuminated by vibrant lights that change colours
to match the mood of the moment.
As if this weren’t enough, holographic projections turn
water into screens-displaying captivating images, creating a magical experience
that feels straight out of a fairy tale. Every aspect of the park is designed
with visitor comfort and enjoyment in mind.
Eminent Nigerians, the media, foreigners and others were
present as Sanwo-Olu unveiled the iconic Makarios Water Display.
Sanwo-Olu, who unveiled the Makarios Water Display on Sunday
night in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos, said the project “is about the realization
of a dream and one daring to do things differently. When I was shown what is
being put here today and Ashimolowo came to me, you don’t need to be further
convinced that this is the power of imagination and bringing imagination to
reality.
“The things that we see in other parts of the world, the
inspiring landscape in other part of the world is brought here, the least you
can do is to acknowledge and appreciate it and to be a real enabler of those
initiatives, as your governor, we are proud of this masterpiece this evening.”
Sanwo-Olu added: “Truly for us, it is about being enabler of
he greater things to happen, Lagos continues to be home for all of us but Lagos
is also a future we all aspired to, Lagos is not only growing, it is also very
resilient and forward-looking state, when we see investments from our citizens
and from foreign land, coming to the city, we are always very encouraged to
support the investment.”
Commending Ashimolowo, Sanwo-Olu said “Luxury living and
property will still come here and differentiate this place from others. The
Lekki corridor has been the fastest growing corridor in Africa, putting this
here to salivate the development that is to come here is very inspirational.”
Chairman, Makarios Luxury Properties Limited, Pastor
Ashimolowo said the Makarios Water Display is the first in Sub-Saharan Africa,
saying the concept was borne out of what he saw in Dubai during COVID-19.
“My grandchildren were always bored whenever we came from
abroad, it became obvious to me that I could do something and be part of the
legacy, being part of the solution, being part of the answer to this thing.
People wanted to come to Nigeria and there is no tourism place.
“Lagos has 22 million people and you don’t have a zoo and
many places people can go to. It struck me to do something like this, I did not
know it was going to be this costly, but we are here. We have tested the
equipment, the show is ready, we are ready for Nigeria and we are ready for the
audience.
“I am very glad it has happened. I don’t want to be part of
Nigerians in the diaspora who are always calling and lamenting. That is what
most of them do, I have lived for 40 years in Europe and I still live there. I
want to be part of those solving problem,” Ashimolowo said.
He continued: “The Makarios Water Display is an uncommon, unusual water display show. It is going to be mesmerizing to the eyes, to the mind and the spirit. Firstly, you see water dancing, secondly you see water responding to music, thirdly you see water mixed with laser light and fourthly you see water rise.
“Makarios water is one of the few that has a water screen in
the middle. The water in the middle, there are 180 pumps that form a water
screen and we shoot about 12 metres because there is no building around so the
wind can blow the water, what has happened is that the water rises, the rising
water plus the falling one form a screen.
“At the back of it there are six massive projectors, we are
going to project a video, ‘this is Lagos,’ you will see Lagos, you see danfo
and you will see people moving and water is your screen. We are going to
present the music of Ashanbi Banke,
Asher, Fela, ‘the land is green’ by Bello. We’re going to present classical
music called balkiri, those kind of thing,” Ashimolowo explained.
He disclosed that for the public to have access to such
mesmerising scenes, adults would pay a fee of N10,000 while children would pay
N4,000.
“The Makarious water show, if we are going to charge the
real amount, my workers are saying we should charge N25,000 per show, but we
are making it so cheap, N10,000 for adult and N4,000 for children and before
the middle of next year, outside the water show, there will be a water park for
children where there will be train drive, we should be charging N25,000 but if
you want to recover N6 billion, but we are charging N10,000,” he added.