11th June, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
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.