Ibrahim Saeed is the Vice President (Chief Operations Officer) 12-12 Polo and Turf Resort, Abuja. In this interview with HENRY TYOHEMBA, he speaks on the activities lined up to mark its anniversary and the huge economic potential that lies in the equestrian industry, amongst other issues.
What is Twelve Twelve (12-12) Polo and Turf Resort all about?
To do justice to the question we may first of all need to define what a resort is and ought to be. A resort is a self-contained recreational & commercial establishment for relaxation, wellness, business, and/or pleasure that tries to provide most of a person’s wants, such as variety of food & drink, selection of indoor & outdoor activities, sports of different intensity, assortment of accommodation types, conference & meeting facilities, entertainment, and shopping all on the premises. Resorts are classified based on their location, themes, and/or specific activities. Examples are beach resorts, ski resorts, golf, and wellness resorts to name a few. We happen to be an all-inclusive equestrian resort with equestrian recreation, plus indoor and outdoor themes, and the basic features of a world-class resort destination.
12-12 Polo & Turf Resort is an ALL-Nigerian project that’s to house an ultramodern recreational centre that has already built a reputation as a landmark and socioeconomic hub in Abuja. After taking inspiration from Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (North Carolina, USA) and Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club (UAE) we’ve tailored our plans to suit our clime and needs. Blessed by a strategic position at the Gwarinpa foothills, the facility enjoins the thrills of uphill and lowlands with scenic views of the city and oneness with nature and all the animals as you can see for yourself.
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What kind of activities should one expect here/there?
We’ve been phasing and testing the following as we consolidate our final model. Firstly, the equestrian is well-represented here. You have the riding school to properly tutor anyone interested and capable (children to adults) on how to ride, hacking round the hill, joyriding on the track, there’s also the polo field for the exhilarating game of polo, and the race track to get the blood pumping. Other complimentary facilities are the paddocks, hitting cages, stables, etc. which allow for boarding of horses for riders (from all over the globe). Target games- archery (indoor & outdoor), paintball guns, airsoft guns, axe throwing, etc. Wellness & fitness- gym, spa, indoor & outdoor sports (padel, tennis, badminton, squash, basketball, Outdoors- cycling, hiking, picnicking, cable cars, go kart, accommodations- we’ve planned different types of lodging for guests with varied themes so there’s something for everybody
What is the current status quo of the resort because there seem to be completed and incomplete areas?
You have a keen eye. The truth is for a project of this magnitude (in terms of size & expenditure) and us striving to get it right- it is only passion that has gotten us this far and has been the main driving force. To this end, from inception, we’ve phased the project into 4. Our Phase 1 is just about completed. The subsequent phases would move at a faster pace for two reasons. One, documentation, we now have the much required title documents (R of O), because for a project of this magnitude and complexity no one will take you seriously without it. Our Site Development Plan (SDP) was also approved by the authorities (after they’ve shared our vision through the long process). And secondly a significant portion of the site is meant for two Green uses- Active and Passive Recreation. Meaning, there won’t be disruption of the terrain, but rather maintaining the flora and fauna. With the aforementioned developments, we’ve engaged four architectural firms (domestic and foreign) to give us the much-needed edge and synergy. That said, due to the unique nature of the Resort project we have had and are still open to strategic partnerships with all relevant stakeholders, entities, and so on. The resort itself is a proud all-Nigerian project that deserves all hands-on deck to prop it further. From patronage to support of both private and public sectors. As we’ve seen in similar settings around the globe, which have admittedly stated that without the government through its policies, consistent support, and certain laxities the vision wouldn’t have been feasible. As so, it is our wish also to make this Nigerian vision thrive for generations to come because 12-12 stands to outlive us all as its progenitors and all the individual contributors as all legacies should be.
Why a resort for a business and not other things like real estate or manufacturing?
Simple answer would be because we are passionate about recreation and doing it right. There is a huge void that needs to be filled when it comes to how we define and utilize recreation in Abuja (and subsequently Nigeria) especially if we are serious about tapping into the Travel & Tourism troughs. There are huge potentials and benefits that we as Nigerians, keep letting slip through our fingers. I saw two TV interviews recently. One was that of the present FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, when he was addressing concerns of the Senators with regards to the completion of the Cultural centre- I quote “…government determines its priorities and it can’t abandon projects… cultural centre for tourism, for you and your own children to see. Most of us will travel overseas and go to museums, cultural centres…. It is a priority for this country and it is a revenue source.” And he’s absolutely right! The same minister of ours was also in the news about a month ago when he was courting the South Koreans to come and build a 5 star luxury hotel facility that would compete with Transcorp Hilton. To quote him: “We are talking about the FCT. One of the best things you can do is tourism….. For me as the FCT Minister, my interest is to develop Abuja, to make it more attractive as a tourist centre.” The other one is that kindred spirit behind the Giwa Gardens Waterpark project in Lagos, he speaks about “affordable escapism” as a means to cater to children and families’ recreational needs without having to obtain any visa or go through hurdles of forex. With his own zeal and the cooperation from the state government he’s getting there. It is rather shameful to admit that the FCT doesn’t have a proper resort within a reasonable reach that anyone can enjoy and not just the usual spaces, or some other subpar facilities, or derelict gardens cum bars meant for adults only.
Before we delve deeper, what does 1212 (12-12) mean?
I thought we had touched on this. “12-12 is Abuja. Abuja is 12-12” The name is basically a homage to our dear nation’s capital- Abuja. Abuja the Federal Capital Territory was officially inaugurated on 12th Day of December (the 12th month) 1991, thus the name Twelve Twelve (12-12). When we started out on this project, Gen Ibrahim Babangida in his wisdom, tied our roots to Abuja by naming the resort after a significant date in our nation’s history. It was apt, timeless, and catchy- the end! All the reasons why we need all hands-on-deck from the authorities, various arms of government, and agencies through varied means to make this project one of a kind in Nigeria and West Africa. Coming this far we’ve hosted large tournaments, the last one being the Armed Forces International polo tournament (comprising 8 countries, 3 of which were nuclear superpowers), and also enjoy regular patronage from the locals and the diplomatic community within the range of what we currently offer as we proceed.
What are the benefits of such a place to the FCT and the country at large?
The FCT now has a diverse population, but from inception it was mostly populated by civil servants, workers, diplomats, and a few businesses. This mostly called for 2-3 types of real estate (business, residential, and educational) which were captured in the masterplan going forward. Fast-forward to the present the fourth type, Recreational real estate, is left lagging. I will touch on both benefits and prospects. With the necessary checks and balances we see the following immediate and long-term benefits. Individual- personal and family Wellbeing, selfcare, a return to nature, more time away from confined spaces and screens, Socio-economic- revenue generation, job creation (direct and indirect), bringing in the much-needed FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) via tourism which is in line with this current administration’s mandate, skills acquisition and diversification of our already existing trades and sectors. There’s a huge potential for growth and multiple opportunities in the equestrian industry alone. Some career paths in the horse industry include as a journalist, photographer, veterinary specialist, farrier, saddler, feed and supplement maker, trainer, instructor, groom, breeder, auctioneer, etc. In the travel & tourism industry you have tour guides, interpreters, agents, chefs, park rangers, valets, event planning, management and PR to mention a few. These shall be easy for the youths of nowadays to fit in either as skilled or semi-skilled. Nothing beats getting paid for doing what you love and are passionate about. To bolster what I just mentioned, here are some facts and figures. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Economic Impact Research from April this year, global travel and tourism reached about $9 Trillion (Dollars) 960 million tourists travelled internationally so far (post-pandemic). The global equine industry is worth over $300 billion and it’s on a rapid increase. Most of this sum is shared amongst Europe and the Americas, with Africa largely under-represented despite our history and potential. The US alone employs over 1.5 million people full-time. According to WTTC, with adequate input and support, Nigeria is on the path to create 2.6million new jobs in this sector alone over the next 7-10years. And would contribute 10.4% to the GDP with a steady increase of 4.3% in the employment sector.
You mentioned other animals outside horses, in the initial questions, would you care to expatiate?
Yes. Besides recreation, the 12-12 family has always been one that cares of nature and nurture- to this end we officially have a foundation just for this purpose. Our NGO is doing its part for the immediate surroundings of Gwarinpa (and its inhabitants) and in consequence Abuja in general. This by extension does well for both Nigeria and the world in curbing global warming, enhancing preservation, education, healthy living, and generating employment (skills). Which is why besides the local context we’re working with international agencies and organisations to actualise our goals. We’ve set out to do plenty under the following umbrellas: animal welfare, reforestation and afforestation, youth engagement, wildlife conservation, and education. As you can see there are several primates and avian species, we cater to plus a huge population of birds we breed and release back to the ecosystem. Our mission is to enhance the lives of all inhabitants of Abuja and Nigeria- the people, animals, and plants. We do this for the current and future generations by changing the status quo and mindset with a “do now” mentality. This is achievable using our platform along with government cooperation and relevant stakeholders from within and outside the country who share the same compassion.
I noticed from your site map and onsite that the most of the infrastructure, facilities, and sections bear names of various Nigerians. What’s the rationale?
Yeah. This was not random surely, it comes as a result of their contributions to the Nation, the Nigerian Equine Industry, the tourism industry, roles they’ve played in aiding 12-12 Polo and Turf Resort. Subsequently other Phases (Phase 2 to Phase 4) will feature more names based on the above. To add, even our tournaments have been based on themes with charities attached such as the Unity Tournament (Nigerian Unity) , Future Secured Tournament (Education) and so on. It is also noteworthy that the Sultan of Sokoto Saad Abubakar III approved the name of the Race track after Sir Abubakar III and equally donated a joint horserace trophy for Sir Abubakar III and Sardauna of Sokoto Sir Ahmadu Bello. Our polo field was named after Sir Usman Nagogo for his immense contributions to Polo in Nigeria.
Are you doing this alone?
Certainly not. Like I earlier brushed upon, due to the resort project’s uniqueness, sections, and size, we have existing partnerships and have opened additional channels for further alliances both within and outside the country, some with commitments already made. In this new age going solo is archaic, things are also easier with the site development plan (SDP) for one to analyse and the input we are expecting from working drawings that shall come in from our various architectural firms.
With all that you’ve mentioned, it would be no surprise that you’ve had your own share of challenges and hurdles, care to mention a few?
Life is full of challenges. To quote my brother. “Every morning you wake with new challenges, you pray, and you confront your challenges.” Noteworthy of such challenges are: Scammer and landgrabbers, Encroachment by the Ministry of Works and Housing. The local community and scavengers (Yan Bola): Who indulge in illegal inner-city farming, animal poaching, bush-burning, and logging, littering and so on. Slow bureaucratic pace of doing things: the pace at which we do things costs valuable time and resources. Things like this make us drop in the ease of doing business indexes which is bad. Civil servants Collusions and shenanigans: here you’ll see most of the top-level and some mid-level staff doing their part for the betterment of the FCT but others strive to thwart all efforts made in a bid to extort, gain favour, or outright mislead superiors at the detriment of their (superior’s) image and overall progress of the Capital. Civil servants tend to do all they can to nose-rub and to cover their tracks of their misgivings nefarious activities. We’ve experienced similar in the past, and even recently for instance, we got wind that the FCT Minister was misinformed and misled about several activities in the FCT including our resort (its purpose and utilization). For this very reason we are actually hoping that despite his hectic schedule in transforming Abuja he can find time (like his subsequent predecessors) to have an onspot assessment of our journey thus far, appreciate nature and our efforts, and give us his direct input and contributions.
What lies ahead of Abuja and 12-12’s (joint) birthday?
You know we are Nigerians and have faith. Laughs. Today Abuja is 32 years old, and Twelve-Twelve is a year older also. We pray for the Capital and Nation at large. May our worries become memories and woes become stepping stones as we come out on top of the hardships and global economic tides. May we be more united beyond ethnicity and religion, and just be Human first and Nigerians second. We also pray and hope that all similar projects get the much-needed support they need. And by ‘similar’ I don’t limit myself to just the tourism industry, but (once again) the ‘Nigerian’ bit. This is a project by Nigerians and for everybody. It is after all a project that is named after and pays homage to the Nation’s capital. Need I say more.
I’m sure readers would like to know if you have any upcoming event?
InshaAllah we’re set for a few, because traditionally we have at least one or two major events annually but due to the need to take time and regularize our documentation and surely the advent of COVID we had to halt. Events we’ve held over the years that attracted thousands locally and internationally are: 2015 : Inaugural Polo Tournament (Internally Displaced Persons- IDPs), 2016 : Future Secured International Polo Tournament (Education), 2017 : Unity International Polo Tournament (Nigerian Unity), 2018 : Armed Forces International Polo Tournament, 2020 : (Abuja’s first ever) THE GAVEL RACING DERBY (celebrating Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee in partnership with the House of Representatives with participation from mali, chad, burkina faso, niger, and Sudan that was postponed due to the second wave of COVID). For 2024, we are finalizing arrangements and getting the place ready for the first ever horse racing cup in Abuja’s entire history which we weren’t able to do as previously stated. This shall feature countries from within and outside the shores of Africa. Besides that, there shall be the usual polo tournaments and more which shall be announced accordingly.
