Ooni of Ife endorses Canada-Africa Real Estate, Tourism & Hospitality Exchange

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has formally endorsed his interest and participation in a major international real estate, tourism and hospitality initiative set to strengthen bilateral ties between Africa and Canada.

The program, Canada-Africa Real Estate, Tourism & Hospitality Exchange (CARTHE), is a global industry event scheduled to hold from May 17–24, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Toronto Airport West, Ontario, Canada.

CARTHE is organised by Get Elevated Inc., a Canada-based media and business network organisation, in collaboration with Perfection Real Estate Group, Nigeria. The event is positioned as a high-level exchange platform that will bring together 100 senior executives, policymakers, and industry leaders from the real estate, tourism, and hospitality sectors across Africa.

According to the organisers, the exchange will provide industry professionals with access to expert insights, global best practices, partnership opportunities, and deeper engagement with the Canadian counterpart in the selected industries and urban development models—particularly in cities like Mississauga and Brampton, two of Canada’s fastest-growing multicultural cities.

Get Elevated Inc., which also publishes the AfroCaribe Magazine showcasing culture and African achievers in Canada, has a track record of hosting influential diaspora events. The company says the forthcoming exchange is designed to “empower African leaders to shape the future of real estate and tourism across the continent.”

Pre-Event Awards in Nigeria

As part of promotional activities ahead of the 2026 expo, Get Elevated Inc., in partnership with Perfection Real Estate Group, will host a pre-event awards ceremony in Nigeria on February 12, 2026.

The event will celebrate eminent personalities whose contributions have influenced national and continental development. The Ooni of Ife will be honoured as the first Peace Ambassador award recipient, followed by other distinguished Nigerians.

Organisers noted that the Ooni’s endorsement is significant, as it signals strong traditional and socio-cultural support for the Canada-Africa partnership.

Not a Lagos Story — A Global Investor Issue

Although recent real estate controversies and investor losses in Nigeria have raised public concern, the organisers clarify that the initiative is not a response to any specific event in Lagos. Instead, it addresses widespread issues affecting investors across Nigeria, Africa, and the diaspora, including: Real estate scams, project delays, fraudulent documentation, lack of due diligence and poor regulatory compliance.

The Canada-Africa Exchange aims to equip participants with knowledge and frameworks that reduce these risks, while promoting credibility, innovation, and safer investment pathways.

Endorsements and Industry Support

The initiative has already received support from key real estate professionals and organisations, including members of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and other industry stakeholders who see the project as timely and strategic.

A First-of-Its-Kind Initiative

The organisers described this year’s program as the pilot edition, aimed at opening long-term bilateral opportunities between Africa and Canada across real estate, tourism, and hospitality. A special magazine edition will also be launched as part of the awareness campaign.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers.

She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay.

She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos.

As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender.

She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies.

Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category.

She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category.

She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations.

Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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