From Ibadan to Kigali: Jubril Dotun Sanusi Expands Ilaji’s Global Hospitality and Sports Footprint

The expanding international footprint of the Okanlomo Oodua and Gbonka Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief (Engr.) Jubril Dotun Sanusi, is adding a new dimension to the development of hospitality, sports and tourism as strategic sectors capable of creating opportunities for Nigeria while strengthening the country’s connections with the global community.

At the centre of this expanding vision is Ilaji, a brand that has evolved from its Ibadan base into an emerging international hospitality and sports enterprise.

The latest chapter is the growing Ilaji connection with Kigali, Rwanda, coming on the heels of a series of international investments, partnerships and sporting engagements that have increasingly positioned Sanusi as an entrepreneur focused on building bridges between Nigeria and the global sports and hospitality ecosystem.

The Kigali development is particularly significant when viewed against the trajectory of the Ilaji brand over the past few years.

Ilaji’s international hospitality expansion into Malta was announced last year, marking another major step in Sanusi’s ambition to take the brand beyond Nigeria.

The Malta connection also builds on Ilaji’s relationship with 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 to gain exposure to European football structures.

The Malta expansion has subsequently become part of the broader international footprint of Ilaji, demonstrating that the vision extends beyond developing facilities in Nigeria to creating a network of opportunities across borders.

In May 2025, Sanusi was also recognised in Malta with a sports ambassador honour for his contribution to sports development and international sporting partnerships.

The sports dimension of the vision took another significant step with Ilaji’s acquisition of Club Deportivo Atlético Berja in Spain.

Sanusi subsequently assumed the position of President of the Spanish club and engaged with the Mayor of Berja alongside members of the club’s board. Discussions surrounding potential cooperation in sports, hospitality, entertainment and agriculture further broadened the scope of the relationship.

The development added another European destination to the Ilaji sports network.

For a Nigerian-owned sports and hospitality enterprise, establishing a direct presence within the European football environment creates opportunities for technical relationships, talent development, knowledge exchange and greater international exposure.

It also reinforces the philosophy behind the Ilaji Soccer Academy: identifying promising young talents in Nigeria, developing them professionally and creating pathways through which they can access international football structures.

Sanusi has previously explained the thinking behind the football project, stressing the importance of identifying raw Nigerian talent, providing professional development and creating opportunities for young players to compete and progress within the international football system.

Perhaps one of the defining features of the Ilaji story is the deliberate convergence of hospitality and sports.

Rather than treating the two sectors as separate ventures, Sanusi has developed Ilaji around an ecosystem where 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 recreational and event facilities.

The broader vision, therefore, goes beyond building hotels or owning football clubs.

It is about creating platforms where people can stay, train, compete, learn, connect, invest and discover new opportunity 

Sanusi’s international expansion is also placing Ibadan within a broader conversation about African enterprise, investment and global connectivity.

From the development of Ilaji in Akanran, Ibadan, to the Malta hospitality project, international football relationships and the leadership of Atlético Berja in Spain, the trajectory reflects an effort to build an enterprise with an increasingly international outlook.

The move towards Kigali represents another chapter in that continuing journey.

Each destination adds a different component to the broader vision: hospitality, football, tourism, human-capacity development and international partnerships.

For Sanusi, the underlying objective is to demonstrate that Nigerian businesses can build competitive international 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 represents another expression of a vision that began locally but is increasingly taking on an international character.

The story is ultimately about building at home while connecting globally; developing talents while creating opportunities; and positioning African enterprise within international markets.

Build at home. Connect globally. Create opportunities. Develop talents. Showcase Africa.

And as Ilaji looks towards Kigali, another chapter in its expanding hospitality and sports story is beginning to take shape.

From Ibadan to Kigali, Malta and Spain, the Ilaji vision continues to cross borders.