The Concept

A safe and comfortable environment for Edos in the Diaspora who desire to maintain domicile connection with motherland.

A residential estate "Ogba Gardens" with modern amenities as accustomed to by Edos in the diasporas, will be developed for interested Edos in the Diasporas and others desiring comfort and relative safety.

When complete, Ogba Gardens will have:

1. Security wall around the entire community perimeter

2. Security post and security monitoring devices operating 24/7.

3. Drainage system draining into the Ogba river.

4. Reliable utility systems (water, light, phone, Internet etc)

5. Recreational amenities.

6. Medical clinic with resident physicians.

7. Cemetery (private to the community)

8. Other facilities including house of worship, supermarket, petrol station, police station, fire station, etc.

Historical Information about the land

The referenced site was acquired by the colonial administrators and set aside as Government Reserve. People were allowed to farm on the land but were regarded as squatters. The resident squatter communities later petitioned the Government to release the land to them for community development. By letter ref: No.FR.22 T4 /125, dated 2 nd June 2006, signed by Joe Atohengbe, Honorable Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, the petition was approved and the land was de-reserved for community development. One major condition of the approval is that the community must “show appreciable progress in development”

Based on the above knowledge, negotiation was made through an attorney for one hundred (100' x 100') residential building plots and additional land for recreation, school, Cemetery etc to serve the project community exclusively. Additional land was also negotiated for house of worship, medical center, firehouse, police station, supermarket, petrol station, etc. for services to project community as well as the greater Ogba community.  

Motivation for project

1. Safety. No matter how comfortable Edos in the diasporas are in their adopted countries, many still nurture very strongly desire to maintain (with their children) relationship with motherland. The common experience is that most Benins who return home to visit live in hotels and pay exorbitant costs because they are usually easy targets for armed robbers if they live in their own isolated homes or family homes owing to inadequate security measures. The proposed project will provide a relatively secure community that is monitored 24/7.

1.  Absorb the culture re-assimilation shock. Many Benins in the Diasporas have acquired and integrated new cultures and values (in their newfound lands) with their native cultures and values. A community with neighbors who share similar values and experiences in life will ease the transition back into the larger native community when they return home.