By Ruth Echewe

Upon his swearing into office as governor of Enugu State about eight years ago, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi resolved to scale up the recreational opportunities available in the state. Hence, the emergence of the Unity Park, which was inaugurated in 2021. The Governor didn’t mince words when he stated that his goal in creating the park was to provide a platform for bringing people from all communities together. Located in the heart of the Coal City, Unity Park, which was aesthetically designed with cutting-edge technology, has continued to attract all and sundry. It has also hosted music festivals, theatre performances, afforestation-themed events and end-of-year celebrations.

When the idea of hosting last year’s annual trade fair began as a public debate, Unity Park was one of the favoured places. This is because the Park provides a natural ambiance and creative features that can project a more positive image of the state. Some of these include a 1.9-kilometer reinforced concrete pedestrian walkway for quick strolls, creative inspiration, photography ideas, sightseeing features, and a sizable water pond deep enough to provide the hydrodynamics for boat riding and fishing enjoyment, among other fascinating features readily available to tourists. Another unique attraction is the giant lion sculpture that is located in the centre, which serves as a welcoming sight for park aficionados and guests. Due to the hyper-realism of the sculpture, I almost mistook it for the real deal.

Undoubtedly, the park has a beautiful nighttime ambiance, which is visible when driving at night. The sight is so breathtakingly beautiful that one can’t help but stop and take it all in. Little wonder Dr. Kalu jokingly said the Park is gradually turning him into a night crawler. We both laughed at the wordplay.

The Park’s state-of-the-art multi-purpose interior features, inspired by Dr. Okey Ikenegbu, a former Director of Arts and Design at the prestigious Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu State, in collaboration with 12 other student sculptors from that region. The awe-inspiring sculptured lion, which measures about 42 feet in height, 72 feet in length, and 24 feet in width, can house more than 50 people. It is noteworthy that the lion is an imagery symbolising Igbo people’s physical might. Students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in Enugu State, pride themselves as “Lions and Lionesses”. The Igbo people have always been recognised for their fortitude, tolerance, unity of purpose, and, most importantly, their strength. This informed the choice of a lion as a symbol.

Utterly fascinated by the artistry of the edifice, the search for third-party endorsement began and I was lucky to find Dr. Zara Kanu, an Orthopedist with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. The enthusiastic medical practitioner said Unity Park is the latest addition to the Coal City’s tourist destinations, who said: “Unity Park is actually one of the amazing relaxation spots here in Enugu State and it’s a good thing that the State Government is particular about creating more recreational values to enhance its tourist potentials. For people like me who make their money from staying long hours in the operating room, having a place to relax and wind off beats it for me, which is why this Park is my go-to place.” Dr. Kalu added: “Nothing beats more than coming here in the night, enjoying the peace and quiet because I love quiet places. Daytime tends to be noisy but nighttime has its amazing perks. So, yeah, probably, when I have all the money that I want, I can buy this place and practically live here.”

In the quest of lending credence to Dr. Kalu’s remarks, I also spoke with Mr. Big Sam Adig, Chief Security Officer of Unity Park, who attested that beyond the unique offerings of the Park, security of life and property are paramount to the management of the Park.

He said: “I started working here early last year (2022) and I must say we grow every day. The park has visitors daily apart from sit-at-home Mondays, which doesn’t allow for movements. The rest of the days are always fully packed. At a point, we had to beef up our security because of the number of people trooping in but it’s a gradual process.” He said further: “The Park has different sides to it so it’s hard for one to be bored here though there are intentional moves to make the park better to satisfy the needs of our visitors and tourists. One thing I can assure you is that you can feel safe and at home here in the park.”

Digging further shows that the interior of the sculptured lion was originally intended to be used as lodging for visitors who might want to stay for more than a day, but that plan was not implemented, thereby creating opportunities for nearby hotels such as Toscana Hotels & Suites, Residential Hotels, The Base Lounge, and Rivonia Hotels to be strategically close to the park, which shares the spotlight with the well-known Okpara Square and can be reached by driving through Independence Layout just across from the park. Also, visitors can take short walks as they make their way there. One can get to the park in a taxi for about ₦500 from anywhere in the metropolis.

Interestingly, the park allows people to come in at night for nightcaps and late-night meetings, mostly among the socio-political elite who have reserved areas within the Park, though most of the time they can be found inside the air-conditioned interior of the sculpted lion, which occasionally could serve as a conference hall for meetings. And, thanks to the more than 400 solar-powered lamps.

Undoubtedly, the park has a beautiful nighttime ambiance, which is visible when driving at night. The sight is so breathtakingly beautiful that one can’t help but stop and take it all in. Little wonder Dr. Kalu jokingly said the Park is gradually turning him into a night crawler. We both laughed at the wordplay.

Notably, the Unity Park as a work of art and unique tourist destination stands out from the park, and if sustained, has the potential to draw more tourists and nature lovers. It has the potential to engender socioeconomic activities, making the coal-rich state a welcoming destination.

 Echewe Ruth Chidera, a blogger and creative writer, lives in Enugu.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.