The Managing Director of The JAGZ, Lugard Agbomoagan, has identified the need for the evolution of hospitality brands to serve a new generation of Africans and international travellers.
Agbomoagan said this has become imperative as Africa continues to experience increased trade, cross-border business engagement and investment opportunities under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area.
He made the statement on Monday while highlighting The JAGZ Hotel’s expansion plans and the unveiling of the organisation’s new General Manager, Mr Jonathan Odia, at a press conference held on the organisation’s premises at Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
“With our success record and expansion projects, we believe strong organisations are built on strong leadership. Today, I am delighted to formally introduce Jonathan Odia, who has joined the team as General Manager. A brand like The JAGZ needs an experienced hospitality professional whose career includes valuable experience with internationally recognised brands on board.
“His appointment reflects our continued commitment to raising standards, strengthening our operations and delivering even better experiences for our guests. We are confident that his leadership, expertise and vision will contribute to excellence at The JAGZ as we move into an exciting new phase of growth,” Agbomoagan said.
He noted that Odia’s wealth of experience in the industry would be invaluable in the training and retraining of staff members of The JAGZ Hotel. “One thing I am proud of as a member of this team is that we don’t take training for granted. We did not bring Jonathan here because of his experience, but because he would assist with the training and retraining of personnel,” he said.
He added that the future of hospitality in Africa belongs to brands that innovate and evolve. “As Africa continues to experience increased trade, cross-border business engagement and investment opportunities under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, we believe hospitality brands must evolve to serve a new generation of Africans and international travellers.
“We recognised early that the future of hospitality in Africa belongs to brands that innovate and evolve. This is why we are not just building a hotel; we are building a hospitality institution in Africa,” Agbomoagan said.
He appreciated the Oyo State Government for fast-tracking approval processes for the take-off of The JAGZ and providing an enabling environment for the hotel to thrive, adding that The JAGZ was started and completed in less than two years.
“From the day we bought this land till October 1, when we started operations, we spent less than two years, and it has never happened anywhere. We are not politicians, and I must tell you for a fact that before we opened The JAGZ, none of us had met His Excellency before; none of us knew anybody in government. I am a legal practitioner, and I know what it takes to get approval for this,” Agbomoagan said.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, commended the new GM, Odia, who is bringing his commercial astuteness and over 30 years of hospitality experience to bear on the rapidly growing The JAGZ.
“I engaged him, and if I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t know what The JAGZ Hotel is bringing on board. The man you’re seeing is very loaded, well-experienced, and he has been in this business for over 30 years. So he has what it takes to take this hotel branch to where it should be. The MD and the Chairman have succeeded in bringing a very ‘big fish’ who will impact positively on the development of this branch,” Olatubosun said.
He added: “Before this hotel came on board, we used to have issues with top hotels in Ibadan, but I have not heard any negative comments from anybody concerning The JAGZ Hotel. And from what I heard from Odia this morning, he has given me what I expected to hear from the GM of a fast-rising hotel.”
Olatubosun thanked the Regional Manager of Wema Bank and other management teams of the bank who graced the event with their presence.
Speaking at the event, the new General Manager of The JAGZ, Mr Odia, said that some unique aspects of the hotel attracted him to join the team in order to contribute to its success story. “To me, if you are someone that works in my industry, there are certain aspects of the business that you want to associate yourself with, and I find that in The JAGZ,” Odia said.
Explaining the key drivers of the significant growth recorded by The JAGZ in less than two years, the Head of HR, Mrs Aderonke Apena, said the motive was not just to build a hotel but to build a brand that people can trust.
Speaking further, Agbomoagan said the organisation’s commitment to its vision had yielded an expanding base of corporate and high-value clientele and increasing brand recognition within and beyond Africa.
“For us, growth is not just about getting bigger; it is about becoming better and more impactful. We are currently moving forward with expansion plans that include additional rooms, improved guest facilities and upgraded infrastructure that will allow us to serve a wide range of guests more efficiently and comfortably,” he said.
He appreciated The JAGZ’s team, partners and loyal guests for their continued support, saying what started as a new entrant in the industry is steadily becoming a respected name and a growing standard within the market.
Agbomoagan used the occasion to announce The JAGZ Hospitality Conference 2026. “As part of our commitment to contributing meaningfully to the industry, we are excited to announce The JAGZ Hospitality Conference 2026,” he said.
“This year’s discussions will explore how hospitality intersects with national realities such as elections, economic changes and the need for resilience within the industry,” he added.
Dignitaries at the event included the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, Wema Bank representatives, The JAGZ management team, and representatives of the Bank of Industry, Dr Michael Afolayan and Mr Kolawole Oladipo.