MEET MR OLUSHOLA ADEKOYA A NATURALIST WHO TURNS DEN OF ARMED ROBBERS TO A TOURIST CENTER.

By Oluwatoyin Mathnuel

SHODEX Beautification and Landscape Garden City Limited located at Anthony Bus-stop, Odiolowo/ Ojuwoye LCDA is famous but not known of the components it entails.

It was a warm reception at SHODEX BEAUTIFICATION AND LANDSCAPES GARDEN CITY LIMITED when Oluwatoyin Mathnuel Publisher and Editor - in - Chief of INSIGHT MAGAZINE MAGONLINE NEWS visited Mr Olushola Adekoya an environmentalist out of passion turned den of miscreants, pickpockets and armed robbers to a tourist center. Sit back and enjoy the chat !

-- INSIGHTMAGONLINE NEWS -- Good afternoon sir, do introduce yourself?

--- CEO -- Good afternoon, I am Olushola Adekoya, The Managing Director, a Senior gardener of SHODEX Beautification and Landscape Garden Limited. Am an environmentalist, naturalist, I add value to people.

--- INSIGHTMAGONLINE NEWS--.Can you tell us about the birth of SHODEX Beautification and Landscape Garden Limited?

--- CEO-- Yes! Shodex was given birth to 32 years ago in Ijebu-Ode, then moved to Lagos with the office at Maryland but officially incorporated 24 years ago. The Federal Government actually needed our presence because this particular site used to be a dreadful jungle for miscreants, pickpockets and a den of armed robbers. With SHODEX presence we were able to landscape, beautify and add some artistic value to this place, which is why you see pupils and student coming for excursions, tertiary students for IT, we also organise seminar and conferences, corporate bodies are always around for their event in the hall, have enough shower at the swimming pool while some sit to enjoy the nature with snacks and natural drinks. The basic point is SHODEX is meant for education, enlightenment, social interaction and also for relaxation.

INSIGHTMAGONLINE NEWS-- Do you study Botany or it is just a passion?

CEO-- No! I did not study Botany! I actually wanted to study political science or Education management but eventually I went for Guardian and Councelling as an adult student. It was just the interest and the passion . During my school days as a young boy, I do gathered plants to decorate my father's compound. As an A-Level student, a friend of mine whose uncle does landscape told me I can commercialised it, so I gave it a thought. I met people , gave them ideas at no cost, gradually they buy into my ideas and started offering me jobs with little change/ money. (Smile)

INSIGHTMAGONLINE NEWS- I noticed some artistic work also, did you study that or how come?

CEO-- Yes! Art is part of it! Nature can not be complete without any artistic work. Nature is art, Art is nature. Garden is not complete when there is no element of artistic impression within the environment be it log of woods, stream of water, aquarium, pond and scraps. You can see these scraps metals art work made from waste materials rather than congesting the dump site, the garbages were used to create wealth and also to educate the younger ones how to manage waste likewise the environmentalist how to turn waste to what people can appreciate by so doing it would have save government a lot of money likewise the citizen a lot of money and also add value to their environment.

INSIGHTMAGONLINE NEWS- I learnt SHODEX also have a zoo!

CEO-- Ofcourse! There is a mini zoo! We deemed it fit to provide a section especially for children and teens who only see animals on Television, where by they can see animals like Ostrich, crocodile, alligator, monitor lizard, geese, mona-monkeys, squirrel, parrot, baboon, tortoise and turtles physically and we are trying to get more.

INSIGHTMAGONLINE NEWS- How will you define nature ?

CEO-- Nature is incredible! Nature is very difficult to define but similarly can be defined as a natural element or entity that God put in place for betterment of the people. It now depends on individual or government to identify the uses of these element for the betterment of the populace. Do you know that nature has feelings? The way you treat nature is same way it treat you. This is why you hear of climate change, it was all as a result of environmental abuse. Climate change is more of nature fighting back. In a nutshell, nature is incredible, nature is sweet, nature is wonderful. No one can do without nature! The air we breath is nature , if abused you inhale contaminated air but if well taken care off it will naturally take it place and give you what it takes. Nature does not have a definite definition, when we talk of human abode, ecosystem, air, animals, soils, insects and so forth.

INSIGHTMAGONLINE NEWS- Any collaboration with the Government?

CEO-- If one really want to expand in any established business, it must go with both the state and the federal either by synbiotic relationship or which ever way. SHODEX is more of a consultant to Lagos State government because we do most of the land scape especially during Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu tenure, Gov. Fashola, Gov. Ambode and the present government we do a lot of environmental activities and projects though payment not forthcoming at the expected time yet SHODEX is waxing stronger which was why we were acknowledged with award of excellence by Gov. Fashola, Ambode as well from the incumbent Gov. Sanwoolu whose first lady Mrs Ibijoke Sanwoolu represented at last year Tree Planting Day.

INSIGHTMAGONLINE NEWS- SHODEX Beautification has been existing for over three decade but no awareness. Why this ?

CEO-- Absolutely, because there has not been such publicity. It is a weakness and a set back though people know SHODEX but were not aware of the component that formed SHODEX. We are doing our best on social media. It needs to go viral on TV, radio jingles and pages of dailies not only to make money but also to add value to the people, when you come here we add value to you, you also add value to us! Unawareness, no publicity is a shortcoming that will definitely be taking care of.

INSIGHTMAGONLINE NEWS-- To round it up , do define SHODEX ?

CEO-- SHODEX Beautification and Landscape Garden City Limited is an educational entity for adult and children, where you come on excursion, instructors will explain how to get tree, flower, planted, how to get closer to nature, how to manage your waste and turn it to wealth at no cost. We do have some adult that buy into our idea and joined the initiative too.

INSIGHTMAGONLINE NEWS- Thank You so much Mr Olushola Adekoya for your time!

CEO-- You are most welcome!