Governor Sheriff Oborevwori Drives Delta’s Tourism Growth With MORE Agenda

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s commitment to driving the tourism sector of Delta State via his MORE agenda is attracting a lot of encomium his way.

Speaking with journalists at a media parley held in Asaba, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Culture and Tourism, Dr Josephine Odunze disclosed that the State government is intensifying efforts to promote tourism by creating an enabling environment for tourism investors.

Dr Josephine, who embarked on a two-day trip to various tourist sites with her team of other political appointees and civil servants in the culture and tourism sector, said the purpose of the tour was to identify, inspect and assess the potentials of the various sites.

“Looking at all these tourist sites located in different parts of the state, we needed to embark not just on an inspection tour but also to see the potential in these sites. Potential in the area of trade and investment, employment opportunities, and potentials in the area of cultural exchange between states and nations.”

Flanked by the General Manager of the Delta State Tourism Board, Josephine Anyameluhor-Ogbolu, Dr Josephine, gave a sequential account of the trip. She evaluated the eco-tourism potentials of the River Ethiope, which has its source at Umuaja in Ukwani Local Government Area of Delta State and sourced from the root of a silk cotton tree that penetrated the water. Dr Josephine said eco-tourists can take advantage of the river as it is the deepest inland waterway in Africa. The Umuaja River flows through different communities to Sapele.

“This River Ethiope is navigable. It flows into the Turf Club, McCarthy Beach, Shiloh Beach, and other beaches. If properly managed, it can be used for boat regattas and other recreational activities. River Ethiope is very clean; we can have a botanical garden situated there, which will aid research for students.”

Speaking, she described McCarthy Beach as a serene environment, where tourists and poets who want to take recess from the hustle and bustle of life can go for relaxation and inspiration. McCarthy plays host to different events, thereby beefing up businesses in the area.

On the Warri Gardens, which is owned by the Delta State Government, Dr Josephine disclosed that the site needs more government attention and upgrade and should be managed effectively for it to compete with other private-owned tourist sites.

The Ibru International Ecumenical Center located in Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area is another tourist attraction in the state for religious tourists who want to engage in some spiritual exercise, and the more such tourist sites are patronised, the more it contributes to the overall economic development of the community and State.

She revealed that the Ganagana Island in Okwagbe in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state is a beautiful place where tourism businesses would thrive. Dr Josephine encouraged tourism associations, managers and planners to visit Ganagana Island as history has it that it was the first place that Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther visited when he arrived in Nigeria but he was rejected and he did the biblical injunction of dusting his feet against them before setting off to Onitsha.

‘’The community is surrounded by water, but it is said that the water never overflows its banks. So it can serve as a seaport where a lot and even our popular locally brewed gin (ogogoro) can be marketed. This place needs recognition and support to give it an international platform for exports of some of our indigenous arts, crafts, and cuisines’’.

Dr Josephine relayed their experience at the Mount Ned Resort at Idumuje Ugboko as her team continued their tour on the second day. They witnessed the rich historical artefacts displayed at the environmental and cultural tourism site. For her, the site is underpublicized, and lots of people need to come there not only for sightseeing but for cultural and educational exposure.

While taking the team around, the curator at the site, Pastor Lauretta Onuma, appreciated the team for including the site on their list for the tour. She encouraged individuals and organisations to take a trip to Mount Ned Resort to have a first-hand experience of the rich eco-cultural site in Idumuje Ugboko..

Another site visited on the second day of the tour was the Nelson Mandela Gardens and Resort, established by Dr Newton Jibunoh, also known as the Desert Warrior. At the Garden, Miss Oluebube Okafor took the team to see various facilities such as the zoo, an Olympic-size swimming pool, hotel accommodations, and artwork that represents the confluence of the River Niger and River Benue. Dr Josephine appreciated Dr. Jibunoh, for the insight on how to manage and leverage the tourist sites in Delta State, that would eventually boost the revenue in the state. According to her, Dr Jibunoh stressed the need for the security infrastructure of the state to be strengthened as this would encourage global and local tourism investors to Delta State.

She added that the historic Mungo Park House in Asaba should be revamped as there are places that are already caving in. ‘’The place should not be left to go into extinction as it reminds us about the story of the colonial rule, the interface between the western influences and African culture. It also was the first Government House in Nigeria as Asaba was the administrative head of the Southern protectorate’’. She thanked the government of Delta State for creating an enabling environment for investors but added that more needs to be done by collaborating with the National Museum to give the facility a facelift.

She said they also made a quick stop at the Lander Brothers Anchorage where she called on the state government, through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, to look into the remodelling of the Lander Brothers Anchorage to boost the tourism sector of the state. The anchorage is a museum built in memory of the British explorers, Richard and John Lander, who were taken captive in 1830.

The General Manager of the Delta State Tourism Board, Mrs Josephine Anyameluhor-Ogbolu, who is a stakeholder in the tourism industry both at the state level and beyond, said that tourism is multifaceted as it cuts across our daily lives such as religious tourism, medical tourism, conferencing, hospitality, accommodation, culture, gastronomy, that the state can explore to grow its GDP. ‘’But the state needs investors who will partner with the government to make Delta State a tourist destination of pride.’’

She, however, revealed that the tourism board promotes both state and privately-owned tourism sites using the official tourism brochure and via online marketing. “We need investors as the government can not do it alone. The government has created the enabling environment such as road infrastructure, water, and light but we need investors who will partner with the government to ensure that we truly make Delta State the preferred tourist destination of pride. We have some comparative areas of advantage because of the biodiversity and eco-system of the state. You will find that one area that is most prominent for private investment is the beach and resort development. You will find that the whole corridor from Umuaja, Umutu, and Abraka, going all the way down to Sapele, is so beautiful because of the beach, sand banks, and the green river. It is an area where investors can come in and do five – to seven-star resorts along those corridors. Aboh is another beautiful beach, Aboh Palace, and Aboh Slave Relics; all of these put together are waiting for the private sector to harness. We also have Asaba Beach, although it is a seasonal beach because, during the rains, the water is full.

Dr Josephine said the Asaba Film Village and Leisure Park has not only attracted tourists and those in the entertainment industry to the state but has attracted road projects to the location and neighboring communities.

“The film Village and Leisure Park is now a tourist delight as the facility houses so much in leisure including a zoo, a music recording studio and everything needed for film-making, acting, production and post-production stages are all there. The hotels,apartments, and hostels are well equipped for visitors to lodge during their stay in Asaba”. We also appreciate our working Governor, Rt Hon Oborevwori, for sustaining the need for collaboration with the private sector in managing the film village, as that has brought some level of professionalism, dedication and credibility to the activities of the film village and leisure park.
Dr Josephine Odunze appreciated the state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for the enabling environment for tourists and investors, especially during the maiden edition of the 2023 Christmas in Delta, tagged ‘’45 Days of Christmas in Delta’’. 45 days of fond memories, synchronized fireworks in the 25 Local Government Areas of the state, hoisting of the tallest Christmas tree in Africa right in the heart of Asaba, carnival parade and other activities held at the film village, Leisure Park and other parts of Delta State in December 2023.

Members of the team were the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Culture, Hon Huxley Unumadu; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Tourism, Hon Gloria Oborevwori, and Special Assistant to the Governor on Tourism, Onosakponome Donaldson.
Others include Mrs Kate Uwabor, who was the Tour Guide from the Tourism Board and other assistant directors, and tourism and cultural officers from the Directorate of Culture and Tourism.