By Ignatius Chukwu
By Ignatius Chukwu
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, who recently bagged a peace and tourism award from an arm of the Rivers State Government has urged stakeholders in the state to build on peace with all their energy so that profit-making would become exponential.
This is as the tourism value chain of the oil-rich state has been estimated at N4trillion.
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism had bestowed the prestigious award of ‘Beacon of Peace Award’ to Gov Sim Fubara, Yibo Koko (the Director General of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency, RSTDA), and My-ACE China for their contributions in promoting Tourism and Peace in Rivers State.
Gov Fubara was said to have stood for peace all through.
The event was part of activities to celebrate the World Tourism Day 2024 in Rivers State last weekend at the Atlantic Hall of the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt.
Speaking on the occasion, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Barr Ishmael Dieokuma, said the World Tourism Day celebrated every September 27 creates awareness among international communities on the need to create the peaceful environment needed to incubate tourism as the second biggest sector of the economy.
Reacting, My-ACE China, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Housing and Construction Mayor Limited, promoters of the upcoming Alesa Smart City Highland, has been promoting peace in Rivers State so that houses and estates can attract value.
The Mayor of Housing added thus: “Actually the award is coming a little bit earlier than I thought because I’ve been trying to promote peace and tourism within the state especially since the last economic summit that took place in May, 2024. We have been pumping a lot of energy and effort into that space and into promoting peace. We highlighted peace and tourism in the last economic and investment summit because we found out that peace is actually the precursor for investment and you can’t really get investment without first promoting peace.
“Again, once there’s no tourism there’s no housing because houses become valuable where people go to. Land is actually worthless without people and that’s why the Sahara Desert is not worth anything because nobody wants to live there.
“So as the Mayor of Housing, I’m concerned about the values of the commercial property and estates I build. This is because they are finite and they rise and fall based on the rise and fall of peace. I decided to take it upon myself to promote peace so as to promote my business; but today’s award is a testament to the ripple effect of the effort of one person. I say it comes prematurely because I was thinking before I can make a difference, it’ll probably take me a decade, but this is just about six months and we are already being noticed and rewarded.”
He said it is not only a boost for him to do more but for others that are watching to jump in and then let them make a difference. “This is the treasure base of the nation but the treasure is not what is in the base; the treasure is in the people. You are the treasure, I am the treasure, and I think today I am being awarded as a treasure and I will like to spread that treasure.
“I actually called the governor ‘Peace Personified’. Rivers State has got auspicious times in these times because this is the first time we have a peace-loving governor that is so peaceful. Even on social media and amongst the rumour mongering circles, people see him as weak. This is because he has refused to be provoked. Despite him knowing such notions about him making the rounds, he has remained calm and peaceful, despite the incessant opportunities for provocation. He has remained peaceful, despite the excuses he has not to do any developmental project. He has continued to break strides not only in developmental projects in health, housing, and education, but he has even broken a jinx in Rivers State that made me to call him ‘My Continuity Legend’. This is the first time a governor is continuing the projects of past administrations. This is also the first time that we have opportunities for the youth. The governor is so youthful in disposition such that this is the first time we have a Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly younger than yours sincerely, the Mayor of Housing.”
Now, he stated, a lot of youths are being given an opportunity to shine. “So, for all the youths in Rivers State, this is an opportunity for us to rally together and build peace behind a peace-loving governor and let the peace become so strong, so fortified, and so endowed that even when he leaves and another governor comes in, he can no longer destroy the existing peace because we have galgavanised around it like a bunch of broom that cannot be broken. On the other hand, if we allow the governor alone preaching peace, whenever he is no longer there, we will lose this traction. So, this an opportunity and an auspicious time for Rivers State.
“Remember, peace is not peace for peace sake, we live in a global society where peace is for profit sake, because peace is a prerequisite for business and profit.”
The N4trn tourism value chain:
Now, Rivers State has laid out plans to develop its tourism industry which experts said could be as big as N4 trillion.
Official sources said in Port Harcourt Friday afternoon, September 27, 2024, that studies have put the present value at N100Bn.
Giving the hint, the Director-General of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA) told the huge audience that turned out to witness traditional dances that a consultant had worked hard to study the tourist potentials of the state and that the true value of the industry was identified and where the industry could get to was also identified as targets.
He spoke of low hanging fruits that can be tapped to make Rivers State return to the leading role in tourism.
Rivers State developed a robust tourism industry when it created the Rivers Cultural Festival during the days of the late Alabo tonye Graham-Douglas as commissioner of Culture and Tourism. This concept attracted the attention of the then Military President, Yakubu Gowon, who tapped Graham-Douglas as Minister and this gave birth to Festac ’77.
Years later, this boost went into a lull until the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration revived it but it died again.
Koko, the Okrika-born creative art giant known all over the world said the coming of Gov Sim Fubara has rekindled the hunger and hopes for cultural revival and the tourism industry.
He gave hopes that the famous Tourist Beach in the town area of the Garden City would soon bounce back and become an international tourist attraction.
He also said the zoo would be revamped to attract visitors around the world with animals that are rare to find, saying other business activities that take place in such places would begin to happen.
He said the other hanging fruits clearly identified would kick in.
The permanent secretary of the Ministry, Dr Ishmael Dieokuma, a lawyer, said the body language of the governor oozed peace. He said the World Tourism Day with the theme: Tourism and Peace, matched very well with Rivers State that was returning to peace and happiness.
The speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, supported the notion that the body language of the governor was that of peace. He said: “This particular state called Rivers state is pragmatic and has a peace-loving governor.
“The governor has considered this event a priority in ensuring that our dear Rivers State is part of the commemoration of this very significant global event.”
The Mayor of Housing, who bagged a peace award, told newsmen that the biggest asset Rivers State has and its treasure is its people.
He said Gov Fubara has showed that peace was the most important gift he has for the state by resisting all provocations and attempts to stage fights.
During the event, the state’s Cultural Troup showcased many dances and songs.
Other invites cultural troupes also performed to standing ovations. All presentations were geared toward peace.
The newly crowned Rivers Queen of Peace, 18-year-old Tobechi Elendu, graced the occasion with her team.
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