The Acting Director, Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Dike Eleberi has asked investors to take advantage of the huge tourism potentials in Andoni local government in Rivers state and invest.
Speaking to journalists on the sideline of the official unveiling ceremony of the “third edition of Andoni Unity Festival” weekend in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, Eleberi described tourism as a huge investment standpoint even as he urged investors to harness its potentials in the State.
He commended the Chairman of Andoni local government Area, Barrister Erastus Awortu for paying diligent attention towards growing the tourism sector.
Eleberi noted that arts and culture is a huge revenue earner next to oil and praised the council for adopting various strategies towards promoting business in that sector.
“Mr. Chairman, I want to say kudos to you and your team for promoting tourism. The people may not appreciate what you are doing today but I can assure you that your vision is apt because tourism is a reliable revenue earner,” he said.
Meanwhile, the council Chairman, Barrister Erastus Awortu has emphasized that his administration has successfully enshrined by-laws that would enhance the ease of doing tourism business, having passed law against poaching.
Speaking further he said “we will continue to project Andoni through our annual Unity Festival, this is a long term effort and I can say that our motive is becoming more feasible as the year rolled by.”
“From what we see here today, I can assure you that this year’s carnival is going to be the biggest and most decorated, it is going to project further our rich tradition and culture to potential investors,” he said.
The council boss also noted that the essence of the annual carnival was to project the area to the world, ensure sustainable peace and also to attract investments using the natural habitats as focal points.
“The winding creeks, beaches, exquisite aquatic and terrestrial wildlife are some of the peculiarities of our area.
“‘There is no other place here in Rivers state where you have the elephants, countless antelopes, crocodiles, sea turtles, sharks, dolphins as well as other wild creatures and that is the reason we are calling on the government and investors to tap into our huge tourism potentials,” he added.
On his part, Mr. Frank Macurley, the Carnival committee Chairman described the annual event as a result-oriented program having stood as a unifying factor in over two years since its inauguration.
The Andoni Unity Festival, a five-day entertainment programmme is scheduled to take place on 15th December which is a Christmas Carol and 30th, December, 2023 for Boat Regatta.
Others include, Coconut Festival scheduled for the 3rd January, Beach Carnival for 4th January and the carnival parade, the climax of the program that is slated for 5th January 2024.
