A real estate investor, My-ACE China, has advised states, especially in the South-South, to harness their natural talent in the creative sector to attract investors.
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The investor urged states to pay attention through the promotion of entertainment, noting that states seeking to woo investors should first build consistent attention through a tourism industry driven mostly by entertainment.

China, popularly known as the Mayor of Housing, has pledged to join forces with others to drive the entertainment sub-sector in Port Harcourt to close the gap with Lagos.

The Mayor of Housing stated this at the 2024 edition of the Port Harcourt Awards, where he bagged the “Brand of the Year” award, and his firm, the Housing and Construction Mayor Limited, won “Real Estate Company of the Year.”
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The CEO told newsmen that the entertainment industry wins huge attention, and where attention goes, investment follows.

On how entertainment can attract investments, China said the creative industry is one of the biggest attention-grabbing industries in any location. “Attention is the new money, so wherever attention goes in this 21st century, money flows.”

“So, I advise Port Harcourt to not only be committed to developing its state to attract investors but also to showcase the creative and entertainment industry. Not only will people flock to Port Harcourt to be entertained, but brands seeking visibility, global brands, and others will flock to Port Harcourt, and we can reclaim our golden years when Port Harcourt was the rendezvous of the global entertainment stage. It will return to the time when you had the likes of Rex Lawson and others. It helps boost the general macroeconomics of the state.

“When entertainment is boosted, many hands become involved, and when youths are engaged, peace is fostered, prosperity thrives, and everyone benefits. But most importantly, in this 21st century, wherever attention goes, money flows.”
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He said he has been consistent in advocating for attention to the creative sector and promoting agencies that boost tourism. On the level of response this message has received from the authorities, China said it has been gradual.

“We are getting what we call competitive attention. When the authorities see what one man is doing and the gains from it, there is that competitive attention where they also want a piece of the action.

“For instance, after the last economic summit in the state, we were the only investor that donated to support and partner with the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA). When other corporate bodies saw what we did, they jumped on the wagon and wanted to sponsor too. This was because they saw the visibility we were getting from that altruistic gesture.

“So, I usually tell people, the universe is very just. You might undertake an altruistic intervention, but the universe will always repay you as a sowing and reaping intervention.”
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Highlighting his firm’s recent feat that earned the awards, the real estate success strategist said his company was the only one that started investing in corporate social responsibilities (CSR) from the beginning, without waiting to see profit.

“We believe that CSR is part of the fledgling building of the business. So, we start human capital development and social interventions right at the fledgling stage of our project, and we were able to do a lot in Alesa—the community where we are hosting the Alesa Sustainable Smart City Project.”

Addressing the seemingly excited audience at the award night, China said he was joining forces with others to close the gap between Lagos and Port Harcourt in the entertainment sub-sector of the tourism industry.

He said he would work with the organizers and like-minded individuals, such as K.O. Baba Jornsen (a highly rated comedian and investor) and Christian Kendrick (Publisher of the Port Harcourt Magazine), to boost Port Harcourt shows to record capacity crowds from start to finish, as is the case in Lagos.
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On why he has chosen this path, the CEO said that by doing so, he would impact the youths of the state, who he said are its future. His firm is behind the upcoming Alesa Sustainable Smart City Project in Eleme, near Port Harcourt.

Other awardees at the event included the Mayor of Housing, Ibim Semenitari, Ezebunwo Ichemati, Caretaker Committee Chairman of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Victor Oko-Jumbo (the speaker recognized by the Rivers State Executive Council), among others.

He said the 2024 edition is for the elite: “Unlike other editions that were generic, this one features the biggest and the finest; that’s what this edition represents.”

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