Egukawhore canvasses east-west road rehabilitation for tourism possibilities of N’Delta

Oil magnate and chief executive of De Wayles Group of Companies, High Chief Emomena Victor Wayles Egukawhore, has called for the urgent rehabilitation of all the failed portions of the ever-busy East-West highway, to harness tourism potential and make the Niger Delta region a destination for tourism.

He made thus call at the fourth anniversary and commemoration of the transition of his mother, late Deaconess (Mrs) Magdalene Zipuamere Egukawho (nee Okoro), tagged, “Enduring Love for Motherhood” which was held in Patani local govt area of Delta State.

Egukawhore, while addressing journalists and guests at the annual event expressed the need to exhibit part of his philanthropy to the community while stating that the annual event was to primarily immortalise and honour his beloved mother, who passed on four years ago and left a lasting legacy behind for the family and the society at large.

The celebration drew the creme de la creme of the society to the agrarian community of Patani in Delta State to celebrate the fourth anniversary of ‘enduring love for motherhood’.

Bayelsa State Commissioner for Tourism, Dr. Iti Onigbani, reiterated the need for Federal and various State Governments in the Niger Delta region to explore the hidden tourism potentialities of the region in addition to their enormous oil and gas endowments, to boost their local economy and foreign exchange earnings.

He also emphasised the urgent need for cultural reawakening in the region through teaching and learning of the indigenous languages in schools “to avoid the indigenous languages of the Niger Delta from going into extinction.”

Onigbani stated that the Niger Delta region of Nigeria is endowed with a lot of festivals and cultural events that are tourist attractions, and qualify as tourism destinations, noting that if extensively explored, they would add to the socioeconomic development of the region.

He said, “Apart from the prospects of oil and gas in the Niger Delta region, it is high time the Federal Government and the various States explore the tourism and cultural potentialities of the region.

“One of the numerous untapped tourism potentialities of the Niger Delta region is the Seigbein festival of Kabowei Kingdom, a subset of the Niger Delta.

“Seigbein festival alongside other festivals and cultural products in the Niger Delta region are money spinners because both local and foreign investors will be attracted to the region to invest their money, if adequately explored,” he stated.

While canvassing for increased investments in the tourism sector in the Niger Delta region, the Commissioner, however, emphasised the need for improved security across the area, saying “this is highly imperative to further boost the confidence of potential tourists.”

In attendance at the event which featured Christian memorial service, tributes and cultural displays, among others, were traditional rulers, government officials, captains of industry as well as members of the public, drawn in their numbers particularly from Bayelsa, Delta and Enugu States.

Among the dignitaries was the paramount ruler of the town, HRH Emmanuel Arikawei, MD/CEO Etopo Energy Ltd, the Ebenanaowei of Obotebe Kingdom in Burutu LGA of Delta State, as well as High Chief Tunde Smooth leading representatives of the captains of industry.