Owerri,the capital of Imo State at last count has over 2,500 hotels with more than 500 under construction. However, many residents are not comfortable with this growing trend as they believe it’s encouraging prostitution, immoralities and other negative vices.
Personally, I see this as positive development and government must key into this sector and use it to transform Imo State and put Owerri in the world tourism map.
HOW CAN GOVERNMENT KEY INTO THIS SECTOR?
1.Food Tourism: Imo State Government through the ministry of culture and tourism should organize cooking competition where recipe for ‘Ofe Owerri’ ,’ugba’,’abasha’’,ukwa’,’ofe uha,’ofe ede’ and local delicacies will be improved upon and promoted. Traditional food courts/shops should be built around the capital city preferably in New Owerri Area where certified food vendors who must adhere to basic hygiene and standard for preparing these delicacies will sell their foods to the public.
2.Cultural Theatre: A traditional cultural theatre should be built inside the Heroes Squares or one of those empty buildings should be converted to a traditional theatre (village square) where old men and women will be performing traditional dance steps,tell stories through music(egwu nwa ngbaka),folk tales and jokes .Each performance will commence by traditional breaking of Kola nuts and exchange of greetings by titled men. Spectators will be required to pay entrance fee to gain access the venue.
3.Traditional Carnivals: Instead of emulating the Brazilians and other Western countries we should develop our own traditional Carnival where different groups dance local steps in local costumes, traditional wrestling match amongst local governments ,traditional beauty contest where the contestants are tested in their knowledge of Igbo language and culture.Music /comedy (‘njakiri’) talent hunt and conferment of Chieftaincy Title to deserving Imolite by the Chairman of Imo State Council of traditional rulers should also form part of the carnival.
4.Cultural Park: A cultural park should be build where children and adults can visit to play traditional games like Swe’,Draft,Uga’,Ala Ncho ..People should have the feel of living in a mud house,sleeping in a bamboo bed,drinking from clay pot,playing in the rain and enjoying traditional sauna.
5.Traditional Medical tourism: A designated spot should be reserved for traditional medicine practitioners and herbalists.Their operations must be regulated,promoted and improved upon where necessary.
6.Traditional fashion and craft: Government should be build a cluster for tailors,bead makers,shoes makers,walking stick calver,mat maker, and other traditional fashion makers to practice their trade.This cluster should be built in a unique way and must be strategically located to encourage visitors to the State to want to patronize them.
7.Conventional and traditional sports tourism: Government should build a multipurpose stadium with sporting academies and organize competitions and sports events. The ministry of sports should form at least 27 football teams and invite prominent indigenes to become the patrons and promoters of such teams. The promoters of the clubs will be required to invest in their team to enable them vie for trophies in and outside the State.
8.New Yam Festival: New Yam festival should be a state wide festival organized and promoted by the State.The State New Yam Festival will bring all the Ezes and Nze N'Ozos under one roof to celebrate the beginning of Igbo New Year.This will not stop communities from performing their own new yam festival.
9.August meeting: August meeting should also be a state wide festival that will draw all chair ladies and executives of town unions in the State to have a 3 days meeting with Her Excellency to discuss issues that concerns women and the society.The meeting will be televised and awards will be given to deserving women and town unions.
**** Excerpt from the article I will be publishing in a popular Owerri local daily soon.Ideas and suggestions are welcome.Don't correct the grammar ooo...i get proofreader and editor.Ideas,suggestions and criticisms are welcome.
Ukpabi Ifeanyi
Rural Development Consultant
08034911406

I love this but wait ooooo, who are you to advise Emperor Arch Duke King Rochasov Okorochav in Imo State ?

I doubt that 2500 number as it is exaggeration though I personally feel the concentration of hotels and oringo things is too high and needs to be checked

BuddahMonk:
I love this but wait ooooo, who are you to advise Emperor Arch Duke King Rochasov Okorochav in Imo State ?

Na so jaey.

nice post

I am not adviser to Rochas.The idea can be implemented in any State in Nigeria.

asha80:
I doubt that 2500 number as it is exaggeration though I personally feel the concentration of hotels and oringo things is too high and needs to be checked

Ofcourse Owerri does not have 2,500 hotels nor does it have 500 hotel under construction anywhere.
Owerri does have a good number of hotels about 50.

However, If people dont invest we complain, if they do we complain. I don't see anything wrong in the hospitality sector. Whether you build hotels or not, ashewo will exist and will use any shanty for their business. What they should concentrate on isn't to stop people from investing, but building of resorts where people can come and have activities for a whole week.

Obudu cattle ranch sort of resort and the Tinapa water parks are usually great and easy fun activities to build. Especially in our warm climate.