By Chinyere Nnaemeka
The Imo State Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture has joined the global community to commemorate the 2025 World Tourism Day, with a colourful ceremony themed “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation: The Imo Idea.”
The event, tagged “World Tourism Day Extravaganza 2025,” was held at City Cruz Hotel, New Owerri, and featured a vibrant showcase of Imo’s rich cultural heritage through performances, exhibitions, and artistic displays.
Guests were thrilled with traditional dance performances by Unique Nursery and Primary School and the Omenimo Cultural Troupe, as well as Imo traditional songs by members of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN). There were also drama presentations by the Creative Art Unit of the ministry, comedies, a fashion parade, and a lecture on the theme of the celebration.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, Hon. Jerry Egbule Egemba, who represented the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, emphasized that the year’s theme underscores the role of tourism as a catalyst for sustainable development.
He noted that tourism goes beyond leisure, describing it as “a driving force for economic development, social inclusion, and the preservation of culture and heritage.”
Egemba commended Governor Uzodimma for his outstanding contributions toward transforming Imo into a thriving tourism and hospitality hub, outlining several key projects under the governor’s 3R mantra – Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Recovery.
According to him, over 120 quality roads have been constructed across the state, including the Mgbidi–Oguta Road, which connects Oguta Lake — Imo’s foremost natural tourist attraction — to major commercial routes.
He further cited the Assumpta Flyover as a modern engineering feat that enhances mobility and beautifies Owerri, while supporting tourism by linking visitors to hotels, markets, and cultural landmarks.
Egemba also highlighted the revitalization of the Imo Concorde Hotel, ongoing efforts to upgrade the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre, and the Oguta Lake–Atlantic Ocean Waterway Dredging Project, which, he said, would create new opportunities for eco-tourism, boat cruises, and marine recreation.
The commissioner disclosed that a modern zoo and the Nwaorie–Otamiri All-Service Recreational Facility are under development to provide world-class leisure and family entertainment experiences. He added that initiatives like “One Kindred, One Business” and “One Community, One Project” are designed to promote community-driven tourism and empower local entrepreneurs.
Egemba reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to promoting Imo’s creative sector — film, fashion, music, and art — as integral pillars of tourism development. He also announced plans for an Imo Tourism Brand Campaign and youth empowerment programmes in tourism management, catering, tour guiding, and digital marketing.
“Governor Uzodimma’s administration is determined to make Imo the heartbeat of hospitality and creativity in Nigeria,” Egemba declared, urging citizens to support the state’s tourism transformation agenda.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and founder of Paddy Obinna’s Gallery, Nda Paddy Obinna, commended the Uzodimma administration for its infrastructural development and tourism-oriented vision.
“I have travelled to over 22 countries and understand the importance of infrastructure to tourism. What I see happening in Imo shows that the governor has the mindset to make the state Nigeria’s tourism hub,” he said
They all pledged to collaborate with the state government in advancing the tourism sector.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Engr. Chibuikem Diala described Imo as a land of immense tourism potential — from the serene Oguta Lake, to the cultural heart of Owerri, and the festival-rich communities of Orlu and Okigwe.
He emphasized that Imo’s unique blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and warm hospitality presents a strong foundation for sustainable tourism and economic transformation.
Also delivering goodwill messages were Victor Nwokocha, Convener of the Imo Heritage Awards; Chikodi Francis Nwafor, Chairman of the Imo State Chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria; and Onyehanam Chibueze, Chairman of the Imo State Photographers Association (ISPPA), among others.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary), Prof. B.T.O. Ikegwuoha, and the Director-General of the Ahiajoku Centre, Nze Ray Emeagha, among several stakeholders in the hospitality and cultural sectors.
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