The Commissioner for Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, Barr. Jerry Egemba, has identified Imo State as a tourism hub in Nigeria, having made huge economic gains from tourists and investors.
Egemba said this is made possible by the Shared Prosperity administration being championed by Governor Hope Uzodimma who has done projects that really transform the state, thereby attracting real investors and tourists who he reiterated add to the improvement of the state economy.
The Commissioner disclosed this in his address during the celebration of World Tourism Day Extravaganza 2025, held at City Cruz Hotel Owerri, on Thursday, organized by Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, Imo State.
Reflecting on the theme of the event, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation: The Imo Idea”, Egemba hinted that the infrastructure, the hotels, local food/ delicacies, cultures, entertainment, among others, define and beautify the state, hence placing it strategically as a rich tourism destination in Nigeria.
“Under the purposeful leadership of Uzodimma, Imo is rapidly evolving into a hub of culture, hospitality, creativity and enterprise. We are not just constructing roads, we are connecting dreams, we are not only building hotels, we are building hope, we are not only developing tourist sites, we are transforming lives.
“The proposed Nwaorie/Otamiri Best-in-Class All-Service Recreational Facility will soon redefine leisure and lifestyle tourism in Nigeria.
“Imo is also blessed with immense creative energy. Our Nollywood stars, filmmakers, actors and producers, many of whom proudly hail from Imo, play a vital role in telling our stories to the world. Their movies showcase our landscapes, music, fashion and heritage, serving as powerful ambassadors of Imo’s cultural richness and hospitality.
“By working closely with the creative sector, the Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture is fostering collaborations that make film, fashion and art integral pillars of the state’s tourism development.
“Our local cuisines, indigenous music, vibrant markets and the legendary hospitality of our people continue to define the Imo experience: Warm, memorable and deeply humane.
“As we celebrate this year’s World Tourism Day, let us renew our collective commitment to making Imo truly the heartbeat of hospitality and creativity in Nigeria”, Egemba added.
The event which featured talks, presentation, graced by stakeholders in the tourism sector, was made more colorful with drama, music, modelling (catwalking) and comedy.
