UYO
To promote sustainable tourism vision of the Akwa Ibom governor, Pastor Umo Eno, and to position the State as a leading tourism destination in Nigeria, nay West Africa, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in partnership with Akwa Ibom Hotels and Tourism Board, has organised the World Tourism Day, 2025 in a grand style with unique features to spice up the celebration.
The colourful celebration, which had as its theme, “Focusing on sustainable transformation,” featured an eco-friendly road walk that aligned with the 2025 global theme; a clean-up drive at key tourism areas in the state with emphasis on environmental cleanliness, as well as community engagement, which aimed at sensitising residents on sustainable tourism practices and Akwa Ibom’s tourism potentials.
The road walk took off from the Nwaniba Water Fountain, a popular tourist site in the State with participants undertaking stop-over sensitisation and awareness campaigns around menacing dump sites along the road, which is the gateway to Ibom Icon Hotels and Golf Resort – a foremost highbrow hospitality facility in Akwa Ibom, to advocate for a cleaner, greener, and eco-friendly environment, and terminated at Atiku Abubakar Way underbridge, designed by Uyo Capital City Development Authority, UCCDA, spotlighting the state’s beautification strides.
The event enjoyed the partnership and support of Akwa Ibom State Waste Management Agency, AKSEPWMA, UCCDA, Ministry of Environment, the local government chairmen of Uruan, Uyo, and Itu, Ibom Air, Bulletine Construction Limited, Ibom Airport Development Company Limited, IADCL, Akwa Ibom Hotel Owners Association and various tourism stakeholders.
The commissioner for culture and tourism, Dr Anieti Udofia, at each stop over point, said the World Tourism Day, observed globally on September 27 but shifted in Akwa Ibom to October 4, 2025, due to state engagement, presented an opportunity for tourism stakeholders to raise awareness on the need for citizens’ involvement in environmental protection as a measure towards maintaining a green and clean environment for the benefit of tourists which, he acknowledged, was fast becoming a destination of choice.
Udofia, flanked by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mrs Grace Akpan, noted that the celebration showcased the unique culture and tourism trails of Akwa Ibom, featuring the road walk and eco-friendly clean-up exercise undertaken in partnership with relevant government ministries and agencies as well as stakeholders in the tourism sector.
He said the road walk and clean up exercise were to sensitise the public and let them know what Gov Umo Eno has done in the last two years in driving tourism and also let them know that they were part and parcel of the tourism sub-sector of the ARISE Agenda, as tourism was the next business in the state, after oil.
The commissioner acknowledged the achievement of the governor in the areas of tourism in line with the ARISE Agenda, and called on residents to partner the government in its vision of attaining a cleaner, greener, and eco-friendly city, by keeping their environment clean and waste-free.
He thanked all stakeholders in the sector and chairmen of Uyo, Itu and Uruan Local Government councils, for their participation and contribution towards the successful hosting of the event.
Addressing residents of Idu-Uruan in Uruan Local Government Area, and Itam in Itu Local Government Area, the chairman of Akwa Ibom State Hotels and Tourism Board, Mrs Ime Usen Udo, said the community engagement was aimed at sensitising the locals on sustainable tourism practices.
Udo stressed the need for residents to join hands and make Akwa Ibom a tourism destination in Nigeria by always keeping their environment clean at all times, as it was one of the major ways to attract tourists to the State.
She acknowledged the governor’s drive towards tourism development which, according to her, has placed Akwa Ibom as a destination of choice in the country, urging stakeholders in the tourism sector to be actively involved in the drive towards tourism development and sustenance, as enshrined in the ARISE Agenda, saying success in the sector demands all hands to be on deck.
Udo applauded all stakeholders for participating in the celebration, saying their participation and collaboration was an indication that they understand what tourism is all about.
The immediate past national president of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, FTAN, and senior special assistant to the governor on tourism, Mr Nkereuwem Onung, state coordinator, FTAN, Mr Joseph Umoh, State chairman, Association of Hotel Owners in Nigeria, Mr Daniel Udoh, among others, highlighted the benefits that accrue from tourism and sued for active participation of the people in tourism development in Akwa Ibom by ensuring cleaner and safer environment that would attract tourists to the State.
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