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Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has emphasized his commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy to elevate the state’s historic landmarks, such as Milliken Hills and Iva Valley, to global prominence. His vision aims to position these sites as symbols of cultural heritage and economic potential, drawing international attention to their significance.
During a meeting with Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Governor Peter Mbah shared his strategic goals for enhancing Enugu State’s cultural appeal. The visit, detailed in a Monday statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Nneka Anibeze, reflected a shared vision for fostering global recognition of the state’s historic sites.
Governor Mbah drew attention to Enugu’s distinctive cultural and geographical heritage, poetically referring to it as the “city atop the hill.” He emphasized the state’s elevated status, not just geographically but also in its potential to serve as a cultural and economic beacon for the nation.
Highlighting Enugu’s natural treasures, Governor Mbah noted that the state is home to Nigeria’s largest collection of waterfalls and caves. Landmarks such as Awhum and Iva Valley, he remarked, possess immense capacity to boost tourism and create economic opportunities.
“We have some rolling hills, and we believe that some of them qualify as heritage sites. Enugu also has the highest number of waterfalls and caves, with prominent ones in Awhum, where we hope to construct a canopy walkway, and in Iva Valley, where we plan to introduce a zipline and other attractions,” the governor said.
Outlining his ambitious plans for the state’s tourism sector, Mbah revealed his target of attracting at least three million visitors annually.
“Our goal is to draw a minimum of three million tourists to Enugu every year. To achieve this, we are leveraging the natural attractions and building infrastructure to incentivize tourism.
“We are developing a state-of-the-art International Conference Centre with the vision of making Enugu the conference capital of Africa. For sites like Milliken Hill, we aim to not only secure UNESCO heritage recognition but also establish a world-class theme park there, which is already in the design phase.”
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Mbah emphasised the state’s significant investment in tourism, with plans to create memorable experiences for visitors at waterfalls, caves, and other key attractions.
In her response, the minister commended the governor’s vision and pledged the ministry’s support in bringing the plans to fruition.
“I am excited to work with you and your team. We are developing a comprehensive strategy for all states, and I look forward to collaborating closely with the Tourism, Cultural, and Creative Ministries in Enugu to highlight what the eastern region of Nigeria has to offer,” Musawa said.
In a bid to improve land management and efficiency, the Enugu State government has officially launched the Enugu State Geographic Information System. This development signals a significant step toward digitizing land administration, ensuring greater accessibility and accountability in land-related matters.
At the launch of the Enugu State Geographic Information System on Monday, Governor Mbah described the development as a game-changer for land management in the state. He stressed that the system would address issues like land grabbing, unapproved constructions, and double allocations, ultimately improving transparency and reducing financial losses in the sector.
Made possible by the Enugu State Geographic Information System Service Bill, signed into law by Governor Mbah in March 2024, the ENGIS initiative is a clear demonstration of the state’s commitment to improving land administration. The bill provided the legal framework needed to bring this progressive project to life.
