As you all know, I went to Akwete in Ukwa East LGA of Abia State today and I documented my experience there accros all my Social Media channels.
The responses have been massive and torrential. Apparently, people have been yearning for this over time and are frustrated that we are not doing more with the opportunities we have.
The natural and lazy refrain is to blame government but I dare ask: must government do everything? Will government come and impregnate your wife for you?
One of those who reached out to me is from Akwete based in the UK. She informed me that last Christmas, she and her colleagues at work in the UK travelled to Morocco for Christmas and the village they stayed in, what made it popular was that they make rugs. Hand-woven rugs. People travelled from all over the world to come and witness the rugs being made and took photographs of themselves involved in the rug-making process. They were there for 5 days. Sleeping, playing, waking up and excitedly going to join in making rugs.
And she thought to herself, my mothers and grandmothers in Akwete make fabrics basically using the same manual looming technology. If this village in Morocco where they don’t even speak English can attract international visitors to come and witness rugs being made, why can’t her Akwete do the same?
Another gentleman also living abroad told me that some of the places they have gone to for holidays are only popular for their local brew. Villages in South Africa serving Nkhombothi, places in Gambia and Kenya that boast of a drink that can knock you out in one sip and people travel from all over the world to come and dare the drink and prove that they can stand after one glass! And yet Ukwa has Etetem and Ekpeteshi. Washing and Setting and Nwokea Ibiala Ozo.
Examples abound of global localities that are earning huge foreign exchange off tourism. Whole countries in the Caribbean that their economy is dependent on tourism forex. We have the goods. Why are we not exploring and exploiting them?
The thing with tourists is that they do not require much western embellishments. Tourists are seeking an authentic, original local experience different from what they are used to everyday so you don’t even need much modernisation to attract them. They want what you have the way it is.
If properly harnessed, Ukwa East has authentic cultural and traditional tourism attractions. From the Akwete looms to the local brew, the Ikoro Azumini to the Azumini Blue River. That is hundreds of millions of dollars lying fallow.
So what do I recommend?
Build activities and hype around cultural events like the Ikoro Azumini. Package tours to the Akwete Looms. Set up some basic accommodations for visitors and tourists. Make the Azumini Blue River ‘swimable’. And you have a goldmine in your hands.
Someone like me only knew about Ikoro Azumini on the day it was happening and I am very active accros social media so that means that there was no hype around it. It shouldn’t be so. Let us build hype around our local tourism events and the world will come. Our children are travelling to other places on holidays and hardly return home. It is because they have not been given a reason to return. If we give them a reason, not only will they return, they will bring their friends.
Imagine this sequence of activities:
Day 1. Ikoro Azumini Festival where foreigners tie the george and participate in local dances.
Day 2. Visit to Akwete Looms where they participate in the process of making Akwete and go back with Akwete clothes which they’ll cherish forever and tell their friends about.
Day 3. Visit to the Azumini Blue River where they’ll have a portion to swim and a bar will be set up with local brews.
Varieties of these events can be replicated for another 2 days.
You will be empowering the locals with jobs serving as tour guides, lodging at local accommodations, money for our mothers when they buy Akwete, popularity of the community, pictures all over social media.
My friends who travel on vacation mostly have never been to where they travel to. They only decided to go based on pictures they saw of the amount of fun those who went had. We can replicate this.
Ukwa sons and daughters living outside Ukwa can come together and organise a visit inviting their friends. Government can provide security assurance and minimal involvement. If it is driven by government, it fizzles away if the next government is not so inclined but if it is driven by the people, it has better chances of catching fire.
I know for a fact that the current Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is passionate about the total development of every sector of Abia State. Ukwa people can take advantage of this passion and work with the Governor to start a tourism event that brings people together. It can be driven by community associations with the support of government.
It is huge. Let us take advantage of this opportunity to put money in the hands of our mothers, brothers and sisters. All tourists like going back with memntos of places they’ve been and we’ll be developing the economy of Ukwa.
I am willing to work with all who are interested to flesh out this movement and I have no doubt that my boss, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu will be glad to support concrete steps.
Let’s take advantage of what nature has given us.
Let’s make it happen.
#DestinationUkwa
We are ready. Are you?
#MadeInAbia
Ugwu Ngwu.
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