By Our Correspondent
Anambra State is exploring its extensive marine tourism potential and plans to establish an international-standard zoo and botanical gardens as part of efforts to transform the state into a major tourism destination.
The Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Udoji Amedu, Esq., disclosed this while outlining the ministry’s priority projects, which also include developing Ogbunike Cave and Owere Ezukala Waterfall into tourism hubs and promoting the historical legacies of prominent Anambra indigenes.
Amedu identified the state’s network of rivers, cultural heritage and historical landmarks as tourism assets that could attract visitors, create employment and stimulate economic activities if properly developed.
On marine tourism, the Commissioner described the Anambra Marine World as an extensive but largely untapped opportunity, citing the waterways linking different parts of the state, from Amansea through the Orumba and Aguata areas to the Omambala River and onward towards the Niger.
He said the development of leisure parks, jetties and organised boat-riding facilities along suitable stretches of the waterways could open up new opportunities for recreation and tourism.
According to him, the state’s marine tourism potential extends across several communities and could support a network of tourism-related businesses if the necessary infrastructure is put in place.
The Commissioner also disclosed plans to establish what he described as a large, international-standard zoo, noting that the South-East currently lacks a zoo of that scale.
“We don’t have any zoo again in the whole South-East. We envision an international, very big zoo, with all kinds of animals,” he said.
Amedu said the ministry was also considering the establishment of botanical gardens at three locations: Ogbunike Cave, Agulu Lake and Owere Ezukala, where the state has substantial land available for the proposed development.
He added that appropriate legislation would be considered to ensure the sustainability of the zoo and botanical garden projects.
Beyond natural attractions, the ministry is seeking to develop literary and legendary tourism by promoting the lives, achievements and historical significance of prominent Anambra personalities.
Amedu explained that tourists often travel to places associated with celebrated personalities to learn about their lives and legacies. He cited his visit to Nelson Mandela’s former home in Soweto, South Africa, in 2001 as an example of how historical sites can attract visitors.
He said Anambra could similarly develop tourism around its notable personalities, creating opportunities for younger generations to learn from their achievements while attracting visitors interested in the state’s history.
To support this initiative, the ministry is considering a Cultural Centre featuring a hall of fame, a royal assembly and an African Village showcasing the distinctive cultural identities and traditions of communities across the state.
The Commissioner also highlighted community-based tourism as another priority, disclosing that the ministry was compiling a comprehensive calendar of cultural festivals and tourism events across Anambra.
The proposed compendium, expected to be available by December 2026, would help visitors plan their trips around major cultural celebrations and community events.
Among the events being considered are the Anam Sand Beach Carnival and the Ofala of Igwe Nnewi, alongside other cultural activities across the state.
“We are putting together community events that meet tourist expeditions like the Anam Sand Beach Carnival, Ofala Igwe Nnewi, and many others. We will experiment with this by December,” Amedu said.
The proposed initiatives signal the ministry’s intention to broaden Anambra’s tourism offerings beyond conventional cultural celebrations by combining its waterways, natural attractions, historical personalities and community festivals into a more organised tourism sector.
