Natasha Hosts European Ambassadors on Kogi Investment Tour

Natasha Hosts European Ambassadors on Kogi Investment Tour

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, recently guided four European ambassadors, from Belgium, Denmark, Italy and Spain, on a tour of the state’s cultural sites, tourism spots and local industries. The goal was to highlight the region’s economic opportunities and open doors for investment and humanitarian partnerships that could generate jobs, grow small businesses and improve living standards.The diplomats explored historical landmarks, met local artisans and experienced the traditions and hospitality of the Ebira people. The visit started at Lord Lugard’s Rest House on Mount Patti in Lokoja and the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers, then moved into Kogi Central for cultural activities and community interactions.Italy’s Ambassador Roberto Mengoni called the river confluence a symbol of national unity and voiced optimism about future partnerships, noting that “Kogi is very rich” and thanking the senator for arranging the trip. Belgium’s Ambassador Pieter Leenknegt praised a hiking expedition around the historic hills of Ihima and the chance to sample the area’s landscape, culture and cuisine.The programme featured a stop at Obeiba Hill, where the guests tried traditional foods such as akara, apapa and akamu. They also watched local production methods for shea butter and palm kernel oil, black soap, pottery and traditional Ebira cloth weaving, along with a masquerade performance that showcased community culture and arts.Denmark’s Ambassador Jens Hansen (also referred to as Bach Hansen in some accounts) admired the skills of local artisans, especially women working in pottery, traditional clothing and other crafts. He said the products showed creativity and determination and offered potential for business growth and wider markets.Akpoti-Uduaghan told the group that Kogi Central’s potential goes beyond tourism to include indigenous industries, skilled workers and entrepreneurial communities. Discussions covered investment and humanitarian opportunities, with the senator expressing hope that the contacts would lead to lasting benefits for residents. “To attract investment, we must give people the chance to see our strengths for themselves: our skills, our enterprise, our culture and our people,” she said.A planned tour of the Ajaokuta Steel Company did not take place after access was reportedly denied despite a written request from the senator. The group could only view the complex from outside the gates. Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed disappointment and repeated her call for the plant’s revival, describing it as central to Nigeria’s industrial goals and the future of her constituents. The long-idle facility remains a symbol of unfulfilled industrial ambitions despite past government efforts to complete and operate it.The senator thanked community leaders, residents and artisans for their warm welcome, which helped present the Ebira nation to an international audience. She also expressed gratitude to the four ambassadors, Leenknegt, Hansen, Mengoni and Spain’s Félix Costales Artieda for accepting the invitation and engaging with local communities.The visit was intended to promote Kogi Central’s tourism assets, cultural heritage and indigenous enterprises in the hope of attracting partnerships and investment. Details of the tour were provided in a statement from the senator’s media aide, Mike Idoko, in Abuja. 

Source: Natasha Hosts European Ambassadors on Kogi Investment Tour



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