Tourism Board GM Guides Others in Exploring Potential and Investment Opportunities
Since Bilkisu Abdulsalam Ogueyi’s appointment as the General Manager of the Kogi State Hotels and Tourism Board, the state’s various tourism attractions have gained significant attention. Ogueyi, a former president of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) and a tour operator with over 20 years of experience, is effectively applying her expertise in her home state of Kogi.
After familiarizing herself with her responsibilities, she quickly began engaging with stakeholders in the state and pursuing collaborations with the private tourism sector—her area of strength—as well as relevant organizations outside the state to enhance the tourism industry.
One notable engagement took place in Lagos, where she met with Wanle Akinboboye, the founder and president of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort. During her visit to this premier African-themed beach resort in Ikegun, Ibeju-Lekki, she sought a partnership with Akinboboye, who successfully manages beach resorts and other tourism initiatives across Nigeria, Africa, and the Caribbean.
The elevation of the area ranges from 300 to 600 meters above sea level, featuring a landscape marked by rugged terrains, natural caves, and ironstone pavements.
Among its tourism highlights, the Agbaja Plateau offers breathtaking views and expansive vistas of the surrounding plains. It attracts geologists and nature lovers due to its distinctive ironstone formations and is home to local communities with rich traditions. Additionally, it houses a historical rest house linked to Lord Lugard from the colonial era.
Another highlight of the trip was the visit to the Confluence River, the iconic meeting point of the Niger and Benue Rivers in Lokoja, making it one of Nigeria’s most important geographical landmarks. Notably, the confluence creates a Y-shape, where the clearer waters of the Niger River merge with the muddier, silt-laden waters of the Benue River, offering numerous tourism attractions.
The scenic beauty of the confluence is best appreciated at sunrise or sunset, when the dramatic lighting enhances the surrounding vegetation and hills, making it a destination worth visiting.
At an elevation of about 458 meters above sea level, Mount Patti provides breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. More importantly, it is a significant historical site, featuring a colonial rest house associated with Lord Lugard, Nigeria’s first governor-general.
In addition to its cultural significance and recreational visits by locals, the mountain serves as a haven for adventurers, featuring hiking trails that can be accessed via a challenging hike or a motorable road.
Moreover, Jimbe Beach, located along the riverbanks in Kogi State, provides a serene environment for relaxation and outdoor activities. The beach boasts sandy shores surrounded by lush vegetation, and its proximity to fishing communities allows visitors to immerse themselves in local culture.
As anticipated, the beach offers numerous tourism highlights, including perfect spots for picnics, sunbathing, and leisure activities. It also features water activities, with opportunities for fishing, swimming, and boat rides.
During the visit, there was an opportunity to interact with local fishermen and their families.
Additionally, the trip allowed the team to evaluate the tourism infrastructure in the state, beginning with Lokoja. They reviewed the challenges and made recommendations where necessary. The general manager and her team identified several issues.
For the Agbaja Plateau, the challenges included poor road infrastructure that hinders accessibility, a lack of tourist facilities such as accommodations and guided tours, and insufficient organized promotional efforts to attract visitors.
Regarding the Confluence River, the team noted challenges such as inadequate maintenance of viewing platforms and tourist infrastructure, limited signage and informational resources for visitors. For Mount Patti, major challenges included rugged terrain that deters some visitors, lack of maintenance for historical structures, and limited facilities.
Conversely, Jimbe Beach faces challenges related to limited infrastructure and a lack of promotional activities to attract visitors.
The trip, which also served as a fact-finding mission, provided an opportunity for the Ogueyi-led team to make recommendations. These include: enhancing infrastructure, developing eco-tourism projects to preserve the plateau, promoting guided and community-based tourism initiatives, establishing designated viewing areas, offering guided river cruises to enrich the visitor experience, and organizing annual cultural festivals to celebrate the rivers’ significance.
Additional suggestions include creating safer hiking trails with proper signage, restoring and preserving colonial-era structures, providing on-site guides, adding recreational amenities at the beach, introducing water sports, hosting cultural events to attract visitors, and implementing eco-friendly tourism policies to protect the natural environment.
In her conclusion, the general manager of the Kogi State Tourism and Hotel Board noted that the destinations visited collectively offer a unique combination of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and historical significance. “By improving infrastructure, promoting eco-tourism, and preserving our natural and cultural resources, we can unlock their full potential as prime tourist attractions in Nigeria,” she stated.
She also promised further trips to explore other tourism areas in the state, emphasizing the importance of actions and collaborations to attract investors for developing these attractions into notable destinations.
