… as cycling seems to make a compelling case to invest in Port Harcourt
Sports may emerge as a handy tool for states to fight for investment attention in the new determination to diversify their economies and reduce dependence on federal allocations.
Rivers State and some other states like Abia, Delta and Akwa Ibom have begun huge investments in sports to prove the safety status of their states and groom talented youths to actualise their potentials and earn revenue.
The Rivers Golden Jubilee Committee, with the full mandate of the state government led by Governor Nyesom Wike, has taken bold steps in promoting sports and entertainment, two key pillars of Port Harcourt, as a brand over the years.
On Sunday, April 9, cycling contest shook the streets and major motorways of the Garden City and beyond to mark one of Golden Jubilee events marking 50 years of Rivers State. It was well attended with over 120 cyclists from across Nigeria converging on Port Harcourt. The seasoned cyclists put up what spectators described as a very good performance.
A business tycoon standing by the roadside said, “For once, this state is held spellbound by cyclists.”
The spectators came from the top echelon of business – investors, administrators, professional people, students, and many more. There were six different categories and the state seemed awash in excitement and colours. There was top-notch security, police and road agencies like Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), thus the event seemed to go smoothly.
The president of Rivers Entrepreneurs and Investors Forum (REIF), Ibifri Bobmanuel, said, “This goes further to show that Rivers State is ready for business; a good destination for business.”
The cyclists rode up to 160km, making investors believe that the state was safe and harmonious after all. The speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikuni Obani, was on hand to do the flag-off. There were members from the Golden Jubilee Committee, the alternate chairman, OCJ Okocha, commissioners including the commissioner for sports, special advisers, and many more. “It was a worthwhile event, very interesting,” Bobmanuel said.
Some of the cyclists that came from outside the state and country confessed that Rivers State truly had huge potential for cycling.
According to the cycling officials, Rivers has one of the best teams in cycling in Nigeria. Bobmanuel added, “Because of such skills in the sport, it will only be fair that the governor would make them part of the Golden Jubilee celebration, and it is very clear that he did not make a mistake. I am a private sector person, and as president of the REIF, my interest is the investment atmosphere of the state. As we try to attract investments into Rivers State, it gives us what to point to. When you look at the success of such an outdoor event that stretches far and wide, it would speak loud in telling the status of the host city.”
Other members of the committee said this whole jubilee is about cultural and tourism exhibition of Rivers State. “It will interest you that Port Harcourt has the best polo club in West Africa and we are going to have a polo tournament this April to add to this exhibition.
“The wrestling contest has already started, going round all the local council headquarters of the state. You also have boat regatta coming. It is going to be huge, very huge. Different local councils are going to compete. There will be a night of fanfare where different artistes would perform and thrill the people of Rivers State,” according to the REIF president.
The governor is expected to deliver a ‘State of the State’ address to lay the entire story of Rivers State in clear perspective; “where we were, where we are, and where we are heading to. The state is at attention, waiting to hear this milestone address”, he stated.
There would be commissioning of projects on different dates. “Most importantly, as an investor, this whole golden jubilee give me further impetus to talk strongly about Rivers State because my product as an investor (investing all my assets in the state and region), my larger product is Rivers State. If my state is positioned like the governor is doing it, my business is going to do well. It is this prospect that excites the investment community in Rivers State.”
The cyclists thrilled the populace for 160 km up to Elele, up to the boundary with Imo State. They flagged off from Aggrey Road to Elele, out of Port Harcourt, to the bigger Elele, did a U-turn and came back through the Airport, Rukpokwu, Eliozu, Aba Road and finished at Azikiwe road, few blocks away from the Government house.
Bobmanuel said, “We proceeded to presentation of awards at the Port Harcourt club football section where we hosted the cyclists to an interesting and mouth-watering session plus gala nigh and exhibition.
“These events have continued to progress without any security breaches. This sends clear signals to the business community around the country and beyond. As a person, I feel the Port Harcourt has not been given fair media trial. I live and do business in Port Harcourt. When I listen to persons outside Port Harcourt talk about the city and ask them their source of information, they would say they read it in the newspapers.
“This is wrong. Port Harcourt is a good place to come and do business. It is the oil hub of Nigeria contributing over 90 per cent of the country’s revenue. Port Harcourt is the hub of this engine (oil/gas). Ordinarily, this should endure you to this city and there are tons of funs in this city.”
He went on: “If you invest Port Harcourt, you stand a better chance to recoup the funds. The first principle of business is to identify your target market. This leads to knowing the loose funds that can patronize you. By the fact that Rivers State is the hub of the hydrocarbon industry, it ordinarily gives any investor the target market of your investment.
“If you invest here and invest rightly, you will swim in prosperity; ask the likes of Indorama, NLNG, etc. The NLNG is the largest single investment in Nigeria. This points to only one direction; Port Harcourt is the right place to invest.”
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