…Set for maiden Investment and Tourism Expo
By: Felix Ikpotor
As part of deliberate efforts aimed at exposing dragging investors to Bonny Island, the Bonny Chamber of Industry, Mines and Agriculture (Bonny Chambers) has entered into a partnership with the Rivers State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, to promote investments opportunities in Bonny Local Government Area of the State.
The partnership deed was signed shortly after the president of the chamber, Mrs. Constance Ngozi Nwokejiobi, briefed the council on its forthcoming Investment and Tourism Expo tagged “1st BITE of Bonny 2025,” at the NUJ secretariat in Port Harcourt.
Nwokejiobo said the Expo is a bold and strategic initiative aimed at celebrating the beauty, potential, and abundant opportunity embedded in Bonny Island.
The Bonny Chamber president explained that the expo which is in two phases is expected to be held between June 9–12, 2025 and December 8-12, 2025.
She said the Expo would also stimulate youths involvement in entrepreneurship in the council area.
“BITE 2025 is a platform designed to stimulate the local economy, promote youth entrepreneurship, and elevate Bonny Island as a vibrant destination for commerce, culture, and tourism. It is both an investment drive and a destination marketing campaign, drawing global attention to the island’s business potential, rich heritage, and hospitality,” she said.
She explained further that the phase 1 of the Expo which is tagged “Light Up Bonny Island”would feature the grand opening at the Bonny Kingdom Consulate Bonny Youth Entrepreneurs Workshop and Inauguration and would focus on access to finance, business development toolkits, business-to-business mentorship opportunities for youths, Coalition of South-South Chambers of Commerce (COSSCCIMA) second quarter meeting in preparation for Business to Business engagement at the 4th Afri-Caribbean Trade & Investment Forum in Grenada, Caribbean amongst others.
Nwokejiobo added that the second Phase slated for December 8–12, 2025 would be the conference proper and would feature corporate and MSME exhibitionsFood and Cultural Festival spotlighting of Bonny’s heritage and tourism strengths.
She said the core objectives of the conference would be launching of expressions of interest for the Bonny Kingdom Free Trade Zone and Industrial Park, stimulate the local economy through entrepreneurship, cultural enterprise, and tourism, position Bonny as a destination brand for commerce, leisure, and cultural exchange amongst others.
While advocating for increased investment in the council, the Chamber president emphasized that Bonny is safe for investors adding that the area has a natural deep-sea harbour and extensive shorelines, presence of major international oil companies including NLNG, Renaissance (SPDC), and Seplat (ExxonMobil), the Bonny-Bodo Road (43 km) connecting the island to the mainland, a functioning airstrip/airport and rich cultural heritage and vibrant annual festivals.
Responding, the Chairman of NUJ Rivers State Council, Comrade Paul Bazia-Nsaneh expressed appreciation to the chamber for the partnership.
He noted that part of his administration’s objectives is to promote investment opportunities in the state, making potential investors know that Rivers is safe for investment.
He assured the Chamber of continued partnership to highlight areas of investment in the LGA and other LGAs of the state.
“This is what we have been yearning for- a Rivers State that would be investment destination and so what we have to do is to ensure that our stories will fly, that the investment opportunities available in the various local governments beginning with Bonny now, are made known to the public because if you have a trumpet and you don’t blow it nobody will know that you have.
“So, to my colleagues, it is time for us to blow our trumpets that Rivers State and Bonny in particular is set for investments and that their investments is safe. That’s what we have to do.
“We want to thank the Bonny Chamber and to assure them that we will continue to provide our platform for the things you wish to do in Bonny to make it a success,” Bazia-Nsaneh added.
