Natasha hosts European ambassadors on Kogi investment tour

The senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has wooed European investors to Kogi State, including four ambassadors from Belgium, Denmark, Italy and Spain on a tour of the state’s cultural heritage, tourism attractions and indigenous industries.

The visit was aimed at showcasing the area’s economic potential and exploring investment and humanitarian partnerships that could create jobs, expand local enterprises and improve livelihoods.

The diplomats visited historical landmarks, interacted with local artisans and experienced the traditions and hospitality of the Ebira people as part of efforts to expose Kogi Central to international investment opportunities.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the senator’s media aide, Mike Idoko, in Abuja on Monday.

According to the statement, the engagement began with visits to Lord Lugard’s Rest House on Mount Patti in Lokoja and the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers, before the delegation proceeded to Kogi Central for cultural activities and interactions with local communities.

The Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria, Roberto Mengoni, described the confluence as a symbol of national unity and expressed optimism about potential partnerships with the state.

“Kogi is very rich, and we look forward to partnership,” Mengoni said, thanking Akpoti-Uduaghan for facilitating the visit.

Belgium’s ambassador, Pieter Leenknegt, also praised the experience, particularly the hiking expedition around the historic hills of Ihima, commending the opportunity to explore the region’s landscape, culture and local cuisine.

The cultural programme included a visit to Obeiba Hill, where the diplomats sampled traditional delicacies such as akara, apapa and akamu.

They also observed indigenous production processes, including shea butter and palm kernel oil extraction, black soap making, pottery and traditional Ebira cloth weaving.

A masquerade performance further exposed the visitors to the community’s cultural identity and artistic traditions.

Denmark’s ambassador, Jens Hansen, expressed admiration for the skills of local artisans, particularly women involved in pottery, traditional clothing and other indigenous crafts.

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He said the locally made products demonstrated the creativity and determination of the artisans, adding that their work offered opportunities for enterprise development and access to wider markets.

Addressing the delegation, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the visit was designed to demonstrate that Kogi Central’s economic prospects extended beyond tourism to include indigenous industries, skilled workers and entrepreneurial communities.

She disclosed that discussions with the diplomats covered investment and humanitarian opportunities, expressing hope that the engagement would translate into partnerships capable of delivering lasting benefits to 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,” the senator said.

However, a planned visit to the Ajaokuta Steel Company could not proceed because access to the facility was allegedly not approved despite a written request by the senator.

Akpoti-Uduaghan said the delegation could only view the complex from outside its gates. She expressed disappointment over the development and renewed her call for the revival of the steel plant, describing it as vital to Nigeria’s industrial ambitions.

“Ajaokuta remains central to the industrial future we want for our people, and I will continue to advocate for its revival,” she said.

The Ajaokuta steel complex has remained a long-standing symbol of Nigeria’s unrealised industrial ambitions, with its revival widely regarded as an opportunity to boost manufacturing, create jobs and strengthen domestic supply chains.

Despite successive government efforts to complete and operationalise the plant, it has yet to fulfil its intended role as a major driver of industrialisation.

The senator thanked community leaders, residents and artisans for welcoming the delegation, saying their hospitality helped showcase the Ebira nation to an international audience.

She also expressed appreciation to the four ambassadors—Leenknegt, Bach Hansen, Mengoni and Félix Costales Artieda of Spain—for accepting the invitation and engaging with local communities.

Akpoti-Uduaghan said the visit had provided a platform to promote Kogi Central’s tourism assets, cultural heritage and indigenous enterprise, expressing hope that the exposure would attract partnerships and investment to the area.