Four European ambassadors have toured Kogi State at the invitation of the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to assess investment and humanitarian partnership opportunities in the region. The delegations from Belgium, Denmark, Italy and Spain visited historical landmarks, interacted with local artisans and experienced the cultural traditions of the Ebira people as part of efforts to expose Kogi Central to international investors seeking to create jobs and expand local enterprises.
The tour began with visits to Lord Lugard's Rest House on Mount Patti in Lokoja and the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers before proceeding to Kogi Central for cultural activities. Italy's ambassador to Nigeria, Roberto Mengoni, described the confluence as a symbol of national unity and expressed optimism about potential partnerships. Belgium's ambassador, Pieter Leenknegt, praised the hiking expedition around the historic hills of Ihima and commended the opportunity to explore the region's landscape, culture and local cuisine.
The cultural programme included visits to Obeiba Hill, where the diplomats sampled traditional delicacies such as akara, apapa and akamu, and observed indigenous production processes including shea butter and palm kernel oil extraction, black soap making, pottery and traditional Ebira cloth weaving. A masquerade performance 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 and traditional clothing, noting that their work offered opportunities for enterprise development and access to wider markets.
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 told the delegation that discussions covered investment and humanitarian opportunities, expressing hope the engagement would translate into partnerships benefiting 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 visit to the Ajaokuta Steel Company could not proceed because access to the facility was not approved despite a written request by the senator, with the delegation only viewing the complex from outside its gates. Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed disappointment and renewed her call for the revival of the steel plant, describing it as vital to Nigeria's industrial ambitions. She thanked community leaders, residents and artisans for welcoming the delegation and the four ambassadors for accepting the invitation and engaging with local communities.