Group To Build African Cultural City In Enugu

Youth of Aboji, Oba Town in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, protesting alleged irregularities in their President-General’s election in Oba, yesterday.

The Renaissance Multi-
links, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Abuja, says it has concluded plans to establish an African Cultural Renaissance City in Enugu State.
Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, made this known in an interview with newsmen recently.
Ndu said that the proposed city would be nurtured to transform into the “cultural capital’’ of Africa and become the leading centre for “African Cultural Renaissance and Redemption’’.
“As Addis Ababa is the diplomatic capital of the continent so will this cultural renaissance city be transformed into the continent’s cultural capital.
“The African cultural renaissance city is expected to attract no fewer than 100 million tourists annually and generate billions of dollars in foreign exchange as well as tens of millions of employment.
“Placing culture and tourism at the heart of development constitutes an essential investment in the world future and a pre-condition to a successful globalisation processes that take into account the principles of economic diversity,’’ he said.
He said that African renaissance was the concept for African people to overcome current challenges confronting the continent, to achieve cultural, scientific and economic renewal.
“This project will strengthen the contribution of tourism and culture to the sustainable development of the sector and for the economic growth of the nation.
“Development is not synonymous with economic growth alone but to achieve a more satisfactory intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual existence and as such, development is inseparable from culture and tourism,’’ Ndu added.
He said that the organisation had applied to Enugu State Government for allocation of 10 square miles of land in a remote part of the state for the establishment of the city.
“We have applied for the land and are hopeful that the state will respond favourably and this will bring out the values of public-private-partnership and also help to integrate the principles of economic diversity.
“The city will compose of theme parks, tourism complexes, tourism development bank, film villages, estate of African traditional architecture, modern concept estates, production and distribution of cultural, historical and traditional African Animation films.
“Also, monuments from all over Africa from time immemorial to the present day, Black and African heritage university, hotels, primary and secondary schools as well as traditional specialist hospitals,’’ he said.
He pointed out that the challenge facing tourism and culture was to convince political decision makers, local and international social actors, to support the sector in its fight for economic diversification in Africa.
According to him, the support by policy makers will yield equitable outcome because culture and tourism-driven projects have proven their effectiveness in addressing violence, especially among young people.