The Federal Government has inaugurated a technical committee to implement the King Jaja of Opobo Cultural and Historical Centre in Opobo, Rivers State.
The project aims to immortalise the legendary king and showcase the cultural heritage of the people.
Rep. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for taking concrete steps towards the project.
He said this when the technical committee for the implementation of the King Jaja of Opobo Cultural and Historical Centre, Opobo, Rivers State was officially inaugurated by the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Bar. Hannatu Musawa in her office, Abuja, yesterday.
Abiante who was a lead lobbyist for the project said it would enhance and give exposure to and immortalise the great leader through deeper research, letting the world know the heritage of the people.
He also noted that the project would enhance research, create jobs, and promote tourism in the area, adding that Nigerians in general stand to gain a lot from the project.
The Rivers lawmaker said, “As a servant of the people, anytime you’re sent to do a job and at a point where there’s success, of course, you should be very happy, you should be elated. That’s exactly how I feel today.
“This is a project that has taken us seven years, when the other people who were there didn’t share the same vision with us, but we’re very happy. I am glad that a Minister came, and bought into the vision and today, we’re starting the actual journey to making people know exactly what our intentions were, expanding beyond even what we’ve conceived. We are glad.
“It will lead to the immortalization of the great leader through deeper research, letting the world know who we are, bonding people together. It will also create jobs. Is it in the area of tourism, a lot will open that area up, we expect a lot to be achieved, and a lot to be gained.
“That axis will now become a hub of tourism in Rivers State and even in the South-South if we harness the things that are there properly.
“We have the aquatic splendour behind the oceans, we have a neighbouring Local Government Area which has elephants, if those elephants are conserved at this period, you can imagine what that could bring to us. There’s the wide beach beside the Atlantic Ocean, there’s a lot. What about the blue economy, it’s going to be a part of it”.
The minister, while inaugurating the committee, said the project was key in the preservation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
“This project signifies a milestone in our collective resolve to take Nigeria’s Art & Culture to enviable heights. Permit me to add that one of the Ministry’s core mandates is immortalizing past heroes by promoting national heritage and values.
“Therefore, today’s event is a testament to our readiness to partner with any State, community, individual or group that desires to immortalize persons of proven capabilities whose immense contributions had helped in shaping and projecting the uniqueness of our cultural values, norms and artifacts as a people,” the minister said.
According to her, the project as captured in its concept note, is designed to be a historic tribute to cultural renaissance as well as a clarion call for cultural preservation.
“It is a step to encourage our nation’s quest for cultural tourism and a boost for diplomacy in international affairs. I would like to reiterate that the establishment of the Centre is in tune with Nigeria’s vision of utilizing the Art, Culture and Tourism Sectors to create job opportunities for the teaming youth as well as contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Similarly, the establishment of Cultural and Historical Centres engender peace, unity, and national cohesion as well as mutual understanding among Nigerians and the International Community resident in the Country,” she noted.
The minister charged members of the Technical Committee to regard their selection as a clarion call to national assignment.
He said “Let me remind you that you are expected to play critical roles in the realization of this onerous task at hand. Your assignment will require you to serve as a liaison between the Federal Government (represented by the Ministry), the State Government and the Host Community.
“You will also be required to come up with a Work Plan for the project and draft the strategy on the implementation, detailing the timeline as well as suggest other terms of reference that are considered germane to the success of the project”, she said.
Leading the Rivers State delegation was the paramount ruler of Opobo, His Royal Majesty, King, (Dr.) Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V, Treaty King, Natural Ruler, the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom.
The monarch also appreciated the Federal Government.
He said, “This is the time when God decreed that this project will take off because we’ve been agitating for the federal government to do something to immortalize King Jaja of Opobo for all his contributions to the emancipation of the blacks, and especially, the independence of this country. Save that in 1955, a merchant ship was named after King Jaja, but that merchant ship has been decommissioned.
“Since then, the Federal Government has not done anything to immortalize King Jaja, so this is the first time the federal government is taking steps to do something concrete in his name; build a centre where people will come, read about his contributions to commerce, his contributions to the defence of his kingdom, and the impact on Nigeria’s history.
“This is the first time the government is doing this, and we’re thrilled.”
On the acceptability of the project by the people, he said “This is a project we’ve wished for, for over seven years, and it is a project that we called the attention of the government to, and luckily, we’ve seen also the concurrence of our state government, prepared for the immortalization of King Jaja”.
Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, emphasized the project’s significance in preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage. She charged the technical committee to work diligently to ensure the project’s success.
The paramount ruler of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, also appreciated the Federal Government’s efforts, stating that this was the first time the government had taken concrete steps to immortalize King Jaja.
The project is expected to promote cultural tourism, create job opportunities, and contribute to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The technical committee will work on a work plan, timeline, and strategy for the project’s implementation.