The Organising Committee of the Rivers Tourism Conference 2026 has commenced efforts to secure the partnership and support of the Rivers State Government towards the successful hosting of the conference. The committee made the move during a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Honourable Freedy Ndigbara, in his office in Port Harcourt.
During the meeting, Ndigbara advised the organisers to seek approval and support for the conference directly from the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, stressing that once such approval is granted by the governor, the ministry would be bound by it.
The Permanent Secretary’s position underscores the importance of securing formal government backing for the conference, particularly as the organisers seek collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and other relevant state institutions. Earlier, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr James Babalola, thanked Ndigbara for granting the committee an audience and congratulated him on his appointment as Permanent Secretary of the ministry. Babalola also apologised on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of Encyclopedia Nigeria Limited, Princess Happiness Aduku, who was unavoidably absent from the meeting. He explained that the visit was primarily aimed at soliciting the partnership and support of the Rivers State Government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the successful organisation of the 2026 conference.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Organising Committee, Mr Barinyima Needom, highlighted the potential benefits of the conference to Rivers State, particularly in the areas of tourism development, hospitality, culture and destination promotion. Needom recalled that the last conference of a similar nature was held in the state in 2006, noting that recommendations from that gathering contributed to the development of the state’s cultural and hospitality sectors after the government implemented some of the recommendations. He said the proposed Tourism Conference 2026 would provide another opportunity to identify and promote the state’s largely untapped tourism assets while generating practical recommendations capable of shaping the future of the tourism and hospitality industries.
According to him, the conference is expected to go beyond discussions by creating a platform for stakeholders to examine the challenges facing the sector, identify opportunities and develop actionable strategies for tourism growth in Rivers State. The organisers believe that greater collaboration between the conference and the state government could help position Rivers State as a stronger tourism destination while drawing attention to its cultural heritage, natural attractions and hospitality potential. Other members of the Organising Committee who participated in the visit include Mr Martins Giadom, Mrs Vivian Osuji Israel and Mr Barioma R. Kpina. The committee is expected to continue engagements with relevant stakeholders as preparations intensify for the Rivers Tourism Conference 2026.
