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By Deborah Young
In an inspiring journey that goes far beyond ordinary sightseeing, Queen Ememobong Anthony has continued to explore Nigeria’s rich cultural identity, historical heritage, and untapped tourism potential through her remarkable Tour of Nigeria initiative. Within just two months, the passionate tourism advocate has traveled across selected states of the federation, experiencing diverse traditions, cuisines, monuments, museums, beaches, and hospitality that reflect the beauty and uniqueness of Nigeria.
The tour, according to Queen Ememobong Anthony is aimed at inspiring young people to embrace tourism as a meaningful and impactful career path while also promoting tourism development from the grassroots. It is equally designed to uncover hidden destinations, connect with stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry, and showcase the enormous cultural wealth Nigeria possesses.
As part of the nationwide experience, the tourism enthusiast recently visited Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State, popularly known as “The Garden City.” Located in the heart of the oil-rich Niger Delta region along the Bonny River, Port Harcourt remains one of Nigeria’s major commercial centers and among the country’s wealthiest cities. Established in 1912 by British colonial authorities, the city was named after Lewis Vernon Harcourt, the then British Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Sharing her experience, Queen Ememobong Anthony described Port Harcourt as a city filled with energy, ambition, and commercial vibrancy. Upon arriving from Akwa Ibom State, she immediately observed the bustling roads, heavy traffic, and fast-paced atmosphere which reminded her of Lagos State.
Her movement within the city became easier after meeting a professional and hospitable Bolt driver whose calmness and understanding eventually made him her dedicated driver throughout her stay in Port Harcourt.
Driven by her passion for travel writing, cultural exploration, and destination promotion, Queen Ememobong Anthony visited several tourism landmarks across the city. To make the experience more engaging and informative, she was accompanied by her friend, Lady Precious Itolima, who served as her tour guide.
One of the most memorable highlights of the trip was experiencing Rivers State’s famous culinary culture. Having heard about the globally celebrated Bole Festival, regarded as Africa’s largest food festival centered on roasted plantain and fish, she made a stop at D/Line Emekwuku to enjoy a delicious serving of bole and fish. According to her, the meal perfectly represented the hospitality and rich culinary identity of the Niger Delta people.
She also visited the beautiful Pleasure Park, where she enjoyed nature walks, serene scenery, and a peaceful recreational atmosphere that blended urban tourism with relaxation.
Another major highlight of the visit was her tour of the Rivers State Museum, where she listened attentively to historical narrations from the museum curator. During the session, she learned that Nigeria exported its first cargo of crude oil from Port Harcourt in February 1958 at about 6,000 barrels per day, while the country’s first oil refinery was later established in Alesa Eleme in 1965.
The museum experience further exposed her to several traditional and historical artifacts, including the famous calabash plate historically used for serving highly respected guests and newly married husbands as a symbol of honor and respect in traditional marriage settings.
She also discovered that calabashes were once used in presenting sacrifices to local deities in ancient times. Fired clay pots and terracotta vessels displayed within the galleries revealed the creativity and craftsmanship of early Nigerian communities long before modernization.
As she walked through the museum galleries, Queen Ememobong Anthony encountered remarkable relics of pre-colonial trade, including copper bangles, smoking pipes, manillas, cowries, gin bottles, metal rods, coral beads, ceramics, ivory materials, and other valuable artifacts linked to trade relations between African societies and European merchants during the 16th and 17th centuries.
The curator further introduced her to the rich artistic traditions and civilizations of ancient Nigeria, including the Nok, Igbo-Ukwu, Benin, Ife, Owo, Esie, Calabar, Akwanshi, Duguna, and Tara cultures. According to her, every artifact carried a story of identity, heritage, and cultural pride.
One of her favorite moments during the tour was visiting the famous “Order Room,” where she admired beautiful artworks, sculptures, paintings, traditional clothing, and local crafts that reflected the creative spirit of the Nigerian people. To complete the memorable adventure, she explored the crop section and later visited Tree House Afriq, describing the experience as refreshing, educational, and unforgettable. She also purchased souvenirs and captured memorable photographs to preserve the beautiful moments from the trip.
Reflecting on the experience, Queen Ememobong Anthony emphasized that tourism is more than movement from one location to another. According to her, tourism is about discovery, cultural connection, learning, and appreciating the stories hidden within every destination.
She called on Nigerians, especially young people, to develop the habit of traveling across the country, visiting museums, beaches, festivals, historical sites, and cultural centers as a way of preserving heritage, promoting unity, empowering communities, and expanding knowledge beyond classroom walls. “The world is like a book, and those who refuse to travel may unknowingly limit themselves to just one page,” she stated.
Queen Ememobong Anthony further stressed that tourism remains one of the strongest tools for cultural preservation, youth empowerment, economic growth, and national unity. She noted that Nigeria is blessed with countless destinations and untold stories waiting to be discovered and shared with the world. She expressed heartfelt appreciation to Lady Precious Itolima for making her stay in Port Harcourt enjoyable and memorable. “I am your Tourism Queen Ememobong Anthony, and I will always represent respectfully,” she concluded.
