BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken ambassadors from four European countries on a tour of Kogi State to showcase its investment opportunities, indigenous industries and cultural heritage, but the delegation’s inability to access the Ajaokuta Steel Company has renewed attention on the long-stalled industrial project.

The senator representing Kogi Central hosted the ambassadors of Belgium, Denmark, Italy and Spain on a visit aimed at attracting foreign investment, promoting local businesses and exploring potential economic and humanitarian partnerships that could benefit communities across the state.

The delegation visited historical sites in Lokoja, including Lord Lugard’s Rest House on Mount Patti and the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers, before travelling to Kogi Central to engage with residents, artisans and cultural groups.

During the tour, the diplomats experienced the traditions of the Ebira people and examined how locally produced goods could be developed into commercially viable products capable of attracting investment and reaching wider markets.

The Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria, Roberto Mengoni, expressed optimism about the prospects for cooperation, describing Kogi as a state with significant potential.

“Kogi is very rich, and we look forward to partnership,” Mengoni said, while thanking Akpoti-Uduaghan for organising the visit.

Belgium’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, also praised the experience, particularly the hiking expedition around the historic hills of Ihima, which offered the delegation an opportunity to appreciate the area's landscape, culture and cuisine.

At Obeiba Hill, the visitors sampled traditional delicacies, including akara, apapa and akamu. They also witnessed local production activities such as shea butter processing, palm kernel oil extraction, black soap making, pottery and traditional Ebira cloth weaving.

A masquerade performance further introduced the diplomats to the community’s cultural identity and artistic traditions.

Denmark’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens Ole Bach Hansen, commended the creativity of local artisans, particularly women involved in pottery, traditional clothing and other crafts.

He said the products demonstrated the entrepreneurial potential of local communities, adding that the skills of the artisans could support business development, create economic opportunities and open doors to larger markets.

Akpoti-Uduaghan said the tour was designed to demonstrate that Kogi Central’s economic prospects extended beyond tourism to include traditional manufacturing, indigenous crafts and other productive ventures capable of creating jobs and improving livelihoods.

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“To attract investment, we must give people the chance to see our strengths for themselves: our skills, our enterprise, our culture and our people,” the senator said.

She disclosed that discussions with the diplomats covered possible investment and humanitarian partnerships, expressing hope that the engagement would lead to practical initiatives benefiting women, young people, artisans, tourism operators and local businesses.

However, the visit encountered a setback when the delegation could not enter the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited. According to a statement from the senator’s media office, access to the facility was not granted despite a written request, leaving the diplomats to view the complex from outside its gates.

The development disappointed Akpoti-Uduaghan, who used the occasion to renew her call for the revival of the steel plant, describing it as a crucial component of Nigeria’s industrial ambitions.

“Ajaokuta remains central to the industrial future we want for our people, and I will continue to advocate for its revival,” she said.

The plant’s prolonged non-operation has remained a major concern in discussions about Nigeria’s industrialisation, manufacturing capacity and efforts to diversify the economy.

A functioning steel industry could support domestic manufacturing, stimulate the development of related industries, create employment and strengthen local supply chains. For Kogi State, the revival of the complex could also generate additional economic activity for businesses and communities within and beyond the state.

By including Ajaokuta in the programme, Akpoti-Uduaghan sought to connect the state’s cultural and entrepreneurial strengths with its broader industrial potential, although the delegation’s inability to access the facility meant the planned visit could not proceed as intended.

The senator thanked community leaders, residents and artisans for welcoming the visitors and helping to showcase Ebira heritage to an international audience.

She also acknowledged the participation of the ambassadors of Belgium, Denmark, Italy and Spain, including Félix Costales Artieda of Spain, expressing hope that the engagement would eventually produce tangible investment commitments, improved market access and sustainable economic opportunities for Kogi Central.

While the tour offered the diplomats a closer look at the state's cultural attractions and local industries, its broader economic impact will depend on whether the discussions translate into concrete partnerships, financing and business opportunities for local communities.