The Taraba State Government has announced strategic plans to develop Nwonyo Lake into a major international tourism destination ahead of the 2025 Nwonyo International Fishing and Cultural Festival.
The Special Assistant to the Commissioner on Media and Publicity, Job Sehero, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Governor Kefas Agbu’s administration has completed key projects, including the reconstruction of Nwonyo village, securing UNESCO’s 2025 tentative listing, and partnerships with La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort and Motherland Beckons.
The government has also mapped and documented the lake’s coordinates, trained 100 youths in resort development, and introduced free Artificial Intelligence (AI) training for 1,000 youths, with 60 per cent of the sessions to be held at Nwonyo.
To ensure sustainable management, a collaborative framework involving traditional custodians, Taraba Tourism Development Services, and private investors will be established. Royalties from tourism activities will be directed into a community-managed account.
The 2025 Nwonyo Fishing Festival will be overseen by a planning committee chaired by HRM Manu Ishaku Ada, in collaboration with local communities and the Ministry of Heritage and Ecotourism.
The Commissioner for Heritage and Ecotourism reiterated the state government’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage while driving economic development.
He called for community participation, emphasizing that the initiatives under Governor Agbu Kefas’ leadership would position Nwonyo Lake as a leading global tourism and cultural hub.
