Among the investment opportunities catching the attention investors is HERITAGE CITY-The African Kingdoms and Empires Theme Park Project in Abuja-Nigeria. Abuja is Africa's fastest growing city and is recording an unprecedented number of visitors from within and outside Nigeria who are flocking into the city for different international conferences and events. That the Leon H. Sullivan Summit has been held in Abuja two times in a row now underscores the growing importance of the city as a favorable conference destination in Africa.

The Heritage City Theme Park project is an initiative of the Nigeria-based Heritage City Parks Ltd with initial research and support coming from the U.S. Africa Technology Council, Inc based in Washington DC. The theme park is designed to showcase Africa's rich cultural heritage by focusing the development of its attractions on themes from the historical events, personalities and achievements that occurred in the glorious era of the ancient African Kingdoms and Empires.
In an initial assessment of the project concept, Paramount Parks-a Viacom company said "there is clearly a strong potential for a project such as Heritage City to bring much in the way of tourism and financial benefit to the city and citizens of Abuja and the people of Nigeria."

In an interview with the Black Enterprise Report TV program recorded in Abuja recently, Mr. Ekwo Omakwu of the U.S. Africa Technology Council, Inc said the project idea was conceived in the United States about five years ago and was further developed by a team of Africans and African-Americans working together to promote the project and raise the needed financing.

With a proper project funding structure now in place and Nigeria's changing profile as a more favorable investment-friendly destination, the Heritage City Project is getting a boost from international investors including African-Americans who are looking at other aspects of the project as well such the development of residences, hotels, movie theaters, retail outlets, sports facilities and other services.

According to travel consultant - Monique Griffith of Urban Tourism - a company specializing in tourism and hospitality projects, African-Americans like her are taking advantage of the home ownership opportunities to be provided by the availability of 17,000 acres of land designated by the Nigerian Federal Capital Development Authority for the theme park and other supporting infrastructure.

The U.S. Africa Technology Council's Diaspora Homecoming Project beginning this fall, hopes to match African-Americans and others with affordable homes to be developed around the Heritage City site. It's going to be like owning a vacation home in the heart of Africa with the palace of the Queen of Sheba of Ancient Nubia in the same neighborhood.

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 19.09.2006 10:50

Topic  Villager

# 2 This is a great idea. One I would definitely invest in if it ever takes off. Posted by Topic| 19.09.2006 11:22

onye igbo

# 3 I just got back from Nigeria. People are dying every day from hunger, and this is how best we can spend our money in Africa. This is why the rest of the world don't have any respect for the black man! Posted by onye igbo| 19.09.2006 11:22

EezeeBee  Villager

# 4 Welcome back from your trip Mr. Onye Igbo, What you don't understand is that it is because the 'black man' has failed thus far to embark on projects that require VISION as opposed to task oriented things like FEEDING ONESELF TODAY that the rest of the world doesn't 'have any respect for the black man'. Do you remember the Nigerian proverb to the effect that no matter how sweet market sales are, nobody ever sleeps over night in the market place? You say people are dying of hunger. If that is true, then sadly, some are destined to die. If we manage not to be amongst those that die today, what contribution can I (we) make to the world the living will inhabit? In my view, it is PRECISELY the proposed contents of the theme park that could assist in raising the profile of the heritage of said black man, inspiring his spirit. A park where the 'black wo/man's history and heritage is the focus and celebrated COULD be a nucleus for a whole lot more. Do you know how many people could be employed by such a park? Can you imagine the spin off ventures that could emerge from such a vision? Even cleaning and catering would have to be embarked upon on an industrial scale. What do you think one man/woman can do to feed all the Nigerian hungry DIRECTLY? Very little. You can establish soup kitchens till you are blue in the face. After the 1000th cup of soup, na your hand go tire! If you establish a vision like this, people BY THEMSELVES will start to cater, there will be tour guides, there will be a lot of printers creating marketing material, etc. Have you thought of the tourism potential? I for one am totally in support of the vision behind the idea. Onye Igbo, think beyond the box, and again, welcome back! Posted by EezeeBee| 19.09.2006 12:34

Obugi  Villager

# 5 EZB, Do you remember the Nigerian proverb to the effect that no matter how sweet market sales are, nobody ever sleeps over night in the market place? You say people are dying of hunger. If that is true, then sadly, some are destined to die. If we manage not to be amongst those that die today, what contribution can I (we) make to the world the living will inhabit? There you go! Hallelujah! I can't believe you wrote this. Thank you jare! A realistic take if I might say so. Thank you, thank you! Get Yours! Obugi. Posted by Obugi| 19.09.2006 12:41

pukpabi  Villager

# 6 Folks, Common sense should dictate that Africans should first conquer hunger before thinking of theme parks. The resources invested in this nonsense should be channelled into Agriculture, and agro-allied industries. You see, until "every" African child can afford one egg a day, a glass of milk; a shirt on his back, and a shoe on every feet, there is definitely no need for all these jamboree. The fulcrum of African development should be Agriculture, and technological acquisition. The actions of illiterate Nigerian leaders right after the civil war should be instructive here. That was the period when they had their civil war booty of oil money, and did not know what to do with it, but to embark on "white elephant" projects. A word is enough for the wise. Paschal Ukpabi, J.D. Michigan, USA Posted by pukpabi| 19.09.2006 13:06

Onye Igbo

# 7 We will have to agree to disagree. I can think of a million better money making ways to spend investment dollars than in a theme park. Let me go academic on your #$%%: There is a long history of what many believe is "the Safarization of Africa" In other words, the only things of interest in Africa are things of great spectacle - animals, theme parks, safari parks- package them well , particularly the exotic, and 'oyibo will come.' That Africans do not even see that this is condescending baffles me. Africans - I use the term Africans broadly to encompass all blacks the world over- are never challenged to produce anything, or to believe that they can produce anything and have become comfortable in their pathetic conditionof abject poverty. We have been relegated to the bottom of the barrell as "entertainers and minstrels." Asia did not produce the "new wave of economic giants" by building 'theme parks' but by investing in its people - through education and infrastructure. Foreign investors that venture into these parts of the world come with plans to set up "silicon valleys, manufacturing plants etc. Are you suggesting that we are not good enough for that kind of investment and challenge? Africa can be an economic and financial gold mine for local and foreign investors far more than India has been. Nigeria, in particular, has an abundance of college graduates that are jobless - an intellectual resource that can be tapped to produce great capital. Which brings me to your non chalant attitude about those amongst us ' that are dying...oh well they then have to die.' This is where I completely part company with you. We can not and must not look upon the sufferings of our brethren with a laxidasical jaundice lens. Enough! I will take a break from this website. Posted by Onye Igbo| 19.09.2006 13:28

Tunji Elias

# 8 My brothers and Sisters, All the arguments put forth with regards to the theme park make sense one way or another. The truth is that we should be investing in agricultural projects to feed our people but at the same time Nigeria is not a welfare state or a communist enclave. So no matter how much food we produce, if there is no money to buy the food the people will still starve. And thats were projects like this come in. It will spin into a lot of things and if it is as grand as its said to be then it will provide employment in the tens of thousands. Hence people will have money to buy food produced through any agricultural initiative. I would have been strongly against it if it was embarked on my the government because we know that no matter how noble the idea the money will be embezelled. But no private person will invest such money and won't see it come to fruition. Furthermore, the blackman desperately needs something of this nature to bring the worlds attention to his glorious history and to motivate the disheartened youths of today to rise and claim their place in the 21st century. Long Live Kalakuta! Posted by Tunji Elias| 19.09.2006 13:59

naijaninja

# 9 Onyeigbo,can you be a bit more specific concerning those dying of hunger in Nigeria? i live in Nigeria and by the nature of my job i am constantly travelling around the country.so, i want you to please explain to villagers the specific areas where people "died" or are ''dying" of hunger in any part of Nigeria.I am beginning to get very annoyed with all the funny posts here by people who come in here to spend a couple of days and go back to start writing as expert in Nigerian affairs.of course ,there are poor folks here just like the sorry asses down on welfare in the U.S. i mean the living standard of some of the folks in katrina is just a shade better than that of Ajegunle! My brother the world is a global village now ,so no need for unnecessary grandstanding. I hope you respond to my question Posted by naijaninja| 19.09.2006 15:02

docokwy  Villager

# 10 No Nigerian may be dying of hunger literarily speaking, but many, and this is in millions, do find it hard to feed daily. If anything, some of the so-called food are only fit for dogs, not even Oyinbo dogs. Hence many Nigerian children are malnourished and therefore underweight. I mean it. It is actually worse in the slums of Lagos and other cities, with the crowded homes. If you build whatever mansion and around you are hungry people, then be sure to be robbed (and even killed) soon. This scenario is already steadily playing out in Nigeria. Therefore, we really need to put our priorities right. Posted by docokwy| 19.09.2006 17:20

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