Kebbi state governor says his administration is ready to holistically revive mining activities in the State. 

Speaking on the sideline of Inspection tour of mining sites at Warah and Birnin Yauri in Ngaski Local Government areas of Kebbi State. 

 He said the tour was part of efforts of revive mining activities in the respective areas apart from diversifying the revenue base of the State. 

 Gov, noted with satisfaction that Kebbi State hard multiple sources of revenue beside farming, yet, it remained one of the major and giant contributor to national food security. 

 He use the Medium to charge the youth engaged in the mining activities to be law abiding and to security conscious to identified any visitors to community leader to avoid any criminal tendencies. 

The Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) has congratulated Lola Ade-John, the designated Minister of Tourism, urging her to devise ways to create a development fund for the growth of the industry.

Mrs Ime Udo, National President of NATOP, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

“We congratulate the new minister for tourism, with her background in Information Technology and being in the technological age, she must bring to bear her expertise in data collation and tourism technology.

“And as a former banker, we expect that she will be able to devise ways through which tourism development fund can  be created to advance the industry.

“One of the major inhibitors for tourism growth is the lack of funding and inability to attract investors.

“Tourism is first of all a business and should be approached as such,” she said.

Udo advised the minister to embark on physical tour of some of the heritage sites within the country in view of the deplorable state of most of the sites.

She said Ade-John would have to connect with the tourism board in each state to ascertain the current state of their activities to evaluate and plan on tourism development.

“The minister must be very intentional about making Nigeria a destination, she must immediately call for a roundtable stakeholders’ meeting to rub minds and know the true state of things in the industry.

Udo said the integration of a Minister of Tourism in Nigeria with an Information Technology background presents numerous intriguing possibilities for the country’s tourism sector.

She said the development and promotion of e-tourism platforms could provide a seamless experience for tourists.

According to her, such platforms can include online visa applications, digital city guides, and easy online booking for accommodations and attractions.

She said leveraging technologies such as  Internet of Things (IoT) could help develop “smart tourist destinations”.

“For instance, smart signage provides real-time information or smart bracelets for tourists that offer guided tours and ensure safety

“The minister’s expertise can drive the digital transformation of Nigeria’s tourism sector, from online ticketing systems to virtual tours of historical sites, the possibilities are vast.

“It is certain that she would understand the importance of data, which will lead to better-informed decisions based on tourism trends, visitor preferences, and feedback.

“Being in a technological age, historical sites and museums could be enhanced with Augumented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology, providing interactive experiences and bringing Nigeria’s rich history to life,” she said.

In a major boost to Saudi Arabia’s sustainability efforts, an ACWA Power-led consortium has secured financial closure for the Al-Shuaibah solar projects, with an investment of $2.37 billion, the company said in a press statement.

Touted to be the world’s largest solar project with a capacity of 2,061 megawatts, Al-Shuaibah 1 and Al-Shuaibah 2 projects, located in Jeddah are expected to be operational by 2025, it added.

Once completed, the solar project is expected to provide power to approximately 450,000 households, as stated in the press release.

ACWA Power CEO Marco Arcelli, said: “Securing financing for this groundbreaking project marks a significant step toward achieving Saudi Arabia’s clean energy goals, in alignment with the National Renewable Energy Program, which aims to generate 50 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.”

The consortium, in addition to ACWA Power, includes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund unit Badeel and the Saudi Arabian Oil Co., also known as Saudi Aramco.

“We are truly proud of this milestone and look forward to working closely with our key partners PIF, Aramco, and other contributors to successfully realize a sustainable future,” added Arcelli.

In the press release, the company stated that the senior debt financing for this plant, amounting to $1.63 billion, comprises a $450 million Saudi riyal-denominated loan from the National Development Fund on behalf of the National Infrastructure Fund. Additionally, the financing includes a $1.18 billion US-dollar-denominated commercial facility provided by a consortium of local, regional, and international banks.

Saudi Power Procurement Co. is the procurer and off-taker for the projects. The new project will be jointly owned by Badeel, which will have a 34.99 percent stake, while ACWA Power and SAPCO will hold shares of 35.01 percent and 30 percent respectively.

Husam Al-Ghailani, CEO of Badeel, said the PIF unit will continue its efforts to support the renewable energy sector in the Kingdom, and to develop 70 percent of Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy by 2030.

The Riyadh Seasonal Date Fair, which started on Aug. 11, offers a wide range of date products and derivatives from different regions of the Kingdom.

With more than 50 farmers and exhibitors, consumers and investors have plenty of options to choose from.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture; the Riyadh Municipality; the National Center for Palms and Dates; and agricultural associations, all collaborate to help achieve the fair’s goals.

The event lasts for two months at the Rawabi Market for vegetables and fruits. It aims to create an economic and agricultural gathering that boosts marketing of the region’s dates — which account for 24 percent of the Kingdom’s total production, some 400,000 tons.

To ensure quality and safety, participating farmers must have the Saudi dates logo and certificates for organic farming and quality.

Authorities and organizers are working to establish domestic and international marketing channels for the Kingdom’s 123,000 agricultural palm holdings. They also aim to expand the reach of the product to the investment sector in date-based processing industries.

The fair falls within the framework of the integrated development of date production in the Kingdom, which is known for its high quality, abundance, and diversity.

The total number of palms in the Kingdom has reached 34,554,602, representing 27 percent of the world’s palm trees.

The seasonal market supports and promotes agricultural products and farmers. It aims to strengthen the palm and date sector, valued at about SR7.5 billion ($2 billion), which accounts for 12 percent of the Kingdom’s total agricultural output.

Esiẹ Museum is a museum in Esiẹ, Kwara State, Nigeria.

In the sleepy Igbomina town of Esie, Irepodun LGA Kwara State lays the first museum in Nigeria.

The museum was established in 1945 to house one of the greatest treasures ever bequeathed to mankind, Esie Stone Images (Ere Esie).

The museum was the first to be established in Nigeria when it opened in 1945.

The museum once housed over one thousand tombstone figures or images representing human beings.

Esie museum established 1945 is located in Irepodun LGA of Kwara State.

The museum is known for housing human-shaped stone figures.

It is reputed to have the largest collection of soapstone images in the world.

In modern times the Esie museum has been the center of religious activities and hosts a festival in the month of April every year.