BONNY, Rivers State (XOL Africa) — Renaissance Africa Energy Company has reaffirmed its support for the sustainable development and economic diversification of Bonny Kingdom, saying the island has the potential to become a leading tourism and investment destination in Nigeria and Africa.
Tony Attah, managing director and chief executive officer of Renaissance, made the remarks Wednesday at the Bonny Island Tourism and Investment Summit, tagged “Discover Bonny.”
The initiative seeks to promote Bonny’s history, culture, heritage and hospitality while identifying new opportunities for economic growth beyond oil and gas.
Bonny Island hosts several major energy facilities, including the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal operated by Renaissance’s joint venture and Nigeria LNG Ltd.
“The story of Bonny did not begin with energy, and it should not be limited to energy,” Attah said. “Discover Bonny is not the creation of a new identity but a clarion call and invitation to the rest of the world to come discover the island’s rich culture, heritage, history, and hospitality.”
Attah said the initiative represented a renewal of Bonny’s traditional strengths and could help establish a broader economic base for the kingdom.
He said Renaissance’s support reflected its belief that sustainable development requires partnerships among communities, government and businesses.
“Our role as a Tier 1 partner is not ceremonial. It is a statement of confidence. Confidence in Bonny’s potential, confidence in the leadership of His Majesty and confidence in the people of Bonny,” Attah said.
“We believe sustainable tourism can become a strong complement to Bonny’s long-standing energy heritage, creating confidence, opportunity and dignity for people and places connected to it,” he said.
The summit brought together government officials, traditional leaders, development partners, investors and private-sector representatives to discuss tourism, heritage preservation, investment promotion and destination development.
King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, outlined the kingdom’s vision for its future, highlighting opportunities in tourism, culture, commerce and investment.
He said Bonny’s history, natural attractions and human capital provided a foundation for the kingdom to become an internationally recognised destination.
Adeleye Falade, managing director and chief executive officer of Nigeria LNG, called for closer cooperation among companies and other stakeholders operating in Bonny.
“We see a future where Bonny is not just an industrial hub but welcoming to tourists from all over the world which depends largely on collaboration,” Falade said.
The summit included discussions on destination development, sustainable tourism, investment opportunities and partnership frameworks, as well as plans for the rollout of the Discover Bonny Initiative.
The initiative is intended to promote Bonny’s cultural heritage, ecological assets, business opportunities and tourism offerings to domestic and international audiences.
Bonny has also received an endorsement from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy as a tourism destination. Attractions highlighted include the Amanyanabo’s Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the historic British Consulate, Finima Nature Park and the island’s mangrove ecosystem.
Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd. is an energy company focused on Nigeria and Africa’s energy security and industrial development. It operates Nigeria’s largest oil and gas joint venture assets through the NNPC/Renaissance/TotalEnergies/AENR joint venture, with operations spanning onshore, swamp and shallow-water locations in parts of the Niger Delta.
The joint venture’s participating interests are NNPC, 55%; Renaissance, 30%; TotalEnergies, 10%; and AENR, 5%.
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