By CHARLES KUMOLU

Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, has  said that  the state government is determined to make the state a leading tourism destination in the country, adding that tourism is an integral part of expanding the economy of Delta State Beyond Oil.

Prof. Utuama said this at Commissioning of the Enquiry Office of the Nelson Mandela Garden, Asaba International Airport, Asaba, describing the Mandela Garden as a fitting icing on the cake to mark the last birthday of the late great Icon, Nelson Mandela.

He noted that the Garden is partly a fulfilment of a life -long passion of tree planting and a contribution towards environmental preservation by Dr Newton Jibunoh, a renowned conservationist. The Deputy Governor added that “given the adversity of climate change, preserving the environment is a duty we owe to all and the future generations.”

The state deputy governor urged every member of the public to seek information about the Garden from the enquiry office in order to achieve the overall multiple objectives of the Mandela Garden, adding that through the Garden, “Asaba has joined other prestigious cities like Washington,  Johannesburg and London where they have Mandela Gardens”.

While commending Dr. Newton Jibunoh for his vision in initiating the project on the 95th birthday of Nelson Mandela when he was alive, he noted that the garden is a multi-purpose facility that is designed to serve the recreational, tourism, educational,  environmental and historical needs of mankind, and that it is a collaborative project of the Delta State Government and the Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE).