Constance Nwokejiobi, President, Bonny Chamber, addressing newsmen at the NUJ House in PH
… BITE of Bonny anchors success on road expansions, comprehensive security, and youth entrepreneurship boost
The ‘Bonny Investment and Tourism Expo’ (BITE of Bonny) is set to unveil investment opportunities in the island in Rivers State.
The first phase of the project created by the Bonny Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (Bonny Chamber), is to open on June 9 and 12, 2025, to begin activities that would explode in December 2025.
According to Constance Ngozi Nwokejiobi, the president of Bonny Chamber, the upcoming event is more than an event, it is a rallying call to rediscover Bonny Island as a destination of pride, culture, business, and hospitality.
The event series is dedicated to the King of Bonny, Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, the Amanyanabo, who marks 60 years on June 11, 2025. The king is the grand patron of the Bonny Chamber and a huge motivation behind the scene.
The President said: “As we symbolically “Light Up Bonny Island,” we set in motion a vision rooted in self-sufficiency, youth empowerment, strategic trade partnerships, and tourism as a key driver of local prosperity.”
She said: “Bonny is open for business. Bonny is the future. Bonny is the nexus of commerce, culture, and tourism.”
The President described the “BITE of Bonny’ as a bold and strategic initiative to celebrate the beauty, potential, and abundant opportunity embedded in Bonny Island.
Nwokejiobi described the Bonny Chamber of Commerce as the unified voice of the business community on Bonny Island. “As an active member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and NACCIMA, we proudly participate in both local and international trade and investment missions. Our mission is to advocate for a thriving economic environment that nurtures growth, creates jobs, and positions Bonny for global engagement.”
The fellow of chartered accountants said ‘BITE 2025’ is a platform designed to stimulate the local economy, promote youth entrepreneurship, and elevate Bonny Island as a vibrant destination for commerce, culture, and tourism. “It is both an investment drive and a destination marketing campaign, drawing global attention to the island’s business potential, rich heritage, and hospitality.”
The year is to be marked in phases, she said, with ‘Light Up Bonny’ as first symbolic lighting and grand opening at the Bonny Kingdom Consulate. There will be Bonny Youth Entrepreneurs Workshop & Inauguration focusing on access to finance, business development toolkits, and business-to-business mentorship opportunities.
There would be coalition of South-South Chambers of Commerce (COSSCCIMA) quarter two meeting in preparation for B2B engagement at the 4th Afri-Caribbean Trade & Investment Forum in Grenada, Caribbean.
She said there would also be conference featuring corporate and MSME exhibitions, food and cultural festival spotlighting Bonny’s heritage and tourism strengths.
The core objectives, she stated, include launch expressions of interest for the Bonny Kingdom Free Trade Zone and Industrial Park; stimulate the local economy through entrepreneurship, cultural enterprise, and tourism; and position Bonny as a destination brand for commerce, leisure, and cultural exchange.
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It would also facilitate bilateral partnerships and MSME-led joint ventures via the Afri-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum, powered by Afreximbank; and leverage the AfCFTA framework to attract global collaborations and foster regional integration.
She named various partners local ad foreign including the NLNG, NEXIM Bank, AfCFTA, and NIMASA.
On why many would want to invest in Bonny Island, she said Bonny is a natural hub for investment, offering a natural deep-sea harbour and extensive shorelines, presence of major international oil companies including NLNG, Renaissance (SPDC), and Seplat (ExxonMobil), the Bonny-Bodo Road (43 km) connecting the island to the mainland, a functioning airstrip/airport, rich cultural heritage and vibrant annual festivals, etc.
Answering questions, the President, supported by Godwill Jumbo, a media and community relations head, said infrastructure upgrade is ongoing with the Bonny Ring Road being in progress. “There is road expansion project of the three major roads in the city.
“There is a programme to stimulate the youths. The Bonny Chamber is also organizing training for the youths, and 150 have already registered. They would be trained and unveiled in December programme. This is to get the youths ready before commencement of the scheme in December 2025.
“On security, note that Bonny is a well-organised place. For instance, the security teams are well coordinated and linked. They now clam down the illegal refining camps to ensure they do not come out to harass the waterways.
“The Bonny Chamber interfaces with all other groups to forestall repeat of the last kidnap attack that happened at Okrika side of the route. The Commissioner of Police visited Bonny and promised to expand the waterways protection network from Okrika to Port Harcourt to Choba to Sombrero Rivers to Emuoha, etc. We cannot be inviting investors to Bonny and they do not feel safe.
“Yes, the Bonny Chamber as an advocacy body is working hand with all stakeholders and agencies to achieve the feats being celebrated here today. The body recorded huge success by stopping the shutdown of the Train 7 project even when the owners of the project said, let them shutdown and we all will shut down. The Chamber argued that allowing businesses to shut down would destroy Bonny. They were able to talk all stakeholders into peace making them understand why the Train 7 Project should not be shutdown.”
