Tourism Queen Explores the Garden City: Queen Ememobong Anthony’s Inspiring Cultural Journey Through Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt – In this remarkable season of Queen Ememobong Anthony’s Tour of Nigeria, the journey has gone far beyond sightseeing; it has become a meaningful exploration of Nigeria’s identity, heritage, and untapped tourism potential. Within the space of two beautiful months, I have had the privilege of experiencing selected states across the nation, learning their histories, tasting their unique culinary delights, celebrating their rich cultural heritage, and visiting breathtaking beaches, state museums, and national monuments. This memorable experience has been made possible through the support of my sponsors, to whom I remain deeply grateful.
The vision behind this mission is to ignite curiosity, inspire young minds, and encourage the younger generation to embrace tourism as a viable and impactful career path. It is also aimed at uncovering the hidden treasures of our beloved country, Nigeria, connecting with tourism and hospitality professionals, exchanging ideas, and promoting tourism development from the grassroots level.
As part of this national tourism experience, I will briefly share insights from my visit to Port Harcourt, the vibrant capital and largest city of Rivers State, fondly known as “The Garden City.” Situated in the oil-rich Niger Delta along the Bonny River, Port Harcourt is one of Nigeria’s major commercial hubs and among the nation’s wealthiest cities. Founded in 1912 by British colonial authorities, the city was named after Lewis Vernon Harcourt, then Secretary of State for the Colonies.
My Experience in Port Harcourt
Upon my arrival in Port Harcourt from Akwa Ibom State, I was immediately welcomed by the fast-paced energy of the city. The bustling roads, heavy traffic, and constant movement reminded me of the vibrant atmosphere of Lagos State. It was evident that Port Harcourt is a city driven by purpose, commerce, and ambition.
I booked a Bolt ride from the park, and the driver who picked me up was exceptionally hospitable, professional, and psychologically composed in his approach to driving. His kindness and understanding made my movement around the city smooth and comfortable, and he eventually became my dedicated driver throughout my stay in Port Harcourt.
As a travel writer and tourism officer with immense passion for cultural exploration and destination promotion, my visit would not have been complete without exploring some of the city’s notable tourism landmarks. To make the experience more insightful, I reached out to a dear friend, Lady Precious Itolima, who graciously served as my tour guide for the day.
Having heard about the famous Bole Festival — widely recognized as Africa’s largest food festival celebrating the local delicacy of roasted plantain and fish — I was excited to experience this aspect of Rivers State’s culinary culture firsthand. I made a stop at D-Line Emekwukwu to enjoy a delicious serving of bole and fish, which became my lunch for the day. The meal was not only satisfying but also a beautiful representation of the region’s culinary heritage and hospitality.
I also visited the beautiful Pleasure Park, where I enjoyed the serenity of nature, peaceful scenery, and a refreshing nature walk. The environment offered a perfect blend of relaxation, recreation, and urban tourism appeal.
Another major highlight of my visit was the Rivers State Museum, where I had the privilege of listening to the curator’s detailed historical narration. I learned that Nigeria exported its first cargo of crude oil from Port Harcourt in February 1958, at a production level of about 6,000 barrels per day. The curator also explained that the country’s first oil refinery was established at Alesa-Eleme, Port Harcourt, in 1965. Through this educational experience, I gained a deeper understanding of the Niger Delta’s central role in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
During the museum tour, I was introduced to the traditional calabash plate, which was historically used to serve meals to highly respected guests. It was particularly significant in marriage traditions, where newly married brides used it to serve meals to their husbands as a symbol of honour, respect, and cultural pride.
Tourism, for me, has never been just about movement; it is about discovery, connection, culture, and the beautiful stories hidden within every destination. My recent adventure through the museums and cultural sites of Port Harcourt reminded me that Nigeria is truly blessed with heritage beyond imagination.
I was also fascinated to learn that the calabash, beyond being a household item, was once used in ancient times for presenting sacrifices to local deities. I encountered fired clay pots and terracotta vessels formerly used for storing herbal concoctions and preparing meals — a strong reminder that our ancestors mastered creativity long before modernization arrived.
Walking through the galleries felt like stepping into history itself. I was shown ancient pottery bowls, traditional crafts, and remarkable relics of pre-colonial trade, including copper bangles, smoking pipes, manillas, cowries, gin bottles, metal rods, and many more fascinating artifacts. According to the curator, contacts with European merchants during the 16th and 17th centuries introduced additional materials such as glassware, ceramics, coral beads, waist beads, ivory, U-shaped copper rods, and Y-shaped iron currency.
Honestly, at this point, I was beginning to feel like an unpaid student of African history — but a very happy one!
The experience became even richer as the curator carefully explained the beauty and significance of ancient Nigerian civilizations and artistic traditions, including the Nok, Igbo-Ukwu, Benin, Ife, Owo, Esie, Calabar, Akwanshi, Duguna, and Tara cultures. Every artifact carried a story, every sculpture reflected an identity, and every drumbeat echoed the soul of our people.
One of my favorite moments was visiting the “Order Room,” where I admired beautiful artworks, sculptures, traditional clothing, local crafts, and paintings that kept me smiling from start to finish. That moment reminded me that tourism and the arts are inseparable companions — one preserves culture while the other tells its story to the world.
Of course, I could not leave without buying something beautiful for myself. After all, what is tourism without returning home with at least one souvenir and several unnecessary but happy photographs? I also explored the crop section and crowned the entire adventure at the “Tree House Afriq.” What an unforgettable experience!
The Niger Delta region is blessed with rich culture, history, hospitality, nature, cuisine, music, and heritage waiting to be explored. It is time we begin to appreciate and promote the treasures around us instead of constantly overlooking them. Nigeria’s tourism industry is evolving rapidly, and every journey across our regions helps preserve culture, empower local communities, and strengthen national unity.
My call to action is simple: step out of your comfort zone. Visit the states you can visit. Explore the museums, beaches, festivals, historical sites, and cultural centers around you. The world is like a book, and those who refuse to travel may unknowingly limit themselves to just one page. Open more pages. Learn more. Experience more.
And most importantly, invest in yourself through travel, because sometimes the greatest education does not happen in a classroom; it happens on the road, inside museums, beside rivers, within local communities, and in conversations with people whose stories may change your perspective forever.
Tourism is not a luxury; it is an experience that enriches the mind, preserves heritage, and unites humanity.
My visit to Port Harcourt was truly enlightening — a beautiful blend of history, culture, hospitality, cuisine, and urban tourism. It reinforced my belief that tourism remains one of the strongest tools for cultural preservation, youth empowerment, economic development, and national unity. Nigeria is blessed with countless destinations and stories waiting to be discovered, appreciated, and shared with the world.
Special thanks to Lady Precious Itolima for making my stay in Port Harcourt beautiful and memorable.
I am your Tourism Queen, Ememobong Anthony, and I will always represent respectfully.
