Tourism expert and Ambassador, Isaac Kigbu has led a team of academics and graduates of Tourism Management Technology from Isah Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia to Farin Ruwa Waterfall and Marhai National Park in Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The expedition, which was guided by professional tour guides who provided directions and safety tips on climbing the hilly terrain, was aimed at exploring the untapped tourism potential of the area. Members of the Tourism Management Technology Alumni Association said the visit was part of efforts to promote domestic tourism, expose students to practical field experience beyond classroom theoryand celebrate world tourism day. The hotspot is 150-meter high and 50-meter-wide fall, regarded as one of Africa’s highest, was recently upgraded to a National Park. Experts are now calling on the Federal Government to fully develop the site to drive economic diversification and job creation.
Meanwhile, the management status of Farin Ruwa Waterfall which has been upgraded to a National Park has continued to generate calls for full federal government intervention. The Senior Special Assistant to the Nasarawa State Governor on Tourism, Mr. Solomon Paykype, has called on the National Government to fully upgrade and develop the National Park, noting that such move will improve economic potential and enhance energy supply to surrounding communities. He stressed that Farin Ruwa remains one of Nigeria’s highest waterfalls with capacity for hydro-power generation.
Also speaking during the tour, Ambassador Isaac Kigbu expressed optimism that the National Park, if fully developed, will improve basic infrastructure in the area, generate electricity, create massive employment for youths and preserve the biodiversity values of the hotspot. He noted that most of the natural values of the area will only be useful if government activates its potential through funding, access roads and private sector participation. According to him, tourism can become a major revenue earner for Nasarawa State.
In her remarks, the Head of Tourism Management Technology and Alumni Coordinator of the Polytechnic, Mrs. Bridget Yakubu, challenged the Federal Government to look beyond crude oil exploration and focus on tourism development as a tool for economic diversification. She said Nigeria has over 147 tourism sites that remain underdeveloped, and that deliberate investment in sites like Farin Ruwa will attract foreign exchange and promote national unity. She called for curriculum synergy between institutions and tourism sites.
On his part, a well-known hotelier in Lafia, Mr. Marcus Jonathan, called for the construction of access roads to Farin Ruwa Waterfall and the upgrade of the National Park to meet international standards. He said poor road network remains the biggest setback to tourism growth in Wamba, adding that tourists spend hours navigating bad terrain. He appealed to both state and federal governments to provide lodging facilities, security, and electricity to make the park competitive with other waterfalls in Africa like Victoria Falls.
The implications of upgrading Farin Ruwa Waterfall and MarhaiNational Park are far-reaching for Nasarawa State and Nigeria’s economy at large. According to the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, tourism contributed only 3.6% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2023, compared to 8.9% in South Africa and 9.3% in Kenya where tourism is prioritized. Farin Ruwa, which is reputed to be 150 meters high and 50 meters wide, making it one of the highest waterfalls in Africa, has the capacity to generate over 20 megawatts of hydro-power if harnessed, according to Nasarawa State energy assessment reports. Its full development will create over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in hospitality, guiding, transportation and conservation, while improving access roads will open up Wamba LGA, which has been cut off for decades. Furthermore, upgrading the park to international standard will attract both local and foreign tourists, increase internally generated revenue, and reduce over-dependence on crude oil, which currently accounts for over 80% of Nigeria’s foreign earnings.
In conclusion, the expedition to Farin Ruwa Waterfall by Ambassador Isaac Kigbu and the Tourism Management Technology Alumni of Isah Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic Lafia has once again brought to the fore the enormous but untapped tourism wealth of Nasarawa State. With its 150-meter drop, 50-meter breadth, and potential to generate hydro-power and create over 5,000 jobs, Farin Ruwa is more than a waterfall, it is an economic goldmine. If the Federal Government heeds the call for full upgrade, access roads and international standard facilities, Nigeria will move closer to diversifying its economy beyond oil and positioning Nasarawa as a leading tourism destination in Africa.
