Marking UN World Wetlands Day 2026, Culture Money Africa and the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA) have launched the WHATSSUP Rivers Initiative. Standing for Wetland Heritage and Arts for Tourism, Sustainability, Security, Unity and Prosperity, the project celebrates the theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge.”
The initiative positions Rivers State’s rivers, mangroves, and coastal ecosystems as both ecological treasures and living cultural heritage. It seeks to transform this heritage into a driver for tourism, social unity, and sustainable development, establishing the state as a blue economy leader.
Central to the plan is mobilising 23,000 Blue Economy Culture Diplomacy Envoys across the state’s 23 local government areas. These ambassadors will connect wetlands conservation to community livelihoods and creative industries. The goal is to activate a $2.3 billion Culture and Heritage Tourism marketplace, attracting investment and fostering inclusive growth.
Victor Wilkinson Agih of Culture Money Africa stated the initiative translates ancestral knowledge into modern opportunity. Yibo Koko, RSTDA Director-General, emphasized that wetlands form the state’s economic and cultural foundation, and this mobile-enabled project will empower over 2.3 million citizens by turning wetlands into platforms for tourism, jobs, and prosperity.
By aligning cultural heritage with environmental stewardship, WHATSSUP Rivers demonstrates how local action can achieve global sustainability goals, ensuring wetland protection fuels economic resilience and community empowerment.
