Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has unveiled the reconstructed Hotel Presidential established by the administration of former premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara, describing the revival of the 62-year-old edifice as “a homecoming for history.”
Mbah, who performed the unveiling in Enugu yesterday, extolled the former premier’s foresight. He regretted that the monument of pride had rotten away for the past 15 years, explaining that hotel’s revival was in line with his campaign promise to recover Enugu’s moribund assets and also grow the state’s economy sevenfold.
“Sixty-two years ago, our forebears under the visionary leadership of Dr. Michael Okpara built this landmark as a symbol of the Eastern Region’s resilience, elegance and enterprise.
“Over the decades, time and neglect dimmed that light. For about 15 years, this glorious edifice stood as an affront to our pride, contrary to what we represent.
“We came into office with a firm pledge: to recover what belongs to our people, convert dormant assets into productive assets; turn liabilities into engines of growth.
“That is why this unveiling is more than opening the doors of a hotel; it is the reopening of Enugu’s confidence. It is a tangible sign that when we say Enugu is open for business, we mean business.
“This hotel is a strategic enabler of our growth plan, comprising the ambitious target to grow Enugu’s economy sevenfold to at least $30 billion and to achieve a zero per cent poverty headcount rate,” he said.
He assured that the standards for the hotel’s revamp were truly world-class, because the administration “insisted on this so that when Enugu says ‘welcome’ to its investors, our hospitality infrastructure speaks with the same credibility as our policies.”
“Our hospitality ecosystem today is simply inspiring: the 5,000-seat International Conference Centre (ICC) now anchors Enugu’s conferencing ambitions; the adjacent 5-star, 345-room ICC Hotel under construction will deliver premium “keys” for significant events; Enugu Air, which has given wings to our dreams and announced the scale of our vision to the world; And now, the renewed Hotel Presidential adds a full-service icon back into the mix.
“None of this is a whimsical project; they connect dots on a large canvas. These assets are crucial to our aim to welcome up to three million annual tourist visits and to make Enugu the Conferencing Capital of Africa.
“The economic value is already visible. This hotel alone supports hundreds of direct jobs, culinary and events teams, engineering, landscaping, suppliers, and other opportunities.
“Every conference day, we book our taxis and CNG buses; every visiting family discovers our art, music, cuisine, and warmth.
“And the signal to investors is even bigger: when the government shows it can recover assets, fix the fundamentals, and protect investments, private capital follows. That is why you see momentum across other moribund assets like UPPL, Sunrise Flour Mill, Nigergas, International Conference Centre, and many others,” he added.
He thanked the managers and concessionaire of the reconstructed hotel, Amber Hospitality, for believing in Enugu’s potential, noting that “they bring on board an enviable pedigree, earned through the efficient management of about 12 successful brands in the hospitality sector.”
He commended the contractors—Dilworth—for their attention to detail and the successive Commissioners of Works and Infrastructure and their Culture and Tourism counterparts for working to realise the project.
In her address, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, while extolling Mbah’s leadership, said that “the silence has been broken; the lights are on — never to dim again; the doors are open — never to shut again; and the spirit of Enugu is back, stronger and brighter than ever.”
Former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Sunday Onyebuchi, commended the governor for his speed in building new things and reviving dead assets.
“Your mantra says that tomorrow is here, but you have resurrected yesterday today,” he said.
The chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Samuel Asadu, praised the governor’s work rate, having commissioned Enugu Air, five transport terminals, 100 CNG buses, and the reconstructed Hotel Presidential in succession in less than one month.
“If you are not tired of commissioning projects, we will not be tired of coming out. We have never seen it this way. Your leadership in Enugu State is legendary and monumental. There is no vacancy in the Lion Building in 2027,” he assured.
The Chairman of Enugu North LGA, Dr. Ibenaku Onoh, acclaimed the governor’s transformative leadership and assured him of the people’s continued support.
