REBIRTH OF TOURISM

 Akwa Ibom is stepping into a future where tourism is a pillar of prosperity, writes BASSEY ATTAH

The courtyard of the once-abandoned Ibom International Convention Centre in Uyo had a familiar echo, grand ambition suspended in concrete, steel and scaffolding. For 15 years, the massive edifice had stood as an unfinished dream, a symbol of what Akwa Ibom could become but had not yet managed to fully claim. But on this day, the atmosphere was different. Hope was palpable. Machinery hummed. Hope is restored. Architects hovered over new drawings. And banners announcing “Reconstruction Flag-Off Ceremony” fluttered in the breeze.

At the centre of the scene was Governor Umo Eno, the man many now describe as the state’s quiet transformer. With a hard hat in hand and a calm confidence that has increasingly defined his administration, he signalled the beginning of a new chapter: the reconstruction of the Ibom International Convention Centre and the long-stalled Ibom 200-bedroom Hotels.

It was not just another government event, it was indeed a statement of intent. A declaration that Akwa Ibom is ready to grow beyond oil, and a demonstration of the governor’s belief that tourism is not merely a sector, but a pathway to economic reinvention.

In his address, delivered against the backdrop of cranes and half-completed structures, Governor Eno placed the day’s significance within the broader compass of the ARISE Agenda, the administration’s comprehensive development policy. Tourism, he reminded the audience, is one of the agenda’s pivotal pillars. And tourism does not thrive on rhetoric; it thrives on infrastructure.

“We are gathered here,” he said, “in our determined effort to position Akwa Ibom State as the tourism hub of Nigeria.”

The governor, a former hotelier and past chairman of the State Hotels and Tourism Board, spoke with both conviction and practical understanding. He noted that the convention centre and hotel are vital signposts in the state’s evolving tourism master plan, complementing the emerging ARISE Resort, another ambitious project shaping the state’s future.

To frame the significance of the moment, he turned to scripture, Hebrews 11:39–40, reflecting on how the structures had been started by visionary leaders 15 years ago but remained unfinished, awaiting a time and a leadership that would bring them to completion.

“I believe God wanted us to be part of these projects and to drive them to conclusion,” he said quietly, acknowledging the efforts of past leaders while asserting the unique role his administration is now called to play.

In characteristic humility, Governor Eno responded directly to those who have questioned the decision to invest in a previously abandoned hotel project.

His answer was disarmingly simple: “I came not just to deepen peace and unity in my State but to deploy my finishers’ anointing, especially on projects that may have gulped billions of our State’s resources already.”

It was a subtle rebuke of the common Nigerian pattern where incoming administrations abandon the works of their predecessors. Instead, Eno has chosen continuity—finding value where others saw political baggage.

And he is uniquely suited for the task. With decades of experience in hospitality, he understands the demands of operating a world-class convention and hotel facility. He understands global tourism trends. He understands what travellers seek and what destinations must offer. By bringing this practitioner’s insight to governance, he is bridging the gap between ambition and expertise.

With these elements working together, Akwa Ibom is no longer dreaming about tourism; it is building the infrastructure to dominate it. “Akwa Ibom stands at the cusp of expansion and growth,” the governor said,

Throughout the event, Governor Eno returned to a recurring theme, unity. He urged Akwa Ibom people to rise above political bickering and focus on the collective pursuit of progress. The ARISE Agenda, he emphasized, is the governing blueprint and must remain the centre of shared aspiration.

His call resonated widely. Leaders from across the political spectrum acknowledged that the governor’s leadership style, calm, inclusive, pragmatic is gradually reshaping the tone of governance and civic engagement in the state.

The ceremony became a chorus of bipartisan endorsements. Senator Aniekan Bassey, speaking on behalf of National Assembly members, praised the governor’s inclusive approach and affirmed their readiness to stand with him in the journey ahead.

Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, commended the transparency in project execution, noting that lawmakers were satisfied that funds were being judiciously deployed.

Chief Assam Assam, SAN, a respected statesman, offered perhaps the most memorable endorsement, calling Governor Eno a jinx breaker.

“You’ve done well,” he told the governor emphatically. “May God continue to bless you.”

Local government chairmen and the Paramount Ruler of Ibesikpo-Asutan also lauded the governor’s commitment to completing projects he did not start—a trait too rare in Nigerian politics.

In his project overview, Comrade Ini Ememobong, Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, described the facilities as “critical in the tourism equation of the State.” Once completed, he said, they would channel tourism traffic into Akwa Ibom, generating jobs, hospitality revenue, event-based commerce and global visibility.

It is a point economists have echoed: tourism is labour-intensive and value-generating. For a state looking beyond oil, the sector offers sustainable pathways to job creation and wealth redistribution.

As the event drew to a close, the symbolism became clear. The cranes rising over Uyo are more than construction equipment—they are metaphors of resurrection, of reclaiming abandoned dreams, of leadership that sees value in continuity, and of a state boldly reinventing itself.

Governor Umo Eno is not just rebuilding structures; he is rebuilding confidence in the power of vision, professionalism and faith-driven governance. Under his watch, Akwa Ibom is stepping into a future where tourism is not an afterthought but a pillar of prosperity.

With the reconstruction now underway, the long-dormant monuments of ambition are finally awakening. And as Akwa Ibom positions itself as Nigeria’s next great tourism destination, one truth stands out: the journey beyond oil has truly begun.

 . Attah writes from Akwa-Ibom State