Enugu’s renaissance is oscillating through the entire space of Nigeria, led by a man whose audacious governance and humongous vision is breathing new life into the legacy of the late Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, the iconic Premier of Eastern Nigeria.

Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, a maritime lawyer and a towering entrepreneur turned transformative leader, is not just governing, he is rekindling a golden era, breathing Okpara’s spirit into the entire Enugu to catapult the state into a future defined by innovation, prosperity, and pride.

This is not just leadership; it is a renaissance, deliberate and electrifying, that dares to dream as big, if not bigger, than its storied predecessor.

At 39, Michael Okpara took the reins of Eastern Nigeria in 1959, deploying his philosophy of “Pragmatic Socialism” to transform the region into an economic titan. His agricultural revolution, anchored by institutions like Adapalm, turned Eastern Nigeria into a global palm oil powerhouse, fueling monumental projects like Okpara’s industrial ventures, Golden Guinea Breweries, and the Ceramics Industry in Umuahia, which sparked self-reliance, while his investments in education and infrastructure laid a foundation for enduring prosperity.

The parallels between Mbah and Okpara are impossible to ignore. Both are architects of self-reliance – Okpara through agriculture; Mbah through a diversified economic engine. Okpara’s educational revolution and Mbah’s Smart Schools both treat education as the spark for progress. Both have led by action, not noise, earning praise for their quiet yet seismic impact.

The rebirth of Hotel Presidential in Enugu, Nigeria, under Governor Peter Mbah’s administration after over 15 years of abandonment and neglect, is a notable example of revitalizing state-owned assets to boost tourism, economic growth, and job creation for the overriding public interest of the people of Enugu State.

Built by Dr. Michael Okpara and commissioned in 1963, Hotel Presidential was a prestigious landmark in Enugu, originally featuring 100 rooms and hosting significant events in its early years. It served as a hub for social and economic activities in the region. The hotel fell into disrepair over the years, lying comatose for over 15 years due to neglect and mismanagement, becoming a symbol of lost potential.

Since taking office, Governor Peter Mbah has prioritized the restoration of moribund state-owned assets, with Hotel Presidential being a flagship project, along with similar significant rebirth across abandoned assets like UPPL, Sunrise Flour Mills, Nigergas, the International Conference Centre, and a host of others geared towards transforming Enugu into a premier destination for business, investment, tourism, and living.

The revitalization aligns with Governor Mbah’s broader economic goals, including achieving a $30 billion economy for Enugu State. The revamp of Hotel Presidential will create hundreds of jobs and enhance tourism infrastructure in the state, while also making Enugu the Conferencing Capital of Africa.

Mbah’s governance is a “dramatic departure” from the status quo, pulsating with the revolutionary fervor of Okpara’s era.

The hotel’s rebirth is part of a larger portfolio of over 2,000 ongoing and completed projects under Mbah, including smart schools, healthcare centres, farm estates, and various urban and rural road construction.

Peter Mbah is not just walking in Okpara’s footsteps; he is sprinting, adapting a historic vision to a modern canvas. Through relentless infrastructure, education, security, and economic innovation, he is forging Enugu into a beacon of what Nigeria can be. Okpara’s legacy is a towering milestone, but Mbah’s Enugu is a living testament to its enduring fire. The road ahead is fraught with Nigeria’s tangled challenges: economic volatility, political noise, systemic hurdles, and bureaucracy.

Yet, Mbah’s momentum has consciously shown that he is not just reviving Okpara’s dream but redefining it, proving that visionary leadership can turn the past’s promise into the future’s triumph. Enugu is rising, and the world is watching the rebirth of Michael Iheonukara Okpara’s spirit in Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah through his visionary leadership and actions that are intentional and connecting the dots for economic and social prosperity for ndi Enugu.

Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s leadership embodies the spirit of Michael Okpara’s vision in a modern context. Through infrastructure, education, security, and economic innovation, Mbah is transforming Enugu into a beacon of progress, much as Okpara did for Eastern Nigeria. While Okpara’s legacy is a historical milestone, Mbah’s ongoing efforts show he is on a path to leave a similar mark. He will fully realize Okpara’s “rebirth” from the already sustained momentum and focus to overcome Nigeria’s complex challenges. For now, Mbah’s Enugu is a testament to the enduring power of visionary leadership, proving that the past can inspire a brighter future.

Under Governor Peter Mbah’s leadership, the rebirth of Hotel Presidential symbolizes Enugu’s resurgence as a hub for tourism and economic activity. Reiterating the words of the Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ugochi Madueke, while extolling Mbah’s leadership at the commissioning ceremony, she said: “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.”

…. Nnamani Arinze Darlington writes from Enugu

Governor of Enugu State, 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 on Thursday, extolled the foresightedness of the former premier, regretted that the monument of pride had rotted away for the past 15 years, explaining that Hotel Presidential’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 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, as something contrary to what we represent.

“We came into office with a strong 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 seven-fold to at least $30 billion and to achieve a zero percent poverty headcount rate,” he said.

He assued 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 large 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 are connecting 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 several other opportunities.

“Every conference day books our taxis and CNG buses; every visiting family discovers our art, our music, our cuisine, and our warmth.

“And the signal to investors is even bigger: when 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 a host of 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 equally commended the contractors – Dilworth – for their attention to detail as well as the successive Commissioners of Works and Infrastructure and their Culture and Tourism counterpart for working to realise the project.

In her address, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, while extoling 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 not only building new things, but also in reviving dead assets.

“Your mantra says that tomorrow is here, but you have resurrected yesterday today,” he said.

Chairman, 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, the reconstructed Hotel Presidential in succession under 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 Lion Building in 2027,” he assured.

The Chairman of Enugu North LGA, Dr. Ibenaku Onoh, acclaimed the governor’s transformative leadership, assuring him of the people’s continued support.

The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) of the Federal Ministry for Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy (FMACTCE) has appointed Engr. Charles Uchenna Emembolu to chair the Council for Creative Technology Futures (CCTF), a pioneering body set to drive innovation in Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries through advanced technologies and platform including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Web3.0, and blockchain.

The CCTF’s mandate is to position Nigeria as a global leader in creative innovation by developing a National Creative-Tech Framework and Roadmap, shaping policy reforms in intellectual property protection, taxation, and technology adoption, and spearheading flagship initiatives such as the Creative Futures Fund, ICE Hubs, and Discover Naija. These will expand job creation, skills development, and global market access for Nigerian creatives across 49 industry sectors.

Engr. Emembolu is a technology entrepreneur, innovation policy advocate, and current Chairman of the Innovation Support Network (ISN) Nigeria, representing over 220 incubators, accelerators, and innovation hubs nationwide. He is also Co-Convenor of the Omniverse Africa Summit, which unites technology and creative sector leaders from across the continent.

At the heart of the Council’s direction and coordination is Mr. Obi Asika, the dynamic Director-General of NCAC, whose track record, leadership and deep industry expertise will anchor the CCTF’s vision, ensure high-level stakeholder engagement, and drive alignment across Nigeria’s diverse creative and technology ecosystems. The ministry of FMACTCE is led by Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa.

“Our creative economy is a catalyst for technology-driven prosperity. The present is digital, global, and transformative. Through CCTF, we will channel that momentum into capital, ownership, and innovation, enabling more homegrown platforms that consolidate our creatives’ global leadership as owners of their value ecosystems,” said Emembolu.

The NCAC will serve as the Secretariat for the CCTF, whose inaugural council members are:

• Charles Emembolu — TechQuest, IT Expert & Talent Development (Chair) 
• Misan Harriman — Director/Photographer 
• Dayo Elegbe — Sponge Group (Digital Marketing) 
• Bizzle Oshikoya — The Plug (Music & Talent Management) 
• Kemi Awodein — MD, Chapel Hill Denham (Investments & Advisory)
• Osas Peter — Founder, BlackAt 
• Malik Afegbua — AI Storytelling & Creative Visual Futurism 
• Sandra Oyewole — Olajide Oyewole & Co. (IP Lawyer)
• Judith Okonkwo — Imisi 3D; AR & Deep Tech Leader 
• Dr. Dahiru Sani — Founder, Kaduna Business School 
• Dr Chinedu Odoala – NCAC (CCTF Secretariat)

The CCTF will seek to deliver actionable frameworks, after which implementation will scale nationally and internationally.

Source: Techeconomy