Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has unveiled the reconstructed Hotel Presidential, a landmark originally established 62 years ago by the administration of the late Dr. Michael Okpara, Premier of the defunct Eastern Region.
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Performing the ceremony in Enugu on Thursday, Mbah described the revival of the edifice as “a homecoming for history,” while paying glowing tribute to Okpara’s foresight. He lamented that the once-iconic monument of pride had been abandoned for about 15 years, stressing that its rebirth aligns with his campaign promise to recover Enugu’s moribund assets and reposition the state’s economy.
“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,” Mbah said.
The governor explained that the hotel’s restoration was done to world-class standards in order to project credibility to investors. He further noted that the project fits strategically into his administration’s growth plan, which aims to expand Enugu’s economy sevenfold to at least $30 billion and achieve zero percent poverty.
He placed the hotel’s rebirth within a broader network of landmark projects, including the 5,000-seat International Conference Centre (ICC), the 345-room five-star ICC Hotel under construction, and the recently launched Enugu Air. According to him, these projects are interconnected investments designed to make Enugu the Conferencing Capital of Africa and attract up to three million tourist visits annually.
Mbah highlighted the economic ripple effects of the hotel’s revival, pointing to the creation of hundreds of direct jobs for culinary, events, engineering, and landscaping teams, as well as opportunities for suppliers and transport operators. “Every conference day books our taxis and CNG buses; every visiting family discovers our art, our music, our cuisine, and our warmth,” he said.
He also commended Amber Hospitality, managers and concessionaires of the hotel, for their confidence in Enugu and for bringing their pedigree of managing 12 successful hospitality brands. He praised the contractors, Dilworth, for their attention to detail, and acknowledged successive Commissioners of Works, Infrastructure, Culture, and Tourism for their contributions to the project.
In her address, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, described the reopening as symbolic of Enugu’s rebirth: “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, applauded Mbah for reviving abandoned assets, remarking: “Your mantra says that tomorrow is here, but you have resurrected yesterday today.”
The Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Samuel Asadu, also praised the governor’s pace of development, citing the commissioning of Enugu Air, five transport terminals, 100 CNG buses, and now the Hotel Presidential within 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 declared.
Similarly, the Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area, Dr. Ibenaku Onoh, commended the governor’s transformative leadership and assured him of the people’s continued support.