The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, is setting a new standard for hospitality management in the state.
With quiet determination, he has declared that Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, along with other state-owned facilities, will no longer be running at a loss under his watch.
During an inspection of the ongoing renovation works at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Governor Eno underscored his commitment to ensuring that the hospitality facilities are not just functional, but profitable, beneficial to the State, and efficiently managed.
His approach is purposeful, practical, and focused on long-term sustainability.
As part of his plans to realize the vision, he announced the establishment of a strategic hospitality management group that will coordinate the development and sustenance of a state-owned hospitality brand.
He said, Akwa Ibom sons and daughters who have excelled in top hospitality establishments across the world would be given a chance to showcase their expertise back home, and called on them to invest their skills in building the Akwa Ibom hospitality brand.
During the inspection, the Governor revealed that the first set of 40 upgraded rooms will be ready by October, 2025, while subsequent phases continue until the full transformation of the resort is complete.
As a seasoned hotelier, the State Chief Executive is quietly scripting a new chapter in the state’s hospitality industry. He believes that, just like the Ibom Air success story, the same can be achieved in the hospitality sector.
His solution is the establishment of a strategic hospitality management group that will unify the standards, operations, and culture of Akwa Ibom’s hospitality facilities, creating a recognizable and profitable state brand.
Already, with 40 upgraded rooms set to be ready by October and more phases to follow, the resort is being repositioned to meet the contemporary international standard while reflecting local identity.
From front desk management to housekeeping, engineering to reservations, the Governor insisted on world-class training and retraining, aimed at uniforming operational standards, and a signature style that will make Akwa Ibom brand instantly recognizable and easily petronzed anywhere.
His vision is not just about fixing hotels; it is about redefining tourism, unlocking revenue opportunities, and making hospitality a driver of economic growth.
For Governor Eno, the inspection tour was more than a routine exercise, it was a statement of intent that hospitality will no longer be a liability, but a business, a brand, and a symbol of the state’s creativity, competence, and pride of Akwa Ibom people.
His words while fielding questions from Government House Correspondents shortly after his inspection is a fitting way to end this piece.
“We can’t put so much money into facilities like this, and they kept reporting deficit because we want an international brand. We can be our own brand,
“Five or six years ago, Ibom Air was not a brand, but today, it is a brand to reckon with. You can create your brand. Each and everyone of us has our identity. It is now left for us to develop our identity,
“There is no hotel in this country that you will not find an Akwa Ibom son or daughter at the hierarchy of management. So we call on them to return home and put that same energy in turning around our hotel facilities.”
By Ekemini James
