Fifteen years after it was abandoned, the iconic Hotel Presidential in Enugu sprang back to life on Thursday as Governor Peter Mbah officially commissioned the renovated facility. He declared that his administration is building an economy driven by talent and hard work, not privilege or luck.
Originally constructed by the administration of Dr. Michael Okpara during the era of the old Eastern Region, the 100-room Hotel Presidential had fallen into disrepair since 2008, with past efforts at rehabilitation hampered by funding constraints and legal disputes.
However, under a concession arrangement with Amber Hospitality, the Mbah administration successfully revitalized the landmark property, marking a new chapter in its history.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Enugu, Governor Mbah told a jubilant audience that the hotel’s recovery exemplifies his administration’s vision of transforming Enugu into a premier hub for investment, tourism, residence, and leisure.
He emphasized his commitment to converting dormant assets into productive ones and turning liabilities into engines of economic growth. “This facility is a strategic enabler of our broader economic plan,” Mbah said, “which includes our ambitious goal to grow Enugu’s economy seven-fold to at least $30 billion and to reduce poverty to zero.”
To achieve this, Mbah explained that his government is focused on unlocking job-creating sectors, expanding the tax base through economic growth rather than tax increases, and attracting private capital.
“Our hospitality landscape today is truly inspiring,” he continued. “From the 5,000-seat International Conference Centre anchoring our conferencing ambitions, to the adjacent 345-room, 5-star ICC Hotel currently under construction, to Enugu Air, which embodies the scale of our vision, and now, the rebirth of the Hotel Presidential, which returns as a full-service icon.”
According to Mbah, the renovated hotel has been upgraded to meet modern expectations, featuring contemporary rooms and suites, reliable elevators and safety systems, advanced conference facilities, refined culinary services, consistent power and water supply, and digital conveniences.
He also noted the hotel’s immediate economic impact, pointing out that it now provides hundreds of direct jobs, supporting professionals in culinary arts, event management, engineering, landscaping, supply chains, and more.
Looking ahead, Mbah pledged to boost local capacity in the hospitality sector to ensure Enugu’s youth can compete for emerging opportunities. He highlighted the recent full accreditation of hospitality programs at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, as a critical step toward this goal.
“We are committed to nurturing local content,” he concluded, “including farm-to-table supply chains that offer farmers stable demand and fair pricing, along with procurement policies that prioritize MSMEs meeting quality standards.”
