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Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ugochi Madueke, has expressed gratitude to the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah for carrying out a comprehensive rehabilitation of the Presidential Hotel Enugu after nearly two decades of neglect.
Speaking to journalists after the official unveiling of the hotel, Madueke said that the hotel was a very important landmark in the defunct Eastern Region and now an iconic destination for hospitality and tourism. “Hotel Presidential was built by the former Premier of the defunct Eastern Nigeria, the late Dr. Michael Okpara. It was once a symbol of Eastern Nigeria’s post-independence modernity,” he said.
The Commissioner lamented that the hotel had fallen into disrepair for about 20 years, until the Mbah administration awarded its restoration to a local Enugu contractor.
According to her, the hotel had been upgraded to international standard with the revamped facility, boasting 100 modern rooms, upgraded suites, event halls and digital amenities. The hotel, she said, is expected to create hundreds of jobs and stimulate local businesses through its supply chains.
She said the reopening of the hotel would serve as both an economic catalyst and a cultural revival, positioning Enugu as a regional hub for tourism, conferences and investment, while restoring pride in one of the city’s most enduring landmarks.
“The hotel is clearly a hub for youth entrepreneurship. Opportunities offered by the hotel include laundry services, photography, courier work, event planning, catering, tourism packages and more.
“These ventures can plug into the hotel’s supply chain and guest services, offering steady customers and growth potential.
“Hospitality cannot be separated from tourism. The governor wants the state to be a destination for all tourism activities and having a Presidential Hotel now means that there is a place for tourists to stay when they come to Enugu,” she stated.
On what should be done to prevent the hotel from suffering neglect again, Mrs Madueke disclosed that the government has taken a very serious measure by handing over the management to Amber Hospitality, a company known for efficient hotel management in the country.
The government, she explained, had spent good funds, time and effort, making sure Hotel Presidential Enugu attains international standards.
“Mind you that when you talk about Hospitality, you’re talking about employment. In the hospitality industry, a room is supposed to be for one person, meaning that since we have 100 beds here, it automatically means that we are having 100 staff, and in the agreement, most of the staff are going to come from Enugu.”
She advised the people of Enugu and the entire people of the South East to own the hotel as their property, so as to maintain the vision of Dr. Okpara and that of the present governor of the state.
