Akwa Ibom’s Mega Tourism Leap: Inside 5,000-Capacity Ibom Convention Centre And 200-Room Hotel Project

Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has reignited a transformative vision for the state’s tourism and business landscape with the revival of two flagship projects: the 5,000-capacity Ibom Convention Centre and the 200-bedroom Ibom Hotels at the Tropicana Entertainment Complex.

Initially launched over a decade ago but stalled due to funding and management challenges, these projects are now central to the administration’s ARISE Agenda aiming to position the state as a premier destination for international conferences and luxury hospitality.

The Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre, conceived in 2007 under former Governor Godswill Akpabio, was designed as a multifunctional hub featuring a shopping mall, cineplex, theme park, and five-star hotel. While the mall and cinema became operational, the convention centre and hotel languished at embryonic stages until Governor Eno intervened in early 2025.

His administration flagged off renewed construction, emphasising the need to reclaim encroached land and complete the projects by 2026.

The convention centre spans three levels, including an 800-seat hall, a 50-seat auditorium and a 5,000-capacity main auditorium with eight meeting rooms.

Related: AKSG To Partner Hospitality Industry To Actualize Tourism Master Plan 

The 200-room hotel, part of the Tropicana Complex, will complement the existing Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, which boasts 163 rooms, an 18-hole golf course and a helipad.

Governor Eno’s ₦655 billion capital budget prioritizes these projects to diversify the state’s economy beyond oil. The convention centre alone is projected to generate over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs while the hotel will cater for high-profile guests, leveraging Akwa Ibom’s 2023 “Tourist State of the Year” accolade. The convention centre’s 5,000 capacity rivals Lagos’ Eko Convention Centre and Abuja’s ICC, positioning Uyo for continental events. The hotel’s integration with the Tropicana’s shopping mall and theme park creates a one-stop leisure and business ecosystem.

The projects’ chequered history includes funding gaps, with past administrations struggling with budget allocations, leaving the Tropicana Complex partially completed. Land disputes have also been a hurdle, with Governor Eno recently vowing to prosecute trespassers occupying the project site.

Management shake-ups, such as the termination of the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort’s management contract in 2024 over inefficiencies, signal stricter oversight for the new projects.

Governor Eno’s ARISE Agenda frames these projects as part of broader infrastructure development, including 57 roads project, two new Airbus A220-300s for Ibom Air, and agricultural initiatives.

His emphasis on public-private partnerships aims to attract investors to the Tropicana Complex. With construction now underway, stakeholders eye a 2026 completion deadline.

Success hinges on transparent contracting, audits of past contracts to avoid cost overruns, and tourism synergy, linking the convention centre to the Ibom Golf Resort and nearby attractions like the International Worship Centre, Godswill Akpabio International Stadium and even the Victor Attah International Airport.

These projects could redefine the state’s hospitality map—but only if lessons from past stumbles are heeded.