Akwa Ibom Government signs management agreement for Ibom Icon & Golf Resorts

The Chairman, Board of Directors, Ibom Icon Hotel & Golf Resorts, Mr. Udeme Ufot, has explained that the Akwa Ibom State government decided to enter into a new management deal with Icon Hotels & Resorts Nigeria Limited, operators of the Ibom Icon Hotel & Golf so as to restore it seeming lost glory.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by the representatives of the State Government and that of the Icon Hotels & Resorts Nigeria Limited, on Thursday, 23rd December 2021, at the Mbo Meeting Hall, Ibom Icon Hotel & Golf Resorts, Uyo.

He described the ceremony as momentous in the history of the hotel since its establishment in 2007 by the Victor Attah administration, adding that, it became a source of concern to the State Government and other stakeholders to witness the kind of deterioration the facility was witnessing, especially as it was once considered a pride of the region.

According to him, the new deal will span a fifteen years period, with the aim of repositioning the leisure facility for effective service delivery and profitability.

According to Ufot, “Our prime asset was not going the way we wanted it to go, and that kind of concern must necessarily lead to some actions, and so in October 2020, the Government of Akwa Ibom State, took a bold decision to handover this hotel under an MoU for a twelve-month test-run to Icon Hotels & Resorts Nigeria Limited to show us what they could do to turnaround this prime asset of the state”.

“It has been quite a journey, and the twelve months that they were given to show their skills have been executed, and we have reasons to believe that from what we have seen, there is clear evidence, even from guests comments, that there are improvements in this facility. Therefore the State Government has decided to move to the next stage of our plans for this hotel through Icon Hotels & Resorts Nigeria Limited, which is why we have gathered today to sign that long term management contract to take this our great asset to that level that would be the pride of the Akwa Ibom people”, he said.

Explaining the nature of the agreement, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen, stated that, it was the decision of the State Government to enter into a management agreement with the Icon group to manage the operations of the facility for greater benefits to the state and the people.

“The process that started on the 2nd of October 2020, has today culminated in the signing of this long term management service agreement of fifteen years, where the hotel has now become Ibom Icon Hotel & Golf Resorts, managed by the Icon group. The property remains that of the State, but the Government has given the group a free hand to manage this hotel for our collective good”, he explained.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Oman Esin, expressed appreciation to Governor Emmanuel for the bold steps taken to reclaim the pride of the hotel by rejigging its management in order to turn around its economic prospects.

“Through this deal, we have seen a facility that was very tired, but now wearing new looks, and bearing new innovations. We are very impressed with the level of administrative structures that have now been put in place to manage the operations of this hotel “.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Icon Hotels & Resorts Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adetope Kayode, promised that his company would live up to the confidence and trust reposed on her by the Akwa Ibom State Government.

” The journey has been an amazing one. I thank you for the opportunity given to the Icon Hotels group, and the trust put on my organisation to lead the transformation of this great resource of the Akwa Ibom people”, he said.

The high point of the event was marked by the official signing of the agreement which was coordinated by the state Attorney General, Uko Udom, SAN, and witnessed by the CoS to Governor Emmanuel, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, and the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Services, Mr. Okon Okon among other dignitaries and parties, also marked the highpoint of the event.