Proposed Enyimba 5-Star Hotel to Boost Tourism, Jobs in Aba — Abia Govt

The Abia State Government says the proposed multi-million-naira Enyimba International Five-Star Hotel in Aba will attract a large number of tourists annually and strengthen the state’s hospitality and economic profile when completed.

The project, being developed in partnership with Radisson Blu, is scheduled for official flag-off on February 13, 2026, and will feature 250 rooms at full capacity.

The State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Umuahia. He said the hotel aligns with the government’s industrial transformation agenda, with a strong focus on the hospitality sector.

Kanu said the facility is designed to position the state as a major destination in Nigeria’s hospitality industry, increase internally generated revenue and stimulate economic growth. According to him, the hotel will begin operations with 155 rooms before scaling up to 250 rooms and is projected to generate about 5,500 direct and indirect jobs when fully operational.

On education, the commissioner said the second batch of the state’s teacher recruitment exercise is progressing, with more than 4,000 new teachers expected to join the 5,000 already employed by the government. He disclosed that 36,415 applications were received, while 24,023 applicants were shortlisted for the computer-based test, with the examination date to be announced soon.

He added that the government is deploying an Education Management and Information System to integrate data and processes across basic and secondary schools into a central database to support planning, monitoring and measurable outcomes.

Kanu also announced the resumption of mass literacy, adult and non-formal education programmes for the 2025–2026 academic session across the 17 local government areas, alongside a statewide sensitisation campaign to boost enrolment among traders, artisans and other out-of-school adults.

In sports, he said the Abia contingent emerged best overall and in athletics at the recently concluded National Basic Education Schools Sports Games, winning eight gold medals in athletics and several others in different categories. He noted that the governor plans to host the athletes at a later date.

On infrastructure, the commissioner said the Ministry of Works carried out direct labour projects in 14 locations, completing several road maintenance works across multiple local government areas, with additional projects added to its maintenance schedule.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, said the new education data system would help track pupil enrolment and movement between schools, both public and private, to improve oversight and planning. The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, was also present at the briefing.