Enugu has been described as one of the cleanest and safest cities in Nigeria by lawyers who participated in the just-concluded Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held in the state.
The lawyers expressed their delight during a tour of major tourist sites, including the Art Gallery, National Museum, Milliken Hill, and Ngwo Pine Forest, noting that their several days in Enugu gave them a fresh perspective about the South East.
Many participants admitted that their impressions of the region changed after spending time in Enugu, observing that the state “runs an organised system.”
Stephen Medaiyedu, from the FCT Bar, Abuja, praised the level of infrastructure put in place by Governor Peter Mbah in just two years, as well as his ability to host the conference successfully within four months of moving the event from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
According to him, “Hardly any lawyer would say that he or she did not have a good time in Enugu or that he or she did not feel adequately safe throughout the conference that lasted from 22nd to 29th August. The infrastructure is fantastic, the transport system is very well organised, the security is very assuring, as we have no reason to be afraid of anything. I commend the governor and the people for the hospitality they afforded us. The sightseeing also was part of the package.”
Also sharing his experience, Samir Mohammed Adamu from Bauchi State, acknowledged the peace, unity, and serenity that characterized Enugu throughout the conference.
He said, “We thank the governor for giving us the opportunity to visit the tourist sites and the things he has been doing for us since we came into this beautiful city. It is a beautiful city with peace and hospitable people. It is green and its environment is quite serene. The way and manner the people received us here is quite wonderful.”
For Ozor Nnadume Awforkansi of the Ezeagu Branch in Enugu State, the positive impressions of the visiting lawyers have now positioned Enugu as a preferred destination for future NBA events.
“I want to tell you sincerely that lawyers are recounting their good experiences in Enugu. They said if they knew this was how beautiful and safe Enugu was, they would have been coming to the state for their vacations and weekends. But some of us from Enugu were sincere to have told them that this was not the look of Enugu prior to this moment, as this was made possible by the present governor, Mbah. We told them there was nothing like International Conference Center in Enugu before Mbah came because it was abandoned, but was completed by Mbah. We have gone to a lot of places and we have eaten a lot of local delicacies. We enjoyed ourselves. It is quite a memorable outing,” Awforkansi said.
Wilson Uche Ugwe, a tour guide and Vice President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), stressed the importance of tourism marketing, adding that the NBA visit had successfully showcased Enugu’s natural and cultural endowments.
He noted: “The governor has also mapped out over N13bn to invest in the state’s tourism sector, which we have seen so far. As you can testify, the governor is doing well in terms of security and infrastructure and the state will keep improving. In Enugu, everyone can testify that the governor is doing a lot. We have transport terminals, CNG buses, Enugu Air and others. Our visitors are happy and we are calling on investors to come and invest in our tourism.”
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, explained that her ministry ensured the visiting lawyers enjoyed not only Enugu’s scenery but also its rich culinary heritage, including okpa, abacha, achicha, and palm wine.
She added that the Mbah administration remains committed to reviving and expanding the state’s tourism sector.
“By the time the lawyers will come back to Enugu, we must have been done with our zipline, which is going to be the first in Nigeria and would equally have steps called 600 Steps to Tranquility from where we can go to the waterfall for ease of movement. We will equally have big rotunda here. So, I thank the governor for believing in tourism,” Madueke said.
