16
Jun
Jun
NIGERIA NEEDS WORLD CLASS CONFERENCE CENTRES:
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CapitalTimesNews / 6 days
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- 2 min read
PRINCE NDUKA OBAIGBENA When the International Conference Centre was built in 1991 by Julius Berger for $25m to host the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, meeting by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, , it was considered too expensive! 34 years later, we used $25m to refurbish to bring it to par with international conferences requirements, and you say it’s too expensive? Absolutely not. As one who hosts and enables conferences, the criticism is misplaced as we have zero confidence infrastructure to attract global conferences at scale! As part of those who brought World Economic Forum Africa to Nigeria and its aftermath, I know firsthand why it never returned! It is now firmly in Cape Town despite the security challenges in SA! We need to scale up to host global conferences and meet requirements! Hilton Abuja, despite their new hall is not at par – with no parking! Emir Sanusi had planned a new Conference Centre on the NITEL land for $300m USD, but it was abruptly cancelled by Buhari administration! We have to support the new ICC and call for more centres to compete in the new global economy! Ask the Saudis, the Qataris, and the Emirates!! We should encourage good efforts! What venue can host a really global conference in Nigeria! Prince Nduka Obaigbena is Chairman/Editor in chief of Thisday/Arise News Media Group