ARISE Resort: How Gov Eno Is Fuelling A’Ibom’s New Economic Renaissance

ARISE Resort: How Gov Eno Is Fuelling A’Ibom’s New Economic Renaissance

By Hillary Owowo

When last were you at the site of the ongoing construction of the ARISE Resort?

Each time I’ve visited the site, like I did just yesterday, I have had cause to pause and wonder what it ultimately will look like on completion and launch in December 2025, just about a month away. The thought feels me with admiration for the architect of the idea, Governor Umo Eno, especially for his unwavering promises to give Akwa Ibom people more reasons to believe in possibilities as he presses the right buttons in the cockpit as the State moves progressively.

It is not just the speed in the construction of the project that is commendable, but the beauty and hope it holds for the State, Nigeria, and the wider world of tourism, culture and adventure.

No one in Uyo who can remember what the valley along Dominic Utuk Avenue, the present location of the ARISE Resort, once was would fail to be amazed by what it has been transformed into in a matter of months.

First, it speaks to the quality leadership of Governor Eno and his pragmatic commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises of making Akwa Ibom State better than he met it, exploring and exploiting the State’s non-oil sector through diversification. Secondly, it shows how a good leader can see fertile plains where others see mountains, invariably pointing to seeing possibilities in what looks impossible in ordinary eye.

The ARISE Resort is the brainchild of the ARISE Agenda, a transformational blueprint and compass which focuses on deliberately shifting the state’s economy away from its traditional reliance on oil revenue towards self-reliance on multiple sectors. They include agriculture, tourism, aviation, and information and communication technology (ICT).

While every sector of the ARISE Agenda is given competitive attention, tourism and hospitality appear to be a cynosure component, considering what’s going on in the sector. One of the going-ons in the sector is the ARISE Resort.

Envisioned to offer topnotch, world-class services, the ARISE Resort is fast becoming Governor Eno’s Magnus Opus, the star of his visionary leadership, thus leading the way to further launching Akwa Ibom State onto the world map of tourism wonders.

The project, located along the Dominic Utuk Avenue, formerly Brook Streets, a sort of detour to the Government House from the Nwaniba axis of the town, sits on a 70-hectare reclaimed ravine. Architectural components of the resort include a 9-hole golf course and clubhouse; sports facilities with tennis, badminton, basketball, and volleyball courts, a hybrid football pitch, and a squash pavilion. It is designed to also have an artificial lake with floating bars, s wellness and fitness center, children’s playground, arcade with a bowling alley, accommodation including bungalows, villas, a 50-bedroom hotel and
a 1,500-capacity banquet hall.

In a nutshell, the project is transforming a former ravine into a world-class destination with allied facility of competitive values in comfort. It is scheduled for commissioning in December 2025. One sweet departure from the norms in government project management is that the facility will be managed by a private, international-standard firm after a bidding process. This points to a plan for high level maintenance to sustain momentum as it will be profit-oriented while not cheapening standards of satisfaction.

On Wednesday, April 30, 2025,
when the Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, led a high-powered delegation of members and some management staff of the Commission on a working visit to the site, he applauded Governor Eno for the transformational development of the project. He described it as a model of visionary leadership and sustainable development.

“We are truly amazed by what we have seen here today,” Dr Shehu said. “This is more than just land reclamation—it is about converting a tragedy into an opportunity for economic growth and social transformation. It takes intellect, vision, and commitment to lead such a project, and I must commend Governor Umoh Eno and his capable team.”

That was neither flattering sentiments nor a political statement. It was, like it is said in Latin, “ipso facto” – the facts say it all! Hence, the visitor added: “When we see good projects, we stand by them. We will look at your request passionately and make the necessary recommendations to support you in completing this remarkable initiative.”
Before and after Dr. Shehu visited, several others who had also visited the site to see things by themselves make the same remarks about the project.

The project is a priority one for the Governor, who uses every opportunity to emphasize on its importance, like when he said “We’ve invested billions of Naira to reclaim this land, but if we stop there, we risk creating ungoverned spaces that could become security threats. We are building this resort not just as an infrastructure project but as part of our long-term economic diversification strategy, anchored on tourism and the digital economy. We want to make this a destination for conferences, leisure, and innovation.”

By extension, the Arise Resort is designed to become a sought-after destination for conferences, recreation, and digital innovation, making it indispensable in Akwa Ibom’s non-oil economic development plan. That other aspects of tourism, like the Ibom Tropicana, the Ibom Deep Seaport were concurrently being developed certainly betrays Governor Eno’s mindset to ensuring that allocations to the State, henceforth, shall be but mere additions to rich coffers of the State made feasible by diversification.

Governor Eno certainly needs the support and solidarity of all to actualize this lofty feat that will also provide diverse opportunities for employment and other chain value effects.

Hillary Sunday Owowo writes from Uboro-Isong-Inyang in Udung Uko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.