Enugu: From NBA Conference to Detty December

By Dan Nwomeh

WHEN over 20,000 lawyers, jurists, and global leaders trooped into Enugu for the just-concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference, the Coal City came alive in a way not seen in recent memory. For one week, Enugu became a hub of ideas, culture, and commerce, seizing the attention of the nation and trending on both the mainstream and the social media for days. Hotels sold out, airlines increased their flight frequencies, restaurants and lounges brimmed with conference tourists, and small businesses, from taxi operators to street vendors, reaped an unexpected windfall. The conference was more than a gathering of professionals; it was a showcase of Enugu’s growing profile as a choice tourism and conference destination. What struck participants and observers alike was not only the size of the event but also the calibre of its guests. From the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, to South African firebrand opposition leader Julius Malema, leading jurists, celebrated senior advocates, human rights activists, prominent politicians, and global legal scholars all descended on Enugu. Their presence underscored the city’s capacity to host world-class events. The Enugu International Conference Centre and Michael Okpara Square, facing each other across the road, merged seamlessly into a massive conferencing arena, comfortably accommodating thousands of participants and leaving many delegates marvelling at the scale and organisation.

What made the difference was not luck but deliberate planning. Enugu took this sudden influx of visitors in its stride because of key enablers intentionally created and nurtured by Governor Peter Mbah in less than two years. A modern security architecture featuring a Distress Response Squad with nearly 200 patrol vehicles fitted with AI-enabled cameras, high-definition surveillance cameras installed across the streets, and a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre gave delegates peace of mind, reinforced during inspection visits by groups of lawyers. Well-paved and marked roads ensured easy mobility, while an efficient traffic management system kept congestion minimal. Clean streets, clean air, and a visibly orderly environment projected Enugu as a city ready for business. There was attention to detail in the planning and execution. One single ugly incident could have marred it all. The hired opposition traducers were waiting, sniffing around, hoping for a major lapse – a robbery attack, a health mishap, even a freak rainstorm. More than six lawyers fainted during the course of the conference. In one dramatic moment, a lawyer collapsed, reportedly from a ruptured brain vessel, but the coordinated response of the standby ambulance and medical team saved her life. Within minutes, she was stabilised, transported, resuscitated, and operated on by an on-call neurosurgeon and cardiologist. Every emergency was swiftly handled, leaving no dark spot on an otherwise flawless hosting.

Enugu Air, the state-owned airline launched only in July, enhanced connectivity, flying in thousands of delegates and keeping the city well linked with Lagos, Abuja, and beyond. World-class facilities such as the International Conference Centre and the newly revitalised Hotel Presidential gave the conference a fitting home. Combined with the natural serenity of the Coal City, set against the towering Udi Hills – an increasingly complex urban setting whose economy is rapidly being driven by tech and innovation – the famed hospitality and warmth of its people, and the buzzing entertainment and culinary scenes, these enablers made the NBA Conference a resounding success. And the delegates were more than impressed. A lawyer from Makurdi, Henrietta Lorkumbul, gushed on her Facebook timeline, “I underrated Enugu!” Stephen Medaiyedu, from Abuja, said: “The infrastructure is fantastic… the transport system is very well organised… the security is very assuring.” Samir Mohammed Adamu, from Bauchi, called Enugu “one of the most beautiful and peaceful cities,” with “hospitality and serenity… at their peak.” Favour Abraham, from Minna, observed: “It is a beautiful city… CNG buses were waiting for us… the people are hospitable.” Henry Okeke, from Abuja, said Enugu “has turned… into a showroom of leadership,” praising the secure, clean, and hospitable hosting. In a viral piece, Barr. Chinedu Agu, from Imo State, wrote: “From the moment I entered Enugu, I noticed something strange – no potholes. The roads were motorable, marked, clean, and vigilantly maintained. Over 20,000 lawyers descended on Enugu. Yet, the city did not choke. Why? Because the road network absorbed the pressure. Planning worked. Agencies worked.”

The local organisers also turned the occasion into a cultural and social festival. Delegates rode the state’s new fleet of CNG buses not only between the airport, hotels, and venues but also to tourist sites such as the Ngwo Pine Forest, where they experienced a lively cultural party. Beneath the tall pines, they were welcomed with traditional music, vibrant dances, and native delicacies in a rare immersion into Igbo culture. They savoured palm wine, abacha, goat meat pepper soup, and nkwobi, as local troupes filled the forest with pulsating drumbeats and spirited performances that lured even the most reserved guests to the dance floor. Top artists lit up the nights with Afrobeat, highlife, and hip-hop concerts, while Enugu’s nightlife hit new heights as clubs and lounges filled to capacity. Adding colour to the social scene were numerous gatherings hosted by lawyers’ associations. Across the city, university and law school classmates, Bar branches, and faith-based lawyers’ associations organised reunions where colleagues reconnected, networked, and relived old memories. Behind the conviviality, however, was a subtle but unmistakable display of Bar politics, as lawyers said to nurse leadership ambitions in the NBA seized the moment to court delegates. At Okpara Square and the Conference Centre, they set up elegantly furnished and lavishly decorated tents and lounges that offered delegates relaxation spots with free snacks and chilled drinks.

The hospitality sector, too, witnessed new discoveries. With hotels fully booked, the Airbnb and short-let market exploded across Independence Layout, New Haven, GRA, Trans Ekulu, Thinkers Corner, Ogui, and satellite estates. By the end of the conference, it was clear that Airbnbs were Enugu’s new goldmine, and investors are already scrambling to position themselves ahead of December.

The economic ripple effects were visible. At the expansive Okpara Square, a lively “Mammy Market” sprang up with more than 1000 stalls offering food, drinks, fabrics, crafts, and souvenirs. Vendors traded into the night as lawyers and residents thronged the square in a carnival-like atmosphere. For small traders, it was the biggest boom in years, proving how such conferences benefit and lift everyday businesses.

But the NBA Conference did more than bring short-term gains. It signalled Enugu’s rebirth as Nigeria’s conference and tourism capital. With Enugu Air set to expand its fleet, four new parks redeveloped across the metropolis, Nike Lake Resort undergoing a massive upgrade, and major tourism sites, including Awhum Waterfalls and Monastery Environs, Ekulu Riverfront, Ngwo Caves, and other heritage locations, Enugu is preparing for an unprecedented festive season.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has already reported an increased registration of travel and tour agencies, creating its own value chain of professional tour guides, licensed transport services, accredited accommodation providers, and destination management companies, all adding to Enugu’s tourism ecosystem and multiplying opportunities for jobs and enterprise.

Many events are already lined up, dovetailing into Detty December – annual general meetings and conferences, the National Festival of Arts and Culture starting this September, music concerts by Phyno, Davido and several A-list artists and performers, comedy shows, traditional masquerade festivals, new yam festivals, food and fashion fests. Every day from December to mid-January is lined with events.

By December, the city will also welcome signature facilities such as the completion of the 300-bed Enugu International Hospital in the heart of the city, and the operationalisation of the international and cargo terminals of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, further reinforcing Enugu’s readiness as both a tourism and logistics hub for West Africa. Twelve or so new high-rise hotels are under construction, alongside a near-complete five-star International Conference Centre Hotel, expanding room capacity, catalysing ancillary services and jobs, and adding to investor confidence in Enugu.

For the people of Enugu, there is a renewed sense of pride. If one week could yield so much, a whole festive season will multiply that impact. This is in line with Governor Mbah’s vision of expanding Enugu’s GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion by 2031. As the countdown to December begins, Enugu stands on the threshold of a renaissance. It is ready not only for official conferences but also to emerge as Nigeria’s most vibrant festive destination, rivalling other notable cities as the ultimate destination for Detty December.

The NBA Conference was more than a legal gathering; it was a statement of intent. The transformation in Enugu and the dramatic shift in how the state is now perceived have not gone unnoticed nationally and beyond. During an earlier visit, Vice President Kashim Shettima captured it with simple but powerful words: “Enugu is back to life.” This December, all roads and all air routes may well lead to Enugu.

•Nwomeh writes in from Enugu

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