The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has officially renamed the Abuja International Conference Centre as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, in honour of the Nigerian President.
Speaking during the facility’s inauguration on Tuesday in Abuja, Wike also announced that several halls within the centre have been renamed after other key government officials. These include Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola (referenced by his title, CJN, Kekere-Ekun).
Wike emphasized the importance of recognizing the support of all arms of government in completing the centre’s rehabilitation.
“We must remember those who supported the FCT. That’s why we named halls after the National Assembly leadership and the judiciary,” Wike said. “Since this property belongs to the federal government, it’s only proper that the main centre bears the name of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
He further explained that the International Conference Centre, originally built in 1991 during the military era, had seen little to no development until the current administration stepped in.
“Nothing significant had been done to this centre since it was built,” Wike noted. “But in just eight months under President Tinubu’s leadership, this transformation happened.”
The Minister also stressed that going forward, the use of the conference centre would require payment—regardless of the government agency or ministry involved—in order to ensure its maintenance and sustainability.
“There’ll be no free use, not even for weddings. If you want to use this beautiful facility, you must pay something. That’s how we keep it running,” he added.
The renaming of the centre and its halls is being seen as a symbolic gesture of appreciation for key figures in the current administration and a nod to the collaborative governance among the executive, legislative, and judicial arms.
