21 June 2008
Lagos — Akwa Ibom, the beautiful new face of Nigeria, has a deliciously beautiful new face of its own. Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort is a diner's delight any day.
Akwa Ibom is the land of legendary epicurean pleasures. A hotel that claims to be the modern day throne of Epicurus is thus one I readily pick up the gauntlet with.
When Madam Adia Ukoyen delivered the warm invitation from Engr. Patrick Ekpotu, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, to visit this oasis, I was ready to bet that it was the usual marketing hype or government propaganda. I am pleased to admit that I lost the bet and if well maintained, 'Ibom Meridien' will be fully booked in advance for many months. I am truly very proud of my country again and the Akwaibomite Hospitality is better experienced than spoken of.
Step into the restaurant and the sweet smells make you salivate. The menu is truly Meridien par excellence and you need to eat every day of the week to appreciate the full range of meals in a very well-thought out selection that combines the best of Africa, Nigeria and the Mediterranean. Or you can sit on the terrace and watch tennis players on the court as you dine by sunset, a beautiful sight as you gaze through and above the trees of the 'Meridien Forest', as we dubbed it. French and Nigerian culinary expertise are married in this tropical delight and a lovely array of wines, spirits, cocktails and martinis are on standby 24 hours. I will also take up the Meridien on its global promise to deliver first class service at unbelievably consumer-friendly prices in the months ahead!
How did this epicurean delight come to pass? 'Hotels, responsible for tourist safety and happiness, are among the most cautious of investors. The stability of Akwa Ibom has allowed Le Meridien, now owned by Starwood, to erect a five-star golf resort in the African forest. And rather than try to beat the jungle back, they have nestled themselves into it, using a green, fabulous backdrop for the first resort - not just a hotel - in Nigeria', notes an appreciative Kevin Lambert of the Washington Post, in Uyo to savour the culinary and other appetite-whetting delights of Nigeria's most exciting new kid on da block.
The $70 million dollar, 163 room 5-star hotel and resort situated on a plateau and located on Nwaniba Road, Uruan in Uyo, was completed in December 2007 and will be formally commissioned on July 1, 2008 by Governor Godswill Akpabio. The hotel reminds you of a French chateau in its splendour and you will not help but wander round the grounds and admire the architectural visual treat before you head for the grub.
"360-degree forest, palms and serenity," is how Hassan Ahdab, vice president of Starwood's Operation, Africa & Indian Ocean division, describes it. "Our experience in Nigeria goes back 15 years. Nigerians travel a lot; they go and discover. They will be our main market, and we will add on to that the expatriate community that consists of corporate oil and insurance people, and all of the people who have been coming to Akwa Ibom lately, mostly to do business. The location is unique. The interior design shows the flavour of Nigeria."
Talking of flavours, the desserts are a thrill and so are the pastries and snacks. And the non-alcoholic cocktails. "The chef is foreign," Ahdab says, "but the rest of the staff will be Nigerian." The resort started off by employing around 250 Nigerians, mostly from Akwa Ibom and African food will taste authentically African. Scout's honour.
A little distraction once more, after all man shall not live by bread alone! The golf course is a dream landscape surrounded by palm trees. Lovely for picnics too, if you do not mind. Also good for Nollywood movies, I am sure some one will soon say. To Ahdab, the golf is "Critical. Nigerians are very keen golfers. This will create a destination. Expats, of course, can be even keener, and golfing is one of the few activities popular enough to truly anchor a resort'.
Eno-Abasi Sunday, who has a healthy appetite enthused that 'the course is currently Nigeria's largest golf course, consuming an energy-sapping five hours of play to cover the 6.36 km walking distance from hole 1 to 18.' Good exercise stimulates healthy dining. World class amenities, about one dozen golf carts and a well-stocked pro shop and excellent bars and restaurants make it the preferred destination right now.
The MTN World Golfers Nigeria Championship national finals was held at the resort in September 2007. The Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, who is a man of good taste, affirmed that the Ibom Golf Course is a typical championship course that is capable of playing host to international tournaments of the highest pedigree. International tournaments bring people who expect excellent and varied cuisine. This Naija hotel delivers on both counts.
To reaffirm my prediction that this will be the main Nigerian Diner's Delight soon, the resort will feature a gaming casino, complete with a helicopter pad for quick arrivals and departures. American gaming entrepreneurs are extremely interested in this aspect of the resort. Nigeria is a "veritable gold mine for gaming investors". A winning streak inspires excited wining and dining. Voila!
The hotel's management also declares that "We are really anxious to make a spa. Wherever you have a good spa and golf course, plus night life, this is what keeps the people busy. Then there will be "local art, and the performance of local culture, which will be a major feature of the resort. The hotel facility will have boutiques that will sell art and artifacts from both Akwa Ibom and the rest of Nigeria.
The food, one of the great strengths of Akwa Ibomite culture, will represent the region. Local bands will play at night. So the resort, in effect, will be an elegant upscale cultural center, presenting the best of the region's culture and people under a single roof. In a move that might really excite eco-tourists, there is an idea to extend the resort straight into traditional Africa, with a plan to create a market village at the jetty, which opens onto the Qua-Iboe River. This could in turn lead to boat trips down the Qua-Iboe straight to Port Harcourt. The trip should become one of the most interesting tours in Nigeria. The rivers are calm, peaceful and, on a canoe, almost endless'.
Ahdab of Starwoods thinks that river trips may be a long term or short term project, but, "If this can be made formalised and safe, it will make it a really a new destination." The marina is being built on the site of an old river trading post.
Dining Out believes such trips will boost appetites tremendously and the chefs are more than ready for the challenge.'Carving anything out of a jungle is a serious struggle, but when people can utilize the environment, rather than wipe it out and try to build upon the ruins, it will be amazing indeed', note international journalists James Overly and Kevin Lambert who simply love the place.
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