By: Godfrey C. Osakwe
Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria – June 17, 2026
The Newton Jibunoh International Convention Centre (NJICC), a world-class conference and event facility located within the Nelson Mandela Gardens & Resort at the Asaba International Airport, was officially inaugurated on June 17, 2026, coinciding with the observance of World Desertification and Drought Day.
Designed to international standards, the Centre features a state-of-the-art auditorium, breakout rooms for meetings and specialised sessions, a documentary and exhibition gallery, a library, and a museum. The facility is purpose-built to host high-level conferences, corporate events, cultural exhibitions, academic engagements, and institutional gatherings.
Named after renowned environmentalist, explorer, and Founder of the Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE), Dr. Newton Jibunoh, OON, Nna – Obodo of Akwukwu-Igbo Kingdom; the Centre stands as a lasting tribute to his lifelong commitment to environmental sustainability, education, cultural preservation, and human development.
The NJICC is envisioned as a premier hub for policy dialogue, research, innovation, and cultural engagement, providing a platform for advancing sustainable development across Nigeria and the African continent.
The Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who was represented at the event, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to combating climate change and promoting land restoration.
The Governor praised Dr. Newton Jibunoh, widely known as the “Desert Warrior,” for his decades-long dedication to the fight against desertification, noting that his administration’s policies are firmly aligned with environmental sustainability, green energy development, and afforestation initiatives.
Speaking during the inauguration, the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Obi Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN, commended the vision behind the project and its contribution to positioning Delta State as a leading destination for conferences, tourism, and knowledge exchange.
According to the revered monarch; “By associating this convention centre with Nelson Mandela, we do more than honour an individual. We immortalise a set of values; resilience, courage, service, environmental responsibility, and commitment to the common good.
“We create a permanent reminder that true greatness lies not in what we accumulate for ourselves, but in what we contribute to humanity.”
The Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, CFR, also highlighted the enduring values of unity, African brotherhood, and peaceful coexistence embodied by the Nelson Mandela Gardens & Resort.
His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi (Engr.) Nduka Ezeagwuna, Obi of Issele-Uku Kingdom, and other revered traditional rulers, chiefs and participants all reaffirmed their commitment to Pan-African solidarity and cooperation, emphasising that the future of the continent lies in deeper collaboration among African peoples and institutions.
The inauguration marks a significant milestone in the development of world-class infrastructure within the Asaba International Airport corridor and further strengthens Delta State’s growing profile as a centre for business, culture, tourism, and international engagement.
The event was coordinated by a distinguished planning committee comprising Brigadier General Hamisu Hassan (Rtd.), a respected retired officer of the Nigerian Army with decades of military service and strategic leadership experience; Mr. Jahman Anikulapo, renowned journalist and cultural advocate; Mr. Godfrey Chukwudifu Osakwe, fnipr, a seasoned public relations and development communication specialist; and Miss Oluebube Okafor, a communications professional and administrator at Nelson Mandela Gardens & Resort.
The committee expressed confidence that the Centre will attract significant local and international patronage and serve as a strategic platform for policy discourse, intercultural dialogue, research collaboration, and sustainable development initiatives across Africa and beyond.
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