Nike Lake Resort: Fresh breath from Landmark, Enugu joint venture

In the late 1980s through the 1990s, Nike Lake Resort was one of the reasons many leisure seekers visited Enugu, the Coal City.

Then, the resort, founded in 1988, hosted the best of events, from top government, social to corporate within Enugu and the South-East.

Having enjoyed an environment that offers breathtaking views in secure and tranquil setting, you retire into one of the resort’s

Apart from its 210 well-appointed rooms, lakeview restaurants, bars, expansive outdoor swimming pool and sports facilities, the lake resort’s alluring nature was a big draw for visitors.

Sadly, the heydays of the three-star 150-hectare Nike Lake Resort did not last long enough as lack of maintenance, government interference and other challenges contributed in running the resort out of business.

On their parts, the successive Enugu State government after the administration of Jim Nwobodo, the former governor of the old Anambra State, who started the resort, made efforts at restoring the glory of the once-thriving resort with less impact.

As well, in 2020, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the immediate-past governor, also set up a board to oversee the rehabilitation of the resort, all to no avail.

Yet, from the African Sun, a southern African hotel management company, to other hospitality management companies and experts, the lake resort witnessed a series of renovation exercises that couldn’t restore its past glory.

However, hope seems to have risen for the restoration of the resort as the president administration in the state has engaged a reputable hospitality and real estate company to restore the lake resort at last.

Early this year, January precisely, the Enugu State Government partnered with Landmark Africa Group to transform the resort into a world-class tourism destination, as well as manage it.

With the agreement, Landmark Africa secured a 35-year lease to manage, operate, and redevelop the site. It has also rebranded the resort as Landmark Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, which is now a new subsidiary of Landmark Africa Group.

Also, the partnership agreement signed by Paul Onwuanibe, Group CEO, Landmark Africa Group, and Adaora Chukwu, Commissioner for Trade and Investment, on behalf of the two parties respectively, elicited hope from the public due to the reputation of Landmark Africa, which has delivered and is successfully managing many world-class real estate and hospitality projects and properties across the country and in some African countries.

Again, and most importantly, since assuming office, Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu State, has recorded many achievements in fulfilment of his campaign promises, especially in infrastructure development and the $30 billion economy target for the state.

Matching words with action, the first phase of work has started at the resort, with the entrance gate now bearing Landmark Nike Lake Resort, while key personnel of the company for the development work are on ground.

In the first phase of the N10 billion investment, Landmark will upgrade facilities including; hotel rooms, waterfront villas, children park, beach lounges, dining outlets, golf course, and other leisure attractions.

Speaking on the expectations from the joint venture, Onwuanibe assured that it would be nothing short of world-class facilities, excellent services and memorable experiences, which the company is known for in all its locations.

While Landmark Nike Lake Resort is Landmark Africa’s latest location with an illustrious hotel at the centre of the resort, Onwuanibe described the resort as a scenic waterfront destination.

He further assured Landmark’s commitment at making the resort one of the most visited leisure and tourist locations in South-east, Nigeria and West Africa.

Of course, the transformation into a world class destination has started as Landmark promises to adopt a proven execution model, which its locations are known for.

Landmark is a frontline real estate investment and development company that prides itself as the premier leisure and hospitality developer in Africa with multiple leisure destinations at various stages of development or operation.

On its part, the Enugu State government, under Peter Mbah, is working to grow the state’s economy from the current $4.4 billion to $30 billion. The government has also identifies tourism as the lowest hanging fruit to achieve its target, hence the commitment as developing the sector, amid putting in place the enabling infrastructure, such as the International Conference Centre, with a five-star hotel, the Enugu Air, the rehabilitation of Presidential Hotel Enugu, the joint venture agreement with Landmark for Nike Lake Resort and developing access roads to tourism sites in the state, among others.