Culture

Obudu Ranch Resort Secures ₦100bn Tourism Boost

Published

11 months ago

October 22, 2025

Obudu Ranch Resort receives ₦100bn investment to transform it into a five-star destination, reviving tourism in Cross River State

Obudu Ranch Resort is set for a major transformation following a ₦100 billion investment aimed at turning the iconic site into a five-star destination and repositioning Cross River State as a leading hub for tourism in Nigeria.

Also read: Cross River Begins Obudu Ranch Reconstruction to Boost Tourism

The Managing Director of the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Prince Ojoi Ekpenyong, announced the development after the state won the Best Nigeria Stand Award at the 21st Akwaaba Africa Travel Market.

Prince Ekpenyong revealed that the state government is finalising a concession agreement with a private developer, expected to be signed next week. “By next week, we will sign the agreement, and about ₦100 billion will be invested in the Ranch,” he confirmed.

He explained that the initiative would unlock the state’s vast tourism potential, projecting Cross River as a multi-attraction destination beyond the famed Obudu Ranch Resort. “Cross River is not a mono-destination state; we have many tourism products to sell to the world,” he said.

In addition to the Obudu project, the state is preparing for major tourism events, including a marathon and a food festival, designed to boost visitor numbers and stimulate local enterprise.

Prince Ekpenyong commended the partnership with Akwaaba’s founder, Ikechi Uko, noting the team’s support in advancing the state’s tourism agenda. Uko, in response, praised the competence and institutional capacity of the Cross River tourism team, expressing optimism for deeper collaborations.

Once regarded as the crown jewel of Nigerian tourism, the Obudu Ranch Resort, located in the serene hills of Obanliku Local Government Area, had suffered years of neglect and mismanagement.

Also read: Cross River State Government to revive Obudu mountain resort for tourism growth

The upcoming investment signals a revival of its former glory and a renewed commitment to positioning Cross River as the tourism capital of Nigeria.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”