Fintiri Flags Off N19.9bn Yola Conference Centre to Mark Six Years in Office

Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, on Thursday launched the construction of the Yola International Conference and Event Centre as part of activities commemorating his sixth anniversary in office.

The ambitious project, valued at ₦19.9 billion, is slated for completion within 12 months and is expected to stimulate economic growth, attract investments, and boost the state's internally generated revenue.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Governor Fintiri described the initiative as a transformative investment that will reposition Adamawa as a regional hub for business, tourism, and events.

“This centre will open up the state for greater investment and tourism. Its multiplier effects will include job creation for our youths and increased revenue,” he said.

He added that the facility would not only serve as a catalyst for economic development in Yola but also extend benefits to surrounding towns and villages.

“The project will create direct and indirect jobs, as it will require a dedicated workforce to manage and maintain the facility,” he noted.

Governor Fintiri characterized the initiative as a bold, strategic step in line with his administration’s vision to build “the Adamawa of the future, today.”

He explained that the project is a deliberate move to tap into the global MICE industry—Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions—a multi-billion-dollar sector that the state aims to be a key player in.

“This is a calculated effort to harness the untapped potential in our hospitality and tourism sectors,” Fintiri said.

He also reaffirmed his administration's commitment to creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive—not just to attract investors but to retain them.

Addressing critics, Governor Fintiri called out what he described as "myopic elements" seeking to derail the government’s development-focused agenda with political distractions.

“Some have chosen noise and tantrums, trying to drag us into premature electioneering. But we remain undistracted. There is a time for everything—and right now, governance comes before politics,” he asserted.

“When the time for elections comes, we’ll defeat them again, just as we always have. We weren’t elected to react to every pedestrian provocation—we were elected to lead.”

Concluding, the governor assured the people of Adamawa that their trust and mandate are in capable hands.

“We are not sleeping on your mandate. While our projects speak for us, they are keeping our detractors—those opposed to progress—awake at night.”