Calabar Convention Centre Welcomes New Management Team

SAN FRANCISCO, September 03, (THEWILL) - On Thursday 28th August 2014, Nzan Ogbe, Project Director, CICC (centre), signed the Memorandum of Understanding that officially heralded the commencement of a new relationship between Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC) and Alliance Venue and Facilities Management Pty (AVFM).

Mike Lord, Director of AVFM (left), and fellow director Brian Jackson (back, right), flew in from Johannesburg for the final negotiations and were delighted that the session concluded in the signing of the agreement. Also present at the meeting were the Hon. Commissioner for Finance, Takis Caiafas (right); Managing Director, CRS Tourism Bureau, Michael Williams (left, back); Effiong Anam of the Bureau for Public Private Partnership (2nd left, back ); and SA Legal Services, Mrs Rosemary Onah (3rd left, back).

According to Mr Ogbe, “The signing of the MOU allows AVFM to commence management and operation of the CICC immediately, while the long-term agreement is being fine tuned. We are delighted to have such an experienced team on board, with many years of operating large scale facilities and Implementing international events and exhibitions.”

Mike Lord was keen to stress that AVFM are anxious to get started, saying, “With the opening of the CICC just six months away, we have just enough time to get everything in place. We are looking forward to working with local staff and suppliers especially, as we have a good track record of helping them to grow and develop.”

Although he was not at the signing ceremony, the Governor, His Excellency, Sen. Liyel Imoke, commented afterwards: “A world-class management team is essential for the stability and long-term viability of this convention centre. To ensure minimum government interference, we are finalising the legal and regulatory framework that will guarantee the CICC its commercial independence.”