Continental Conference team inspects facilities at the Calabar ICC to host APRA 2016

African Public Relations Association (APRA), the umbrella body for all public relations associations and practitioners across the continent visited Cross River State and has successfully conducted a facility inspection tour at the Calabar International Convention Centre (Calabar ICC) in readiness to host APRA 2016 conference next May.

The Local Organizing Committee Secretary for APRA 2016, Mr. Kayode Yeku was conducted on a round trip of the convention centre by Mr. Ben Asoro, Calabar ICC’s Director Sales and Marketing.  The destination inspection visit was wholesome and included the assessment tour of the destination partner hotels and some tourist attractions within the city for the pre and post APRA conference.

It is to be recalled that Calabar ICC back in May, 2015 in Yaoundé, Cameroun successfully placed a bid, on behalf of Nigeria, to host APRA 2016 conference at the ultra-modern Calabar International Convention Centre. The rights to host have since been granted; hence the inspection visit is a direct follow up to confirm the destination’s readiness to host the high international delegates in 2016.

The 29^th edition of the conference dubbed APRA Calabar 2016 conference is themed “Leapfrogging Africa: The Role of Public Relations” will be held in Calabar ICC from May 10 – 13^th 2016 and is bound to be very high profile having been endorsed by Africa Union. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will chair the opening session. The current APRA Africa Presidency sits in Kenya with Mr. Peter Mutie as the President while the Hon. Secretary General is Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya from Nigeria.

Commenting on the inspection visit, Mr. Kayode who was impressed by the standard of the facilities: "I think the facilities are massive and colossal, quite modern and contemporary, good traces of progress in Nigeria, long overdue. Calabar is home to many tourist attractions, so we expect the destination to unleash everything within its arsenal to ensure delegates relish the experience, APRA 2016 will be a mixture of business and pleasure and delegates should look forward to a pleasurable experience they will not forget in a hurry.

“APRA 2016 will set the bar in terms of organisation, papers that will be delivered, calibre of VVIP who have confirmed attendance, the quality of attendees, facilitators, and practitioners, will be the best, About 600 delegates from Africa and Europe are expected in Cross River State".He concluded.

Mr. Ben Asoro, Director Sales and Marketing, Calabar ICC commented “We are determined to put Calabar ICC on the world map and these are some of the high profile conferences that the Convention centre will be hosting with immense economic benefits to every Cross Riverian in the support sectors. So far, we have over 32 conferences booked up to September 2019. Once the Cross River State Government completes the building, the destination won’t have to wait for December to enjoy 100% occupancy, as the centre will be hosting many high profile Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions every other week”.

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