The World Economic Forum (WEF) with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, has announced that the Transcorp Hilton Abuja will be the official hotel and hospitality partner of the 24th World Economic Forum on Africa (WEFA), which will be held for the first time in Nigeria.

The three-day event, scheduled from May 7-10, 2014, is expected to draw over 700 participants from more than 40 countries to host city Abuja, to discuss the continent’s integration agenda and a renewed commitment to sustainable growth and development. Delegates will include regional and global leaders from business, government and civil society.

According to Valentine Ozigbo, MD/CEO of Transnational Hotels & Tourism Services Limited, which runs the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, the hotel was unanimously selected after a diligent evaluation of Nigeria’s hotels’ facilities and services by a special team from WEF.

Transcorp Hilton won the hospitality ticket due to its track record of successfully hosting international conferences and events, coupled with its world class facilities and vintage Hilton quality standard of service delivery.

“Transcorp Hilton has a proud history of successfully hosting high profile international events and we are honoured to be the official host of the 24th edition of WEFA. The forum presents an unprecedented opportunity for Nigeria to make a strong business case as Africa’s investment destination of choice, while showcasing our rich culture and tourism potential,” Ozigbo said in a statement made available to News Express.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance of Nigeria, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, first announced that Nigeria would host WEFA last May at the closing of the 23rd World Economic Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.

In preparation for the 2014 programme, a team of the local organising committee led by Frank Nweke II met with the Managing Director and member of Governing Board of WEF, Borge Brende, last week to discuss plans for a successful hosting of WEFA 2014 in Abuja. Nweke restated the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure world class preparations and deliver a great WEFA 2014.

In his remarks, Brende expressed the excitement of his team and the optimism shared by their members who are looking forward to a great showing in Abuja.

News Express learnt that the Director for Africa at the WEF, Elsie Kanza, will lead her team this week to Abuja to continue preparations and stakeholder engagement for a successful hosting.

Nweke thanked the WEF team and promised that his team is ready to host the world. According to him, plans are progressing from all fronts to make WEFA 2014 in Abuja a remarkable event and a greater opportunity for foreign investors willing to do business in Nigeria.

Last year, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan established a Steering Committee of select Cabinet members and eminent professionals under the co-Chairmanship of Okonjo-Iweala and the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Dr Nwanze Okidegbe, to superintend Nigeria’s preparations.

•Photo (L-R): Valentine Ozigbo, MD/CEO, Transcorp Hilton; Borge Brende, MD and member, WEF Governing Board; Frank Nweke II, Director-General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group and Head of WEFA 2014 Nigeria Secretariat; and Elsie Kanza, Head, WEF on Africa.