Delta State will inaugurate the Newton Jibunoh International Convention Centre (NJICC) on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Nelson Mandela Gardens & Resort within the Asaba International Airport complex. The facility, named after Nigerian environmentalist and philanthropist Dr. Newton Jibunoh, will open with a ceremony starting at noon, attended by Delta State Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme, the Asagba of Asaba Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN, OON), and the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero (CFR, CNOL, JP). The centre features a state-of-the-art auditorium, a documentary and exhibition gallery, a library, and a museum, combining modern architecture with African cultural motifs.
The inauguration aligns with the United Nations' World Desertification and Drought Day, reflecting Dr. Jibunoh's decades-long advocacy in environmental sustainability and desertification control. Organisers said the event will include the unveiling of the Ado Bayero Gallery by the Emir of Kano and the convention centre's main hall by the Asagba of Asaba. A documentary on Dr. Jibunoh's life will premiere, alongside a book review of Me, My Desert and I, art auctions, spoken-word performances, and cultural displays. Dr. Jibunoh, founder of FADE Africa and Nigeria's first privately owned museum, the DIDI Museum, described the centre as "a statement—that Africa can lead, that our heritage deserves a world-class home."
The Nelson Mandela Gardens & Resort, founded by Dr. Jibunoh and named after the late South African leader, aims to position the NJICC as a hub for environmental advocacy, policy dialogue, education, and the arts. The centre is envisioned as a lasting legacy promoting sustainable development across Africa.
Dr. Newton Jibunoh champions environmental causes globally while a convention centre in his name opens in Asaba on a day marking desertification, yet Delta State's persistent flooding issues remain unaddressed. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori attends an event celebrating sustainable development, though his administration oversees a region where environmental policies have not prevented recurrent water crises. The Emir of Kano unveils a gallery dedicated to ecological awareness far from Kano's own desertification challenges. A centre named for preservation rises as Nigeria's urban and rural landscapes face escalating environmental decay.
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