With the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, the 2020 Christmas season looked bleak. Annual events were cancelled all over the world, including the record setting annual 9999 event in Uyo. But the opening of the Christmas Village has brought some life back to holidaymakers and citizens of Akwa Ibom.
Set on a huge spread of land at the cultural centre, which allows for effective social distancing and respect of COVID-19 protocols, the Akwa Ibom Christmas Village has created value of more than N1Billion naira since it was opened on December 1, 2020.
The State Commissioner of Tourism Honorable Orman Esin told the visiting team of tour operators, stakeholders and journalists from Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt that, “The Christmas Village is a statement to show that Akwa Ibom is ready for the business of tourism.”