The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ‘Calabar festival

  • Calabar Festival kicks off in style

    Calabar Festival kicks off in style

    Saturday night, marked the beginning of the line-up of events fin this year’s edition of the popular Calabar Carnival, with the ceremonial lighting of what organisers touted the tallest Xmas tree in Africa.

    True to their hype, the ceremony kicked-off with colour and panache, as it was witnessed by top celebrities, captains of industry, politicians and revelers, including the host governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, who were treated to high octane entertainment at the Millennium Park, Calabar, Cross River State.

    The event, which lasted two hours, saw the lighting of the Christmas tree at midnight, accompanied with fireworks.

    Before then, there were performances by up and coming musicians discovered during auditions for the 2013 Festival.

    Ace comedian, I Go Die left the guests, which included the Governor’s wife, Obioma, Minister for Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke, former Military Governor of the state, Air Vice Marshal Gregory Agbonemi and Nollywood stars Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Gideon Okeke, Bryan Okwara and Executive Director of First Bank, Mr. UK Eke on the edge of their seats.

    “We remain that place in Nigeria where every Nigerian would be proud to be, where every Nigerian will say there is one state in Nigeria where you can see the governor walking about, associating with his people, he is not afraid, he is part of the crowd, and the people are warm, happy and beautiful”, Imoke said.

    While urging youth to make use of their talents, Imoke recalled that like music star, Inyanya, many talents are discovered every year during the festival.

    The governor contended that the two brands recognised by the world today are Nollywood and the Calabar Carnival, noting that, the tree-lighting exercise will go down in the record of Nigeria that next to the tallest and biggest flag in Nigeria is the tallest Christmas tree.

    Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, stressed the need for government to galvanise resources and train young artistes in order for them to use their creative abilities to better their lots.

    Duke also urged ‘Cross Riverians’ to find in each of them their creative talents that they may showcase to the world instead of waiting on government to provide their needs.

    He hinted that the siting of over N2 billion project for a creative academy in Ikot Nakanda, Akpabuyo Local Government Area remains a clear testimony of how important government holds the works of creative arts among youths in the area.

    Edem Duke also used the opportunity to announce the offer of 10 scholarships by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to provide opportunities for people to learn creative arts of carnival.

    He disclosed that the scholarship would be available from next year, adding that carnival has transformed from a street party into an economy.

    Executive Director Public Sector, South, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. UK Eke, lauded Cross River government for its initiative which has also helped in uniting people from several cultures while bringing happiness to Nigerians.

  • Cross River to raise Calabar Festival to world standard -Deputy Governor

    The Deputy governor of Cross River State, Mr Efiok Cobham, says the state government will promote the Calabar Festival to a world standard.

    Cobham said this at a press briefing yesterday in Calabar, adding that there was a growing awareness about the festival among the people and as such, there was need to raise it to the world standard.

    “I am impressed with the influx of foreign and local visitors that came for the festival,’’ he said.

    He said that the government would take appropriate measure to control traffic, both vehicular and human traffic during future editions of the festival.

    The deputy governor said that the organisers worked in collaboration with security agencies to ensure free flow of traffic in Calabar during and after the festival. He said that there was room for improvement in the next year festival.

    Cobham said that the festival would be developed to a point that it would generate more revenue to the government.

  • ‘Calabar Festival will provide jobs’

    ‘Calabar Festival will provide jobs’

    The popular Calabar festival featuring a variety of activities will generate jobs for Cross River State residents, the state Commissioner of Information, Chief Akin Rickets has said.

    Over one million people, some from overseas, visit the state every year’s end to witness or participate in the colourful feast spanning 32 days.

    Rickets, who spoke in Lagos, said the best dividends of the festival will be job creation and boosting the state economy.

    “Cross River State is known for its vibrant craft industry, for instance, and a lot of people who will participate in the festival will patronise these and other products, thus bringing appreciable cash into the state economy,” he said. “This will boost our local craft industry.”

    Money will also come from other sources such as the hotels with about 4,000 rooms, all of which fully subscribed during the feast.

    The festival offers various activities, one of which is a procession of colourfully costumed revelers on Calabar roads and streets. There is also a Carnival Queen Pageant as well as HIV/AIDS Walk and Conference. The walk and seminar seek to draw attention to people living with the virus, stressing the need to love and support them.

    There is also a visit to the enchanting Obudu Ranch, where visitors not only brainstorm at conferences but are also treated to an alluring sight of some of the most spectacular rolling hills and a variety of rare animal species. Local and international artistes take turns to thrill the festival crowd, just as practiced boaters entertain visitors in a regatta. Children unwind at a Christmas Camp and even have a carnival of their own.

    In the 32-day event, Cross River seeks to offer everything to participants, including a film festival, fashion show, carols, golf and football tournaments, even fireworks and the state’s unforgettable cuisine.

    Governor Liyel Imoke is believed to have not only sustained the annual feast which predated his administration but has also greatly improved it.

    Chief Rickets, however, said it is not just a street party.

    “It provides jobs for our people and boosts our economy, and this year’s edition will not be different,” he said.

     

  • ‘Calabar festival will provide jobs’

    ‘Calabar festival will provide jobs’

    The popular Calabar festival featuring a variety of activities will generate jobs for Cross River State residents, the state Commissioner of Information, Chief Akin Rickets has said.

    Over one million people, some from overseas, visit the state every year’s end to witness or participate in the colourful feast spanning 32 days.

    Rickets, who spoke in Lagos, said the best dividends of the festival will be job creation and boosting the state economy.

    “Cross River State is known for its vibrant craft industry, for instance, and a lot of people who will participate in the festival will patronise these and other products, thus bringing appreciable cash into the state economy,” he said. “This will boost our local craft industry.”

    Money will also come from other sources such as the hotels with about 4,000 rooms, all of which fully subscribed during the feast.

    The festival offers various activities, one of which is a procession of colourfully costumed revelers on Calabar roads and streets. There is also a Carnival Queen Pageant as well as HIV/AIDS Walk and Conference. The walk and seminar seek to draw attention to people living with the virus, stressing the need to love and support them.

    There is also a visit to the enchanting Obudu Ranch, where visitors not only brainstorm at conferences but are also treated to an alluring sight of some of the most spectacular rolling hills and a variety of rare animal species. Local and international artistes take turns to thrill the festival crowd, just as practiced boaters entertain visitors in a regatta. Children unwind at a Christmas Camp and even have a carnival of their own.

    In the 32-day event, Cross River seeks to offer everything to participants, including a film festival, fashion show, carols, golf and football tournaments, even fireworks and the state’s unforgettable cuisine.

    Governor Liyel Imoke is believed to have not only sustained the annual feast which predated his administration but has also greatly improved it.

    Chief Rickets, however, said it is not just a street party.

    “It provides jobs for our people and boosts our economy, and this year’s edition will not be different,” he said.