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Tag: carnival

  • Humanitarian minister, graces Obong of Calabar anniversary, vows to launch grant for vulnerable groups

    Humanitarian minister, graces Obong of Calabar anniversary, vows to launch grant for vulnerable groups

    Wevole Ezin

    Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu on Saturday graced the 15th coronation anniversary of the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, which also coincided with the annual Utomo Obong festival.

    The twin events were held at Adiabo, the country home of the revered first-class Efik monarch in Cross River State.

    Speaking at the colorful event, Dr. Edu described the Utomo Obong festival as a classy celebration of the rich Efik cultural heritage and congratulated the Obong on his 15th coronation anniversary as well as for the success of the festival.

    “I’m happy to be here in Calabar to attend the Utomo Obong for 2023.
    Our king, the Obong of Calabar, is an A-class king, he is father to all his subjects and he brings together all his people, the different clans, and indeed every well-wisher who wishes Cross River State well and who wishes his kingdom well too.

    “We’re here to share culture. We’re here to share a good time, and we’re here to share Renewed Hope for the people of Cross River State and the kingdom of Calabar. So from the President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from me Betta Edu, and from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Property Alleviation, we wish the Obong of Calabar more success, long life, and a peaceful reign as we all collaborate to pursue peace and development of Cross River State and Nigeria”, the Minister said.

    She reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s determination to stamp out poverty in the country and usher in a refreshing dawn for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

    According to her, Cross River is dear to the President’s heart hence the federal government through her Ministry will on Christmas day flag off grants for the very Poor, Vulnerable groups in the State in partnership with the Cross River State Government.

    In Her words: “President Tinubu has directed that smiles be put on the faces of the poor and vulnerable in the grassroots this Christmas season, so we’ve put together names of vulnerable groups in Cross River and we’re beginning with those in the Southern Senatorial District. The flag-off will be at Millennium Park on Christmas Day.

    “These funds that will be put in their pockets will help them to start micro-businesses that can go a long way in sustaining their family and pull them out of poverty. President Bola Tinubu has a full package for Cross River State and other States in the country, which will be unveiled throughout Next Year.”

    The Minister stated that her Ministry has a checklist of would-be beneficiaries of the scheme having reached out through the traditional rulers, to all the communities the wards, the villages, and people to select those who met the criteria in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

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  • Yuletide: Lagos Government to mark celebrations with 72-hours non – stop entertainment for Lagosians

    Yuletide: Lagos Government to mark celebrations with 72-hours non – stop entertainment for Lagosians

    Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, has unveiled plans to hold a 72-hour Greater Lagos Fiesta – a non-stop entertainment show beginning from the 29th of December, 2023 to the early hours of 1st January, 2024.

    The three-day end-of-the-year event is part of activities conceived to herald the Y2024 with an anticipated number of participants of over 25,000 who will be thrilled with different types of entertainment including cultural performances, and children’s corners, amongst others.

    The State Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, who made this known on Friday at a news conference in Ikeja said that the Ministry will use the annual end-of-the-year event to also market its beach potential.

    According to her, the grand finale which was usually held at Eko Atlantic City would now be held at Sol Beach in Iru-land as a way of exposing the State’s rich beachfront potential to fun lovers and tourists.

    She added that interested participants who still want to join the countdown event at the Eko Atlantic City venue would be provided with a large viewing screen where the activities at the Sol Beach can be transmitted live, in addition to a dedicated channel on DSTV that would stream the event activities throughout the three days.

    The Commissioner, alongside the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, and Permanent Secretary Mrs. Oloruntoyin Atekoja, also assured participants of adequate security at all the designated venues of the countdown event.

    She said: “We have put a lot in place for security, we are working actively with all security apparatus of the state, the Nigeria Police, DSS, Civil Defence, LASTM and Neighbourhood Watch, among other security operators in the state.

    “The Lagos Countdown 2024, #Greater Lagos Fiesta, has become an annual tradition, a celebration of music, entertainment, and the vibrant spirit of Lagos. This year, we are taking the event to a whole new level, with three days of non-stop excitement from December 29, 2023, to January 1, 2024.

    “We are intentional in our focus of deliberately positioning Lagos State to favourably compete with developed cities of the world in terms of hosting tourism and entertainment events”, she added.

    While noting that the annual fiesta has over the years proven to be a very engaging and mind-blowing event, providing fun activities and entertainment for Lagosians in their various localities across the five IBILE divisions of the state, the Commissioner maintained that the event is beyond just a musical show or fun event.

    In her words: “Let me emphasise that this event is not just about the music. The end-of-the-year countdown, #Greater Lagos Fiesta, will also showcase the best of our local cuisine, arts and crafts, and traditional performances. Participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, and flavours that make Lagos such a unique and vibrant city.

    “The Lagos Countdown 2024 (#Greater Lagos Fiesta), will continue to serve the purpose of discovering and nurturing new talents, exposing young talented entertainers to bigger platforms while also serving as a mechanism for curbing youth restiveness that often characterises the festive period”, her words.

    She affirmed that the three-day event, apart from showcasing the cultural activities and nurturing up-coming talented youngsters in the entertainment and creative industry, will also positively impact the State’s economy through massive sales of goods and services to thousands of fun and entertainment lovers throughout the event.

    She listed the venues of the event to include Badagry Grammar School in Badagry, Agege Stadium, Agege, Ikorodu Town Hall Ikorodu, Sol Beach Oniru and Epe Recreational Centre, Epe.

    “We have lined up an incredible array of music stars who will grace the stage and thrill all fun lovers from Badagry to Epe, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Ikeja featuring homegrown talents to international sensations, the best of Afro Beats, Highlife, Juju and Fuji’’, the Commissioner stated.

    Toke Benson-Awoyinka also revealed that interested corporate sponsors ready to collaborate with the State Government to make the event a success are welcome.

  • Carnival Calabar: C’River Tourism Bureau trains security personnel on friendly policing

    Carnival Calabar: C’River Tourism Bureau trains security personnel on friendly policing

    Wevole Ezin

    In a bid to ensure friendly policing on potential tourists during the 31 days 2023 annual Calabar Festival/Carnival, the Cross River State Tourism Bureau has trained military and paramilitary personnel in the state.

    The one Day Train the Trainer Workshop with the theme; “Africa’s Warmest Welcome for Military and Paramilitary Forces.” took place at the Kada Cinema, Marina Resort in Calabar.

    Speaking on the importance of the training, the Managing Director (MD), Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Ojoi Ekpenyong, said the training was part of activities to return the state to the world class destination through friendly policing.

    He said the security personnel undergoing the training include; Army, Navy, Air force, Police, Civil Defense, VIO, Road Safety, Immigrations, Customs and even private security services.

    “the essence of this training is to return Cross River State to that world class destination. The security men are our first gatekeepers, they’re the one who interact with our visitors, so we are here to let them know that they must welcome our visitors with a smile, they must do their jobs with love and with professionalism.

    “The training aim at promoting a police friendly environment in Cross River. Whether you like it or not, when the police and other agencies solve the problem on the road with love, more people will come to Cross River State, he said.

    “The expectation is high because there’s going to be a tourism policing in Cross River State. They’re all here as trainees, they will go back and train their colleagues, so these are representatives of security personnel in Nigeria. So about twenty thousand of them who will be on the road on that Carnival day will be trained in their respective agencies, he maintained.

    He said the administration of Senator Bassey Otu would not leave any stone unturned to ensure Cross River return back to tourism destination.

    Speaking shortly after flagging off the one-day training, the Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem, said the initiative was a welcome development designed to take the state back to it’s root as tourism destination.

    “Most of the countries people do travel to, they don’t even have what we have in Cross River State and I’m thanking the governor very strongly for rejigging the tourism of Cross River State.

    “This training is very important because if you travel to somewhere and you see a security personnel manhandling anyone, I’m pretty sure you won’t want to visit there again. So what the MD of Tourism Bureau is doing here today is very commendable because that simple lecture that is given to them and the cautiousness of handling the people coming into the state is paramount.

    “The training is very important because there’s a way security personnel will handle a person and instead of bringing in tourist into Cross River State, they rather scare them away, so it’s a welcome development, he averred.

    The Speaker assured that the monolith and the gods mountain site which was neglected by the previous government would receive maximum attention in this administration.

    Giving the overview of the training, Vice President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) Justina Ovat, said the training will inculcate the spirit of hospitality and excellent service to drive exceptional guest experience during Calabar Carnival.

    “This comprehensive one-day workshop aims to equip military and paramilitary forces with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver ‘Africa’s warmest welcome’ during the Calabar Carnival, ensuring an exceptional guest experience. Facilitators with expertise in hospitality, events management and military protocols will conduct the sessions, she stated.

  • Carnival Calabar 2023: Otu woos foreign nationals, says security is intact + Photos

    Carnival Calabar 2023: Otu woos foreign nationals, says security is intact + Photos

    Wevole Ezin

    Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has called on foreign National to grace the 2023 Annual Carnival Calabar, says state security architecture is intact,

    Otu stated on Sunday, while flagging off the first Carnival dry run, at the Millennium Park in Calabar, the state capital.

    The governor represented by his deputy, Hon Peter Odey, remarked that the 2023 Carnival Calabar will be better than every other Carnival that have been seen in the history of Nigeria.

    “We are going to have the best Carnival that this country has ever seen this year.

    “We are ready and all the service commanders are here and what that means is that we are ready.

    “So, we are sending message to our friends out there in America, London, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago that their security is safe in Cross River, we are ready , very ready to host you, ready to welcome you because this year’s Carnival will be the best in the world,” the governor assured.

    Earlier, Chairman of the state Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, informed that the cultural milieu that has turned around Cross River in the turn of the millennium, changing the landscape of Nigeria is back.

    Onah maintained that towards this end, the city lights of Calabar are coming right back even as the streets were becoming cleaner.

    Among the participating bands who walked through the 12 kilometers Carnival routes were, Masta Blasta, Seagulls, Bayside, Calas Vegas, Passion 4 and Diamond.

    Commenting, Special Adviser Events management, Effiong Ekpenyong, disclosed that the Calabar Carnival has also introduced raffle draw where the winner will cart home a brand new car.

    See photos below:

  • Carnival: APC mourns death of fun seekers in Calabar

    Carnival: APC mourns death of fun seekers in Calabar

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River on Wednesday expressed shock at the killing of seven fun seekers during the Carnival Bakers Parade in Calabar on Tuesday.

    Many were also injured in the accident when a motorist rammed into the crowd of fun seekers.

    The party’s Publicity Secretary in Cross River, Mr Erasmus Ekpang, stated on Wednesday in Calabar that its leadership was traumatised by the accident.

    “The leadership of APC in Cross River is deeply pained and traumatised by the horrifying, saddening and devastating incident which has stained and shortened the joy and excitement of the Yuletide celebration.

    “We mourn and sympathise with the families of the deceased and those injured who are currently receiving treatment.

    “We also commiserate with our leader, Gov. Ben Ayade and indeed the entire people of our state over the harrowing incident.

    “We pledge our support for the families of the deceased and survivors during this moment of grief and pain,’’ Ekpang stated.

    He added that the party would do everything within its capacity to soothe the pain caused the families and the survivors.

    He assured that the ugly and unfortunate occurrence would be addressed appropriately.

    “We also want to state that this should not deter your confidence in the party as we are also out for you and your well-being.

    “Please, once again, accept our deep sympathy on this unfortunate accident. We pray God to strengthen you and your families,’’ Ekpang stressed.

  • Lagos to host maiden `Ankara’ Carnival in September

    The Lagos State Government (LASG) will host the maiden `Ankara’ carnival in September as parts of efforts to resuscitate the moribund textile industry and create job opportunities for the unemployed.

     

    Mr. Olawale Oladunjoye who addressed a news conference in Lagos said that the carnival would hold between Sept. 2, 2017 and Sept. 9, 2017 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere in Lagos State.

     

    He said that the aim of the event tagged “Lagos Ankara’’ carnival was to give facelift to the “Ankara’’ fabric, which had gained popularity in the global fashion scene.

    Oladunjoye said that the “Lagos Ankara’’ Carnival 2017 would be an avenue to facilitate the exposure of Nigerian designers to the world.

    He said that it would also be an annual event with the capacity to establish many profitable companies and provide jobs to millions of Nigerians.

    “We are confident that the advent of the “Lagos Ankara’’ carnival will strengthen the “Ankara’’ local market and open Lagos up to the world fashion stage,” he said.

    He said that the carnival would not be limited to Lagos alone; but would be taking to other parts of the country and the West African sub-region.

     

    Oladunjoye stated that, “Ankara fabric is popular in Nigeria and in its neighboring countries such as Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin and Senegal.

    “Its history dates back to the 17th Century before the coming of the colonial masters when the fabric was known as wax,’’ he said.

    The carnival would feature Ankara exhibition, award presentation to the ‘Omidan Ankara’ and a carnival night.

     

    Its high point will be the emergence of “The face of Ankara Lagos”. The winner of the `The face of Ankara Lagos’ will initiate Ankara-related-pet projects aimed at skills development, cultural re-orientation and learning.

     

    It would also include the empowerment of youths and producing entrepreneur

  • Fun seekers call for improvement of Carnival Calabar

    Fun seekers call for improvement of Carnival Calabar

    Residents of Calabar and fun seekers have called on organisers of the annual Calabar Carnival to improve on the various aspects of the event.

    A cross section of the residents, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Calabar were reacting to the criticisms that trailed the timing and other aspects of this year’s carnival.

    A resident, Mr Jude Ochala, told NAN that some aspects of the carnival were no longer in conformity with what he used to know.

    “The timing of the different bands is becoming boring and unattractive.

    “In time past, before 8 p.m, almost all the bands would have completed their parade along the carnival routes which gives residents and fun seekers a sense of joy and excitement.

    “Then they would retire to the stadium where the panel of Judges would pick the various winners.

    “But in the 2015 and this year’s carnival, the bands were still on the streets up till 4a.m. in the morning.

    “Those who were supposed to watch them had waited and gone back home to sleep disappointedly, ‘’ he said.

    Miss Isabel Ruth, who came from Ogoja to watch the parade, said she was unable to watch them because of the lateness.

    “I came from Ogoja with my friend to watch the carnival but we only succeeded in seeing two of them after waiting for several hours. We had to retire home.

    “The bands were parading until midnight; I do not think it is fair. They should start early so that people can watch them and have a feeling of joy in the whole thing, ‘’she said.

    In the same vein, a tourist from Anambra, Mr Morris Igwe, said he missed the opportunity of watching the bands because he was afraid of staying late in the night.

    “I had to hurriedly rush back to my hotel room when it was close to 9 p.m.

    “I watched one in the day time and another band came something past 7 p.m. and after waiting for the next two hours without any other band, I retired back to my hotel.

    “Calabar carnival to me still stands out as the best in the country but If they really want people to enjoy the carnival, the organisers should make it early enough.

    “I was told that the governor did not flag-off the event on time, hence the delay but I think there is need for adjustment, ‘’ he said.

    A beautician, Mrs Elizabeth Archibong, further stressed the need for the organiS0ers to harmonise the various events and give enough publicity to enable people follow the events as they unfold.

    “There was a lot of guess work during this year’s carnival. I do not think that is right. The events should be clearly spelt out so that people can follow even from their homes, ‘’ she said.