The annual Calabar Festival kicked off on Sunday with a colourful lighting of the Christmas tree, described as the tallest in Africa, at the Millennium Park. The revellers, including the Cross River State governor, Senator Liyel Imoke were treated to high octane entertainment. The event, which lasted about two hours, saw the lighting of the Christmas tree at midnight.
The lighting of the tree was accompanied by fireworks.
Before then, there were performances by up and coming musicians discovered during auditions for the 2013 festival.
Ace comedian, I Go Dye left revellers that also included the Governor’s wife, Obioma, Minister of Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke and Nollywood stars Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Gideon Okeke,Bryan Okwara, a former military governor of the state, Air Vice Marshal Gregory Agbonemi,among other dignitaries on the edge of their seats.
It was a visibly elated Governor Imoke who addressed the audience, saying “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”.
While urging the 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 singled out Nollywood and the Calabar Carnival as the two important brands recognized by the world, pointing out that in addition to the tree lighting exercise, the Christmas tree would go down in the history of Nigeria as next to the tallest and biggest flag in Nigeria.
On his part, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke, stressed the need for government to galvanise resources and train young artistes so they could use their creative abilities to better their lots.
He urged Cross Riverians to find in each of them the creative talents that they could showcase to the world instead of waiting on government to provide their needs.
“These dancers and drummers can win for us the future, bring resources to our families and glory to our state”, the tourism minister said, adding, “we must establish a self-believe, believe in yourselves, believe that if you are such a good dancer or drummer, there is a future for you”.
He hinted that the citing of over N2 billion projects for a creative academy in tIkot Nakanda, Akpabuyo Local Government Area remained a clear testimony of how important the works of creative arts among the youth in the area was o government, pointing out that the project could not be found elsewhere in the country.
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 carnivals had transformed from a street party into an economy.
The executive director, public sector south, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. UK Eke, lauded Cross River government for its initiative which he said had also helped in uniting people from several cultures while bringing happiness to Nigerians.
“The Calabar Carnival has grown to be one of the biggest tourist attractions in Nigeria and Africa at large”, he said, adding “it has enhanced the economic development of Cross River and our great nation”.
He assured that First Bank having established its second branch in Nigeria in Calabar since 1900 would continue to partner with the state to boost social, cultural and economic gains of the carnival.
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