Driving Tourism Development through Calabar Carnival

Charles Ajunwa writes that the 2024 Calabar Carnival lived up to expectations

Fun-seekers from all walks of life stormed the 2024 Calabar Carnival, the 20th in series since its inception in 2004. From the UJ Esuene Stadium to Millennium Park through Mary Slessor Avenue and virtually all streets within Calabar, the Cross River State capital, fun-seekers who came out in their numbers explored not only the beautiful landscape adorned with attractive green spaces, welcoming green canopy trees, historical monuments such as the mind-blowing Mary Slessor Roundabout not forgetting the hospitable people and their nutritious delicacies. Overlooking the Millennium Park through Moore Road, is a large body of water separating Nigeria from Cameroon.

With lit up roads, and all-round 24-hour security surveillance in place, fun-seekers as early as 5a.m. on December 28 started to arrive the Millennium Park, venue for the flag-off of the biggest street party in Africa themed ‘Our Shared Prosperity’. Different carnival bands both competitive and non-competitive took over all the spaces around Millennium Park putting finishing touches to their work. 

As build-up to the 2024 Calabar Carnival, three editions of dry run were put together by the organisers, which according to carnival’s international consultant, Ikechi Ukoh, was to enable people pick any one they want to participate in, and to guarantee the success of the carnival at the end of the day. 

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, who arrived the Millennium Park in company of his wife, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu, all elegantly dressed in carnival costumes, before cutting the tape to officially kick-start the carnival, said the 2024 theme remained internationally engaging given the global audience in attendance at the Calabar Carnival.

According to him, “That shared prosperity is actually internationally engaging because we have the global audience right here; we have people from all continents of the world right here. There is a need to build economic, social, and cultural prosperity into what we are doing for our people to share,” Otu said.

He praised former Governor Donald Duke for initiating the carnival, and also thanked Senator Liyel Imoke and Prof. Ben Ayade, for sustaining the Calabar Carnival and introducing more competitive and non-competitive bands into the carnival.

Otu, who said that his administration would continue to build on and add value to the carnival, revealed that this year, a Diaspora band would be introduced into the carnival.

“Today is a great day in the calendar history of Calabar. We are indeed very, very humbled that we are celebrating about two decades of this particular event. And I know that we’ve been building and adding value daily. 

“The buyers have increased. And we know even next year, because the diaspora is pressing very, very hard, we might be able to add the diaspora band that will come on full strength. 

“But as Cross Riverians, we want to thank all those who have come, and we say come and live and share with us. I declare this open in the name of the Father, in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy Spirit.”

Kwara State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, who attended the carnival together with Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, said the carnival apart from putting Nigeria on world map would also improve Cross River State’s internally generated revenue.

“This programme puts Nigeria on the map because it is a global event. What we don’t realise is the improved internally generated revenue of the state. If I look at it from the economic angle, not just the cultural angle, you see people talking about spending December in Lagos, but this is here to stay.

“Hopefully, next year, people will need to spend some days in Calabar before going back to Lagos; that is the joy of it all,” AbdulRasaq said.

On his part, Governor Ododo praised Otu for showing leadership, noting his tenacity in state craft was evident in the energy and commitment displayed by participants and residents of the state, whom he said have completely bought into the carnival. 

Chairman, Cross River State Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, who acknowledged the contributions of the sponsors of 2024 edition, namely, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Afrexim Bank, MTN, Zenith Bank, Arise, International Energy Insurance Company, DSTV, and First Bank, implored them to take ownership of the tourism and hospitality sectors for sustainability.

“We are experiencing a rebirth. We are here to speak to the ignition of community spirit, to speak to the community of Africa, and what we are ready to offer the world. 

“The dance party on the streets tells the story. The Carnival is allegorical, it is didactic, it is educational, it is theatre for development. “No wonder Afriximbank, Arias IIP, the IAI International Insurance, MTN, First Bank, UBA are here as sponsors. We thank you for this, but we believe that we can take over this sector and run with it for sustainability, competition, and appreciation by the communities,” Onah said.

Wife of Nigeria’s former President, Aisha Buhari who attended the carnival with her children, during the carnival parade which held at the Governor’s Adjudication Point close to Mary Slessor Roundabout, joined the carnival train at the end of the parade and became subject of discussions across the state as her presence they said added colour to the carnival. 

Senator Florence Ita-Giwa who dressed in red flowing gown, wowed the crowd with her Buga dance steps which electrified the whole arena. The procession by the physically challenged received thunderous applauds from the crowd  as they smiled, danced on wheels with placards with the inscription: ‘Say No to Violence against Women and Girls.’

Also in attendance were former Governor Duke; Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh; representative of Cross River South Senatorial District, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong and some international diplomats from the United Nations, the European Union and a host of others.

Others that graced the event include European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Gautier Mignot and his wife, Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Yanko Yordanov and his wife, representative of United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Mr. Arjun Jain, Minister of State Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh and his wife, former Minister of Culture, Edem Duke, Deputy Governor of Cross River, Peter Odey, Speaker of Cross River State House, Elvert Ayambem, APC Deputy National Women Leader, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim, APC State Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar, State Consultant Calabar Carnival, Chief Richard Essien, 2024 winner of the Queen of Humanity,  Her Majesty Glory Teta Ephraim, and many others. 

Other segments of the carnival include Calabar Beauty Pageant, Bikers Carnival, Cultural Carnival, Junior Carnival and Calabar Festival Mega Concert which featured Iyana, Zlantan, Tekno, Kenny Blaq and other artistes. The musical concert which was attended by Governor Otu, attracted full capacity crowd.  

The 2024 Calabar Carnival results are as follows: In the state cultural carnival Akwa Ibom came first, Osun second and Delta third position. In local government cultural carnival Yakurr emerged first, Calabar South and Odukpani, second and third respectively. In the Junior Carnival Class Vegas came first, Seagull came second and Bayside came third. In Band of the Year, Calas Vegas emerged first, Seagull and Freedom came second and third respectively.