Niger Delta

Calabar Agog As NAFEST Begins

Published

13 years ago

October 28, 2011

Calabar, the Cross River capital is agog as the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) begins.

Our correspondent reports that contingents’ from 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are already in the Canaan City for the 25th edition of the festival, which began yesterday and ends on October 28.

A check by our reporter at the Cultural Centre Complex and the U.J .Esuene stadium where the four-day events would take place showed heavy presence of security operatives.

According to the organisers, the theme for this year’s fiesta is: “Nigerian Traditional Music: A Vehicle for Economic Transformation and Unity”.

Events billed for the festival include: Children Essay Writing competition; Food Fair; Drama; Traditional Furnished Apartment; Cultural Market; Excursion to tourists’ sites and Presentation of Awards.

Mr Edem Duke, the Culture and Tourism Minister, said on Monday, at a news conference in Calabar, that the festival earlier scheduled to end on Oct. 30 was scaled down to Oct. 28.

Duke said that the change in date was “to make the event compact for the participants”.

He reiterated the ministry’s readiness to host the fiesta, adding that he had taken time to inspect the stadium for the opening ceremony.

“I can say that the U.J.Esuene Stadium is ready to host the event. The stadium is one of the best in Nigeria, suitable for an event like NAFEST.

“Calabar has a conducive environment to host any cultural event.

“The ministry will remain grateful to the government and people of Cross River for accepting to host the event at a short notice,” the minister said. Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mr. Edem Duke has said that the 25th edition of the Nigerian Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) earlier scheduled to last for five days will now last for three days.

Mr Edem Duke, made the announcement in Calabar while briefing newsmen on preparations for the festival.

He said the festival, which would take place at the U.J.Esuene Stadium, Calabar, would open on October 25 and close on October 28, instead of the earlier date of October 25 to October 30.

Duke added that the change in date was “to make the event compact for the participants”.

He reiterated the ministry’s determination to ensure the success of the festival, saying all the logistics and venue had been well put in place and made ready for the events.

“The stadium is one of the best in Nigeria, suitable for an event like NAFEST. Calabar also provides a conducive environment to host any cultural event.

“The ministry will remain grateful to the government and people of Cross River for accepting to host the event at a short notice.”

The Special Adviser to Gov. Liyel Imoke on Tourism, Mr Gabe Onah, said the state had a tradition with culture and tourism, noting that “hosting NAFEST 2011 is like bringing culture home”.

“Cross River has the best green environment in Nigeria and I am sure that the participants will enjoy the best of tourism while in the state.”

Niger Delta

Fouchee Celebrates Asari’s Recognition

Published

4 days ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

The Amayanabo of Fouchee Community in Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, HRH. A.C.Blakk-Iwerima, says the recognition of Alabo, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo Asari as the Amayanabo of Torusarama Piri is the icing on the achievements of the Rivers State Governor in 2024.

HRH. Blakk-Iwerima, who was speaking recently to newsmen after the annual thanksgiving service of the Fouchee Community, said the recognition of Dokubo Asari was fit and proper and sounds like music in the ears of all people of Ifoko ancestry.

He commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialaye Joseph Fubara, for the recognition of Dokubo Asari, whose leadership role, he acknowledged, stands out.

He also commended the Governor for the many steps being taken to restore sanity in governance and dousing desperation through people-centered policies in the State.

According to him, “the Kings, Chiefs and people of Fouchee and Ifoko Communities in the Kalabari ethnic nationality are very proud of Alabo, Alhaji Dokubo Asari, whose links with Ifoko has been most rewarding”.

HRH. Blakk-Iwerima promised to give all the support needed to enable the team working on the Fouchee Atlantic Project to succeed, and expressed hope that the Rivers State Government would also give the needed backing.

He further called on Asari to use the recognition to strengthen the Kalabari Se Kobiri and bring all aggrieved persons and communities to see the need to work together.

Niger Delta

Kalabari Media Forum Hails Recognition Of Dokubo Asari As Amayanabo

Published

4 days ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

The Kalabari Media Forum has endorsed the recognition of Alabo, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo Asari as the Amayanabo of Torusarama Piri and the historical relevance of the award.

A communique issued after the 2024 end of year summit of the Forum also commends the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialaye Joseph Fubara for the recognition which they described as the best end of year gift to the Kalabari people.

The Communique signed by the Coordinator of the Forum, Alabo Dagogo Clinton and the Secretary, Mr. Harry Awolayeofori Macmorrison states that the gesture should make the Kalabari people to get back to the drawing board and consolidate on existing inter and intra communal peace within the region.

According to the statement, Torusarama Piri was the first place where the founding fathers of Kalabari converged from different cultures, tribes and backgrounds. Adding that those saying that the Kalabari people are not united should think again.

” As the different founding fathers were able to form a formidable ethnic nationality, modern day Kalabari should be able to sink the differences between the constituent communities and with other non-Kalabari speaking neighbours to achieve the needed internal cohesion for development”. It states.

The Forum further congratulated Alabo Asari Dokubo on his recognition and urged him to use the opportunity to do even more for the Kalabari people and Rivers State as a whole.

According to the statement, the Forum is happy with the recognition of Dokubo Asari not because he is one of the patrons of the Forum, but because he is about the most Kalabari-centric figure living, who has also committed enormous resources for the protection of the Kalabari people.

They urged the Kalabari Se Kobiri and the entire people of the ethnic nationality to work with Alabo Dokubo Asari and put to rest speculations about Kalabari that some persons have exploited against the interest of the Kalabari people over the years.

Niger Delta

We’re Upgrading Tourism Sites Across C’River – Otu

Published

4 days ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has said plans were underway to upgrade tourism sites across the state to meet international standards.

Speaking with newsmen in Calabar, Otu said this was to attract local and international tourists to the state.

He said the state was also working on creating the needed infrastructure to boost tourism in the areas of transportation and accommodation among others.

“We are currently training personnel within the state and outside the country to upgrade our tourism sites. We are partnering with investors to bring some of them to 21st century standard.

“Currently, we are trying to ensure our roads are taken care of. We are not waiting on the Federal Government again because it has become clear that priorities are too many, so, we have to help ourselves.

“We want to ensure people easily access those tourism sites with very little difficulty and we are looking at stabilising our product pricing by making sure transportation is improved. We will explore gas, electricity and train.

“We are going to improve aviation as well”, he said.

Speaking on the just-concluded Calabar Carnival, Otu commended the competing and non-competing bands for their remarkable imput which culminated to the success of the event.

He appreciated everyone who worked behind the scene in the nine months preparation period for the carnival.

According to him, with guidance from renowned professors, researchers, individual artistes and many more professionals, the carnival was improved on.

He said in view of the need to bring back the international carnival, the state would work on ensuring world-class accommodation facilities are put in place ahead of the next edition.

He noted that the state would have a post carnival review to assess the areas to be improved on and other programmes to introduce.

Otu said depending on the outcome of the review, the state would be considering establishing diaspora bands in 2025.

“International carnival is not scrapped, we are looking at the prospect of established diaspora bands in 2025. This time, we are going to have a post carnival review to put things right.

“We are aware that three to four months ahead of the Calabar Carnival, hotels were already fully booked. So, we are trying to make sure we do not only have enough hotels but also ensure they are upscaled to international standards.

“This is because next Calabar Carnival will be a bigger picture with our international carnival in place.

“We already have international hospitality facilities that are moving here, we have hotels that are almost completed which can compete with any hotel across the world”, he said.

Otu, expressed excitement over the exhilarating performance of physically challenged individuals in the carnival.

He said the possibility of having a dedicated carnival band for them in 2025 would be explored.

“We do not see them as being limited by whatever challenges they face. We are looking at some of the things they have put to us but there must be a policy.

“We are looking at setting up a proper structure in their favour. So, to encourage them on the carnival front, the chairman of the Carnival Commission will check if they actually need their own band”, he said.