The 19th edition of the Akwaaba Africa Travel Market opened in Lagos on Sunday amid colourful displays and fascinating dance steps by the Carnival Calabar dancers to herald preparation for the Afica’ s biggest street party.
This is coming just as Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu has emphasized that the Carnival Calabar has come of age and would deploy all efforts at sustainability and inclusion to achieve set goals exploring a robust Public Private Partnership framework to achieve mutually beneficial relations in Naming Rights, Endorsements, Sponsorships, Merchandizing and Activations.
Speaking at the opening of the 2023 Akwaaba African Market in Lagos, Governor Otu said it is in the realization of these waiting opportunities that he has directed that the children s carnival, aqua show and the exciting and colorful Night of Kings and Queens to return to the Carnival Calendar to create more opportunities for sponsors visibility.
Unveilling the 2023 carnival theme which is targed: ‘The Season of Sweetness, Gov Otu stated that the season of sweetness has now taken over Coss Rivers.
He lauded the band leaders for their creativity to breathe life into the carnival themes in the past and for a job well done, including the sponsors, especially MULTICHOICE- DSTV, for a wonderful relationship through the past years.
The Governor said: “It gives me pleasure to be part of the unbroken staging and exhibition of the 19th AFRICA Travel Market Event tagged, AKWWABA.
Indeed, it is a welcome to all and majorly to the tourism and travel trade players.
I also understand that for the second year, the Medical Tourism platform is being activated with a strong partnership with the Turkish group, (group’s name)
This is particularly elating because for every good reason, the world needs to come together now more than ever.
I am very pleased that we are here again to share that moment of joy that Calabar, Cross River State, offers the world as AFRICA’s WARMEST WELCOME…
“Carnival Calabar” represents the most tangible tourism product in the calendar of events of Cross River State and in Nigeria in general”.
Governor Otu explained further that: “It was and still is a strategic plan for the actualization of the vision of transforming Cross River State socio-economically through the instrumentality of the performing arts.”
The carnival exhibits rare colours, costumes, floats, pyrotechnics, magic, acrobatics, etc. through the 12 kilometre carnival route.
These are by no means overt expressions of the state and people’s heritage of hospitality and Africa’s warmest welcome.
Today, we are here to witness another theme unveiling, which stands our carnival out as an intellectual platform to entertain, educate, and inform our publics and audiences.
Carnival Calabar, Africa’s Biggest Street Party has always led the cultural interface and ties with other such great cultural and artistic brands that have evolved distinct identities as Nigeria’s best foot forward in cultural diplomacy and at the same time acting as the pull factor to bring tourists to Cross River State and Nigeria every year”.
