Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has flagged off the third and final dry run of the Calabar Carnival with a pledge to help turn the event into a major global attraction.
Performing the flag-off in the company of the Cross River State Deputy
Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu, in Calabar on Sunday, the Minister said the
street processions preparatory to the 2017 Calabar Carnival later in
the month have commenced.
“I make bold to say that what is happening here today will reverberate
throughout the world as we shall leverage the power of information and
technology to bring this event to the notice of the entire world.
“There is no substitute for preparation and that is why this dry run
is very important,” he said.
Mohammed said the Calabar Carnival has grown into a major
unifying factor in Nigeria because it serves as a rallying point for
people all over the country.
He said the Calabar Carnival is now a platform for the youth to
demonstrate their creative ability, and a practical demonstration of
the nation’s drive to turn the creative industry into a viable
creative economy.
“I want to take this opportunity to appeal to the world to see this
street party beyond dancing and beyond the costumes. Let’s see this
Calabar Carnival for what it really is, which is a platform for our
youths to vent out their creativity and a platform to turn our
creative industry into a veritable creative economy,” the Minister
said.
He described the Calabar Carnival as the biggest street party in
Africa, saying it has many unique selling points, being the longest
carnival route in the world covering a 12-kilometre route.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe
Onah, said this is the first time that a Minister will attend the dry
run of the Calabar Carnival.
He commended Mohammed for his uncommon support for the
carnival, having earlier sent the Permanent Secretary of his ministry,
Deaconess Grace Gekpe, to flag-off the second dry run in November this
year.
The Calabar Carnival dry run is marked by dances, processions and
displays by various groups across the major streets of Calabar.
The main event will be held 27-28 December and will attract
participants from 25 countries.
