In a bid to revitalise Carnival Calabar, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has appointed a 13-member review committee to assess and improve the annual festival. This move comes after two decades of hosting the event, with the aim of enhancing and refreshing the festival in line with global tourism trends.
The committee, chaired by High Chief Edem Duke, will be tasked with several key objectives, including:
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Reviewing the Past: Analysing the highlights and low points of the past 20 years to identify success factors and areas for improvement.
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Restructuring the Bands: Reforming the creative entities to better align with the state’s cultural expression.
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Improving the Carnival: Exploring ways to enhance the festival while preserving its cultural heritage.
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Establishing a Carnival Museum: Initiating the creation of a museum to preserve carnival culture and history.
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Enhancing International Presence: Devising strategies to increase Carnival Calabar’s global recognition and appeal.
Other members of the committee include notable figures such as Ambassador Ikechi Uko, Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Professor Esekong Andrew Essien, and Professor A. Owan-Eno, who will serve as the committee’s secretary. Additional members are Sen. Gershom Bassey, Hon. Chris Agibe, Dr. Lyam Ugot, Barr Onari Duke, Hon. Eric Anderson, Sir Gabe Onah, PhD, Barr Ededem Ani (AG), and Pastor Johnnie Akpanke.
The committee has two weeks to submit its report to Governor Otu, with the goal of providing a comprehensive roadmap for the future of Carnival Calabar.
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