Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has declared his intention to elevate the Calabar Carnival to international prominence in 2025. Building on its current success as Africa’s largest street party, Governor Otu made this promise during the official opening of the carnival’s street party on Saturday in Calabar.
The street party, a key component of the carnival, featured seven competitive bands and seven non-competitive bands performing along the route from Millennium Park to the UJ Esuene Stadium. The 2024 Carnival, themed “Our Shared Heritage,” ran from November to December 31st, and included three trial runs in October.
Governor Otu stated, “Today is a great day in the Calabar Carnival’s history. We are humbled to be celebrating almost two decades of this event, and we’ve been consistently building on its success. The number of participants has grown, and with significant interest from the diaspora, we may even include a dedicated diaspora band next year. As Cross Riverians, we thank everyone who has joined us, and we invite you to experience and share in our celebration. I declare this open in the name of the Father, in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy Spirit.”
Governor Otu expressed gratitude to dignitaries and tourists, urging them to explore Calabar’s tourism offerings. He also acknowledged the contributions of previous governors—Governors Duke, Imoke, and Ayade—for their roles in the carnival’s development. He encouraged first-time visitors to stay and experience the local hospitality, adding, “For those that are coming for the first time, please don’t go very quick, try and stay back and enjoy the full hospitality of our people. Let me salute our forefathers. His Excellency Gov. Duke, His Excellency Gov. Imoke and Prof. Ben Ayade, for building on what was started by Governor Duke until it got here.”
Dr. Gabe Onah, Chairman of the Calabar Carnival Commission, thanked sponsors including Afrixim Bank, Arias IIP, IAI International Insurance, MTN, First Bank, and United Bank for Africa (UBA), while encouraging them to invest further in the tourism and hospitality sectors for long-term sustainability. He emphasized the carnival’s significance: “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.”
Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State praised Governor Otu for uniting the people of Cross River through the carnival, stating, “This is a historic event. Here, I can see love, understanding, compassion, and liberty. Your excellency, Gov. Otu, your leadership style has paid off, and I must commend you for unlocking the potentials in the youths. You are actually taking the lead.” Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State added, “I am glad to be back here. I am witnessing sustainability and progress here. This puts Nigeria on the global map, and it improves the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state. This is a beautiful day, so let us celebrate.”
