In a move to enhance government policies and cultural initiatives, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu has approved the appointment of a 13-member committee to review and assess the impact of Carnival Calabar and the Annual Festival after two decades of hosting.
The committee will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to refine and improve the event’s concept, ensuring its continued relevance and sustainability.
According to a press release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nsa Gill and sighted by Thelensng on Monday, the review is aimed at improving and refreshing the product in line with global trends in tourism product development and repackaging.
The terms of reference for the committee include: Review the past 20 years to identify the high points and the low point, Identify the success factors of the last 20 years, Restructure the bands as a creative entity; explore organic ways of improving the carnival by making it our cultural expression; initiate the establishment of a carnival museum for the preservation of carnival culture, and advise on the improvement of regulations and organization to align with world best practices.
The committee is also expected to harness all marketing opportunities to improve carnival funding, devise means of placing Carnival Calabar’s presence on the international roadmap, suggest a roadmap for the next 20 years to guide the operators, and engage relevant stakeholders in arriving at its recommendations.
The Committee is composed as follows: High Chief Edem Duke – Chairman; HE. Barr. Mrs. Onari Duke – Member; Sen. Florence Ita Giwa – Member; Sen. Gershom Bassey – Member; Hon. Chris Agibe – Member; Dr. Uyam Ugot – Member and Hon. Eric Anderson – Member.
Others are Sir Gabe Onah, PhD – Member; Barr. Ededem Ani (AG) – Member; Pst. Johnnie Akpanke – Member; Amb. Ikechi Uko – Member; Prof. Esekong Andrew Essien – Member and Prof. A. Owan-Eno – Secretary.
