Abuja carnival: Akinjide assures participants of adequate security
The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, on Tuesday assured the 36 States and 12 foreign countries participating in this year’s Abuja Carnival of adequate security during the four-day event.
The minister, in a statement signed by her Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), Oluyinka Akintunde, said the FCT Administration had put in place security measures to guarantee their stay in the territory.
The Federal Executive Council had last week Wednesday approved November 24 to November 27 for this year’s Abuja Carnival, which has as theme: “Carnival of Peace and Harmony.”
It will feature a minimum of 15 events as against nine during the previous carnivals.
The foreign countries expected at the Abuja Carnival include South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Botswana, Rwanda, The Sudan, Egypt, China, India and Trinidad and Tobago.
Akinjide stated that the carnival had become a beacon of unity amongst the diverse states of the Federation and also enhanced inter-cultural and cross-ethnic friendships.
She said: “The Federal Capital Territory Administration has been collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism to stage a world-class carnival annually in the FCT. The Carnival is a platform to showcase the rich cultural heritage and tourism potentials of Nigeria to the world.
“We have 12 foreign countries participating in the Carnival this year. The Carnival has become a major driver for Nigeria and the FCT in particular. We want both local and foreign investors to take advantage of this unique opportunity to invest in the country and FCT.”
Akinjide supervises arts, culture and tourism in the FCT through the Social Development Secretariat.
The minister disclosed that the Abuja Carnival would kick-off on Saturday with a range of activities such as street carnival, durbar, primary and secondary schools performances, food fair, boat regatta, children’s fiesta, masquerade fiesta, and contemporary music fiesta.
It will be recalled that the FCT Administration had in July 2012 held an international photography exhibition of the Abuja Carnival at the Tiwani Contemporary in London.
Renowned artworks from the annual Abuja Carnival were on display at the exhibition attended by Nigeria’s Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Oluwatoyin Lawal; Prof. Brian Catling of the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford; Special Assistant to the Minister of State for FCT, Niyi Olagunju; Special Assistant to the Minister of Trade and Investment, Kelechi Ekugo; Managing Partner of Ezana Capital, an investment firm in the United Kingdom, Abraham Soquar; and Business Analyst, Marketing and Institutional Banking Division of Royal Bank of Scotland, Faud Animashaun.
Over 50 classical shots from various events of the Abuja carnival were adapted into framed pictures, brochures and e-photo book format to showcase the beauty of the country’s diverse cultural heritage and also tell the story of the Nigerian people.
Among the artworks displayed at the exhibition were Nupe Boat Regatta from Niger State, Kano, Kebbi and Bayelsa Boat Regatta on Jabi Lake, Oyo and Ogun Masquerades, Niger State Durban, Yobe Durban, cultural dancers from Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Nasarawa States and South West, and masquerades from Cross River, Edo and Nasarawa.
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