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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, Gabe Onah, has said the 2025 Carnival Calabar would move beyond street dancing to focus on economic growth, unity and digital innovation.
Onah spoke in Calabar during the event during the flag-off of the first dry run for the 2025 edition by Deputy Governor, Peter Odey.
According to him, the central theme for the 2025 carnival is “Rethinking Our Collective Destiny,” which he said, reflects Governor Bassey Otu’s vision of love, equality and shared humanity.
“From working with the Governor, I see him trying to equalise humanity. We are a common people, we are a common race and nothing beats love,” Onah said.
He said the carnival had remained a creative platform for children and youths to excel, while promoting peace.
He explained that the present administration has used each edition to pass a message, from the “Season of Sweetness” which marked the return of peace, to “Our Shared Prosperity” and last year’s “Traces of Time,” which celebrated the 20th anniversary.
“This year, we are speaking to the equality of mankind. One humanity is the only way forward after what the world experienced post-COVID,” he said.
Onah said beyond culture, the Commission was intentional about using the carnival to boost tourism revenue.
He said the preceding edition generated about N19 billion in socio-economic impact, adding that the state was targeting more this year.
To achieve that, he said the Commission was introducing online registration and online voting to allow spectators to vote for the Band of the Year.
“We want spectators to become active participants, not just watching. You and I will be able to register and vote” he said.
He added that several national and international artists and countries had indicated interest to participate in the 2025 carnival, promising fireworks for residents and visitors.
