Ayade Takes Cross River To 2018 Rio Carnival In Brazil

By CrossRiverWatch Admin Follow @crossriverwatch

The Cross River State Government has sent a contingent to the 2018 edition of the Rio Carnival in Brazil to understudy and make plans to ensure the growth of the Carnival Calabar, a sponsored release from Government House Calabar says.

This forms part of the deliberate effort of the administration of Governor Ben Ayade to improve on the organization and revenue generation from its annual Carnival which is tagged ‘Africa’s Biggest Street Party.’

The contingent includes leaders of the five competing bands in the Carnival, the tourism commissioner, Eric Anderson and the head of the events department, Kenneth Aklah and Mr. Anderson told newsmen at the Galeo International airport in Rio de Janeiro that the delegation will understudy how the Rio Carnival became the best in terms of organization, crowd control, logistics and revenue generation.

“We are excited to be part of the Rio Carnival in 2018 because it is the biggest in the world and as a Tourism state in Nogeria that takes carnival as its flagship event, we are going to learn from the world best to put up a better event for Africa starting this year,” Anderson said.

Continuing, he stressed that: “Our aim is to see how to better Calabar Carnival in the areas of organization, promotion, logistics and revenue generation. Do not forget this is the first time Cross River is participating in this Carnival and it is the initiative of his Excellency the Governor but facilitated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism under my supervision.”

CrossRiverWatch had reported that despite the massive turnout for the 2017 edition of the Carnival Calabar, the event flopped as tired revelers spent over 27 hours on the route.

And, Mr. Anderson said things will never be the same again. He averred that: “Carnival Calabar after this trip will not be the same again, because for us, our visit is a peer review to see what they are doing good and infuse into what we are doing, this is why all the band leaders and major stakeholders in management and organization of the carnival Calabar are here.”

Also, the executive secretary of the Carnival Calabar Bands Association, Mr. Austin Cobhams averred that: “We are here to understand what the world best is doing right that Calabar need to emulate from mustering, adjudication and crowd Control and management.”

“The visit is going to be the best experience for us as a commission,” he said and promised to implement every new thing they will learn from the Rio to make Carnival Calabar more attractive to tourists.

The state hopes to send all the five competing bands to Brazil for the 2019 edition of the Carnival.