Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State hasunveiled the 2011 Carnival Calabar theme atthe International Conference Centre, Abuja.While unveiling the theme 'Endless Possibilities', at a ceremony tagged ' A Glimpse of the Destination Cross River,' Governor Imoke described effort in finding a suitable theme for the carnival as tedious and tasking because it was more than dance, costume and regulations exercise.Imoke explained that each of the five carnival bands was guided by the theme and was expected to work hard to interpret it into dance, float and costume as it affects the people and the future, adding that participants should key into the opportunities, which it provided because the carnival had grown in leaps and bounds.'In this year's festival of 32 days of well packaged events, everything will be put in place to ensure that it grows bigger and better than the previous editions, as it is driven by the visions shown a few years ago which have now attracted world recognition.' Imoke commended the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Donald Duke, for initiating the vision.'The unveiling ceremony was only a tip of the ice-berg as more await those that intend to visit Cross River State in December. It will be 'nerve raking and tasking.'Minister of Culture, Tourism and Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, in his goodwill message, commended the state for refining tourism as an enterprise because it drives as the third largest economy after agriculture and banking, while thanking Governor Imoke for his creativity, courage and commitment, which was a reflection of a viable vision, adding that tourism employs about 200 million people in the world with low entry barrier in terms of academic qualification but has the potential of placing food on the table of many families.Chief Duke, who said Cross River State had introduced a new lexicon in Nigeria's tourism programme by initiating Carnival Calabar, noted that the carnival should not be viewed as dancing and glamour but a sector that could contribute to the nation's GDP because it has the capacity of turning a poor man into a rich man.He reasoned that the time had come for other governors to cue behind governor Imoke as the future of Nigeria's tourism development 'starts from today,' while urging theatre performers in Abuja to emulate the wife of Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, by initiating social activities that would keep the International Conference Centre busy with entertainment as a way of promoting tourism.Also speaking the wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Mrs. Obioma Imoke, explained that the Carnival Calabar Queen has gone round the state to counsel young girls to abstain from casual sex, as the pageant was not only about beauty but brains, while commending her husband for the assistance and support given to the project.The Special Adviser, Events Management, Mr. Nzan Ogbe, in his opening remarks, described the Calabar Festival under the state's tourism development thrust as a brand new industry that created jobs, wealth and skill for the people as a culmination of events because it is not only to entertain but also educate, and had grown bigger by the year.Mr. Ogbe described it as one of the biggest branding events initiated by any Nigerian government and commended Governor Imoke for not just keeping it going, but also developing it to include other activities.A representative of the First Bank, Mr. Uke, representing sponsors of the festival, said it had been in partnership with the state tourism commission in the past four years, while the relationship between the state and the bank dates back to 1900, noting that as a big bank, it saw the programme as a catalyst for social engineering as well a support for the youth to show talents.The bank, which currently has 14 branches in the state, stated that the event went beyond tourism as the state had become the biggest investment destination in the country, and thanked Governor Imoke for giving it the opportunity to partner in the programme.Highlights of the programme included the presentation of prizes to the Carnival Calabar 2010 winners, musical performances, comedy, drama presentation by Carnival Calabar Revellers, cultural performance and presentation of The Evolution of Calabar Festival anchored by the Executive Secretary of the state's Carnival Commission, Mrs. Elenda-Osima Dokubo.
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