Rivers State emerges overall winner at 2024 Abuja Int’l Carnival

Rivers troupe has emerged as the overall winner of the 2024 Abuja International Carnival competitive events while Borno and Yobe emerged as first and second runner-up.

Bauchi and Abia, took the fourth and fifth positions, while the Best in Durbar event award went to Yobe and Delta as the Best in Masquerade event award.

Supreme News reports that the carnival competition judges announced the results at the closing ceremony of the event held on Monday night at the Eagles Square.

The carnival, which was held from Nov.23 to 25, with the theme,” Carnival of Renewed Hope: a Pledge to My Country”, had participating bands from across different states in Nigeria.

It featured a range of activities, including floats and street shows, musical concerts, traditional food competition, boat regatta, Durbar, children’s Fiesta and art exhibitions.

The closing ceremony was a night of glitz and glamour in colourful and festive ambience, which characterises carnivals, as it featured indigenous fashion show and parade across the arena by participating teams.

Rivers topped the medal list with the Best Carnival Float, Best Carnival King, Best Carnival Queen, Best Performance, Best Carnival Costume and Best in Indigenous Nigerian Fashion Parade.

Other accolades won by Rivers include Best in Traditional Food Competition, Best in Boat Regatta Event, Best in Children Carnival and Best in Cultural Night Event.

Barr. Tomonialadieokuma Ishmael, Permanent Secretary, Rivers Ministry of Culture and Tourism, who spoke with NAN on the sideline, said the feat was a demonstration of how Rivers people love and promote their culture.

According to him, Rivers, acclaimed to be the best winner since inception of the Abuja carnival, always prepares and looks forward to the event.

“Abuja carnival without River is not complete as we have always been on top of the chart since 2005 when the carnival started.

“We came first till 2011, and it was in 2012 that we did not come early to the carnival that we did not take the first position.

“From what you saw today during the boat regatta, for nine years River State has been coming first in it; from 2005 to 2013 the state has been on first position in the boat regatta.

“We came to this year’s edition as the state with the highest contingent; we came with over 600 people ,and it shows we are a top notch state with culture and tourism.

“Our governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is a culture and tourism loving Governor, and without him we would not have come here to carry first,” he said.

Earlier in her remarks, Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, said the carnival was in alignment with the Ministry’s goals of promoting cultural diversity and supporting the creative economy.

According to her, the carnival serves as a platform to remind the world of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and a springboard for national cohesion and acceptance.

“The Abuja International Carnival aims to boost cultural tourism and enhance Nigeria’s international profile and foster national unity, boost international culture promotion and create economic opportunities for local artists and entrepreneurs.

“I urge all states to ensure full participation in the 2025 edition of the carnival because it is our own,” she said.

The minister said the Abuja International Carnival is a partnership innovation between the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy and Yankee Entertainment, a promoter of the Nigerian image through entertainment.

Kehinde Adegbite, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Yankee Entertainment, said the rebranded carnival was to showcase Nigerian cultural diversity and creativity to a global audience.

“I have been to so many places in the world, festivals and carnivals, they have the population, money, but they don’t have the culture, but we are in a country where our culture can strive.

“Abuja Carnival was created in 2005 by Olusegun Obasanjo with the sole aim of showcasing Nigerian talent and culture to the world and it ran until 2016 before it was paused.

“The carnival belongs to all of us, it is our pride, and no matter where you go in the world, you still carry a green passport which shows that you are a Nigerian,” he said.