The governor of Cross River State in southern Nigeria, Senator Bassey Otu, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to positioning tourism as a major driver of economic growth.
Governor Otu, who described Carnival Calabar as one of the most significant assets in the state’s development strategy.
Welcoming residents, visitors from across Nigeria and the diaspora at the flag off of the 2025 Carnival Calabar, Governor Otu said the event represented over two decades of ingenuity, resilience, continuity and sustainability in cultural tourism.
According to him, “it is with overflowing love and the joy of the season that I welcome all of you, both from home and the diaspora, who have come to celebrate Carnival Calabar with us.
“This event is one of the most important on our tourism calendar and we want a repeat performance as we continue to add value and new experiences each year,” Otu stated.
The governor paid tribute to his predecessors for sustaining the carnival vision, acknowledging former Governors Donald Duke, Liyel Imoke and Ben Ayade for their roles in nurturing the festival through different phases, including the challenging COVID-19 period.
Governor Otu said this year’s theme, “Traces of Time,” captures the essence of Cross River’s cultural journey, urging participating bands to translate the theme into powerful artistic expressions through dance, rhythm and performance.
He said, “we want to see this theme practically expressed in a perfect art form that the world will remember Cross River by,” urging competing and non-competing bands to refine their skills and deliver premium performances worthy of global attention.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, Dr. Gabe Onah, described the carnival as a celebration of continuity, community, heritage and love, noting that the event has evolved into a viable cultural economy.
Onah said, “we are headed now to placing arts as a commodity. This is evident in the growing diaspora participation, international partnerships and strong commercial interest we are seeing this year.”
He disclosed that hospitality and premium viewing experiences were recording strong demand, with tables at major locations selling for as high as ₦500,000, underscoring the carnival’s growing economic impact.
“This is the economy of carnival. It is a deliberate strategy for economic development with the community at the heart of it. Every person here is a VIP because the people are the reason for Carnival Calabar,” he said.
Global Appeal
Highlighting the global appeal of the festival, Onah noted the presence of international dignitaries, including the Ambassador of Portugal to Nigeria, Mr. Paulo Santos, representatives of the Spanish Embassy, ECOWAS business groups, and members of the diaspora community.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Santos described Carnival Calabar as Africa’s biggest street party and one of the most remarkable cultural events in Nigeria.
Santos remarked, “those, who are not here in Calabar are missing a lot. Until you have seen this carnival, you do not know Nigeria. I have been here for more than two years and very few events compare to this.”
He urged diplomats and tourists to make Calabar their preferred destination during the Christmas and New Year period, describing the carnival as “unbelievably beautiful.”
The event also attracted notable political and civic leaders, including the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, his wife Martina, members of the Spanish Council for Peace and Care Initiative, and the three senators representing Cross River State in the National Assembly.