Cross River Tasks Revelers on 2022 Carnival Theme Interpretation

Revelers of the seven Calabar Carnival bands have been urged to clear this year’s theme which is ‘Agro-Industrialization’ to reflect the importance of agricultural on the economy of Cross River State in southern Nigeria.

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The deputy governor of the Cross River, Professor Ivara Esu gave the charge to the band leaders and members while flagging off the second carnival dry run in Calabar, the state capital.

Ivara stated, “we want to focus this year on agro-industrialization and you all know what the governor, Professor Ben Ayade has done in that area by siting over 30 industries across the state. We thank God that those industries are beginning to function especially as concessionaires have take possession of the industries.”

“I want to emphasize that the bands in try to elucidate the theme not fail to point out the fact that agro-industrialization means that there must be various raw materials, which must come from agriculture to supply those industries,” he charged.

According to him, it has become imperative for the state government to place critical emphasis on agriculture and ensure that Cross River continues to produce crops in which it has comparative advantage to enable the industries function smoothly.

To the revelers and the band leaders, the deputy governor further said, “I want them to also know that indeed this (Cross River) is a special state. A state like no other that is agro-based.

“We do not want to remain as raw material producers, we want to grow a step further. The aim of the governor is to leap frog the state from a third world to a first world and I think we are doing so,” he asserted.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Cross River State Carnival Commission Mr. Austin Cobham said that the second dry run was a prelude to the main event in December.

Cobham said the theme of this year’s carnival has broadened the understanding of locals and the entire country of the economic direction of Governor Ben Ayade’s led administration in Cross River.

His words: “the theme of this year’s carnival ‘agro-industrialization has brought to the understanding of people what this government has done in the area of agriculture and job provision.”

While expressing the hope that the state would benefit in the long-run from the investments in the sector, the executive secretary noted that the attention of the world was on Calabar carnival and the state government’s achievement over the past eight years.

On the 12 kilometers route were the five original bands Bayside, Masta Blasta, Freedom, Passion 4 and Seagull as well as the two new ones, Diamond and CalasVegas including none competitive bands like the Hit FM band.

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