ABUJA Carnival 2008 Opens
It is no doubt Culture Tourism is gaining prominence like all other forms of tourism ( eco, health sex etc). Culture tourism helps to showcase the vast and different cultural heritage of a people. Nigeria with its diversity of people and culture qualifies as a melting pot of culture and thus boasts of very high potential for culture tourism.
In a bid to harness this potential and its attendant capacity to generate revenue for the country as well as to re-position and re-brand Nigeria; the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation in collaboration with Nigeria - the Heart of Africa project initiated the Abuja Carnival. The maiden edition of the Carnival was held in 2005 and has been held annually.
The carnival committee in collaboration with different culture and tourism ministries in the 36 states of Nigeria worked together in unity to bring the best of culture and tourism to the ever increasing tourist that grace the carnival every November. In fact, all states are being encouraged to host their own mini-carnivals during the year with the Abuja carnival being the Grand Finale; where every state shall bring the best of the best to the national stage.
Over time, the carnival has witnessed the participation of other countries that have equally come to showcase their cultural heritage and this year’s, carnival is no exception. In fact, the Carnival Committee opines that there are more representations from outside Nigeria in this year’s carnival than in previous years.
Today, the 20th of November, 2008, the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is expected to declare open this year’s carnival at Eagle Square Abuja. As usual the tourist and people of Nigeria will be treated with the best of Nigeria’s culture as we experience Culture and celebrate Life together.
ABUJA CARNIVAL 2008 - ACTIVITY
DAY 1:
OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY:
Date: Thursday, 20th November, 2008
Venue: Eagle SQUARE
Time: 10:00am
Special Guest of Honour:
His Excellency, Umaru Musa YAR’ADUA GCFR
President Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
CULTURAL MARKET/EXHIBITION:
Date: Thursday, 20th November, 2008.
Venue: FCT Craft Village, Opposite Sheraton Hotels & Towers
Time: 4:00pm
Special Guest of Honour:
Senator Dahiru Bako GASSOL,
Chairman Senate Committe of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation
DAY 2:
MASQUERADE FIESTA:
Date: Friday, 21st November, 2008.
Venue Eagle SQUARE
Time: 9.00am
Special Guest of Honour:
Rt Hon. Dimeji BANKOLE
Speaker, House of Representatives Federal Republic of Nigeria
BOAT REGATTA:
Date: Friday, 21st November, 2008.
Venue: Jabi Dam
Time: 2:00pm
Special Guest of Honour
His Excellency
Dr Goodluck JONATHAN GCON
Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
DAY 3:
CARNIVAL DURBAR:
Date: Saturday 22nd November, 2008
Venue: Royal Equesterian Club, Asokoro
Time: 9:00pm
Special Guest of Honour
Senator David MARK GCON
President of the Nigerian Senate
COMMAND PERFORMANCE:
Date: Saturday 22nd November, 2008
Venue: Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton
Time: 7:00pm
Special Guest of Honour
His Excellency, Sherif NAQUIB
The Ambassador, Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
DAY 4:
OFFICIAL CLOSING CEREMONY:
Date: Sunday, 23rd November, 2008
Venue: Eagle SQUARE
Time: 10:00am
Special Guest of Honour:
His Excellency, Umaru Musa YAR’ADUA GCFR
President Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Packaging Carnival for Tourism
Centre of Unity
International Conference Centre, Abuja:
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Abuja is a “planned” city, as it was mainly built in the 1980s and officially became Nigeria’s capital on 12 December 1991, replacing the role of the previous capital Lagos. The population is estimated at 405,000.
Abuja’s geography is defined by Aso Rock, a 400-metre monolith left by water erosion. The Presidential Complex, National Assembly, Supreme Court and much of the town extend to the south of the rock. “Aso” means “victorious” in the language of the (now displaced) Asokoro (”the people of victory”).
Other sights include the Nigerian National Mosque and the Nigerian National Christian Centre. The city is served by the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, while Zuma Rock lies nearby. Abuja is known for being the best purpose-built city in Africa as well as being one of the wealthiest and most expensive; however, the population on the semi-developed edges of the city are living in shanty towns such as Karu. Karu, built to house the capital’s civil servants and lower income families, has no running water, sanitation or electricity.[1]
