Calabar, Nigeria – Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has approved the appointment of a 13-member committee to provide a postmortem on Carnival Calabar and the Annual Festival Concept after 20 years of hosting.
The approval which was given on Friday is in furtherance to the Governor’s commitment to improve concepts and policies of government.
According to a public service announcement signed by Mr Nsa Gill, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, “The review is aimed at improving and refreshing the product in line with global trends in tourism product development and repackaging.”
The Committee is composed as follows:
1. High Chief Edem Duke – Chairman
2. HE. Barr. Mrs Onari Duke – Member
3. Sen. Florence Ita Giwa – Member
4. Sen. Gershom Bassey – Member
5. Hon. Chris Agibe – Member
6. Dr Lyam Ugot – Member
7. Hon. Eric Anderson – Member
8. Sir Gabe Onah, PhD – Member
9. Barr. Ededem Ani (AG) – Member
10. Pst. Johnnie Akpanke – Member
11. Amb. Ikechi Ukob – Member
12. Prof. Esekong Andrew Essien – Member
13. Prof. Anthony Owan-Eno – Secretary
TERMS OF REFERENCE
• Review the past 20 years to identify the high points and the low points.
• Identify the success factors of the last 20 years.
• Restructure the bands as a creative entity.
• Explore organic ways of improving the carnival by making it our cultural expression.
• Initiate the establishment of a carnival museum for the preservation of carnival culture.
• Advise on the improvement of regulations and organisation to align with world best practices.
• Harness all marketing opportunities to improve carnival funding.
• Devise means of placing Carnival Calabar’s presence on the international roadmap.
• Suggest a roadmap for the next 20 years to guide the operators.
• Engage relevant stakeholders in arriving at its recommendations.
“The committee has two weeks to submit its report to His Excellency the Governor of Cross River State,” the statement added.