…attends Kalabari New Year Festival
By Nwaorgu Faustinus
KALABARI (CONVERSEER) – After 50 days in office, Princewill and key members of Queen Elebabene Da Ogo group of houses headed to the historical town of Elem Kalabari to celebrate the Kalabari New Year in support of the Chief Host and King of the source, HRH Mujahid Dokubo Asari.
“The festival is observed on the 16th of November each year with the 15th evening or tide event recognised as the ‘transition’. The date is tied to a beautiful natural phenomenon of the tidal surge or ‘turning of the tide’ where saltwater pushes back fresh water – considered a natural reset that symbolises renewal, rebirth and the reaffirmation of identity”, Princewill said.
The revived festival is believed to go back centuries, with activities ranging from cleansing of the water to a tree planting ceremony, which the Prince himself led, and many cultural displays, which included the “18 types of Iria”.
The colourful festival coincided with the 50 days in office of Prince Tonye T.J.T Princewill as Da Ogo the VIth where he has already empowered 20 owners of existing businesses within the group with 500,000 Naira each, launched a medical intervention scheme to address immediate and urgent healthcare needs with 32 beneficiaries already getting urgent medical attention, equipped women and the youths with environmental sanitation material to keep Ogo Polo clean, refurbished the Ogo memorial hall, installed cutting edge solar energy systems, donated 5 million to youth skills development in 5 different disciplines, from sewing to hairdressing to GMP installation, soap and shoe making.
A statement signed by Jenewari Ntiego Alioma, Secretary, Ogo Elebabene Group of Houses and made available to newspaper editors, publishers, online news platforms and journalists, noted that the Abbi youths skilled jobs scheme was targeted at the wider Abbi group of which Ogo Elebabene is a key part and benefits 160 youths to not only get trained with the practical work experience, but get equipped with working materials to set up their own businesses.
Osaki Kpaluku Amachree, the Abbi Youths Chairman, on receiving the money, thanked the Prince for redeeming his pledge and promised to ensure that the money given would produce visible results in a short space of time. The Prince then went ahead to appoint a monitoring team headed by Chief Daogigo Ebenezer Pepple Amachree to give feedback on a monthly basis on its progress.
See more photos below…
