Rivers troupe has emerged as the overall winner of the 2024 Abuja International Carnival competitive events, while  Borno and Yobe emerged as first and second runner-up.

Bauchi and Abia took the fourth and fifth positions, while the Best in Durbar event award went to Yobe and Delta for ‘Best in Masquerade’ event award.

The carnival competition judges announced the results at the event’s closing ceremony held on Monday night at Eagles Square.

It featured a range of activities, including floats and street shows, musical concerts, traditional food competitions, boat regatta, Durbar, children’s fiesta and art exhibitions.

The closing ceremony was a night of glitz and glamour in a colourful and festive ambience, which characterises carnivals, as it featured an Indigenous fashion show and parade across the arena by participating teams.

Rivers topped the medal list with the ‘Best Carnival Float’, ‘Best Carnival King’, ‘Best Carnival Queen’, ‘Best Performance’, ‘Best Carnival Costume’ and ‘Best in Indigenous Nigerian Fashion Parade’.

Other accolades won by Rivers include ‘Best in Traditional Food Competition’, ‘Best in Boat Regatta Event’, ‘Best in Children Carnival’ and ‘Best in Cultural Night Event’.

Tomonialadieokuma Ishmael, permanent secretary of the Rivers  Ministry of Culture and Tourism, who spoke on the sideline, said the feat was a demonstration of how Rivers people love and promote their culture.

According to him, Rivers, acclaimed to be the best winner since the inception of the Abuja carnival, always prepares and looks forward to the event.

Earlier in her remarks, Hannatu  Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, said the carnival was in alignment with the ministry’s goals of promoting cultural diversity and supporting the creative economy.

According to her, the carnival serves as a platform to remind the world of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and a springboard for national cohesion and acceptance.

The minister said the Abuja International Carnival is an innovation partnership between the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy and Yankee Entertainment, a promoter of the Nigerian image through entertainment.

Kehinde Adegbite, managing director of Yankee Entertainment, said the rebranded carnival was to showcase Nigerian cultural diversity and creativity to a global audience.

“I have been to so many places in the world, festivals and carnivals, they have the population, money, but they don’t have the culture, but we are in a country where our culture can strive.

“Abuja Carnival was created in 2005 by Olusegun Obasanjo with the sole aim of showcasing Nigerian talent and culture to the world and it ran until 2016 before it was paused.

“The carnival belongs to all of us, it is our pride, and no matter where you go in the world, you still carry a green passport which shows that you are a Nigerian,” he said.


(NAN)