Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has flagged off 2023 Carnival Calabar 3rd dry run.
At an event to herald the mega ceremony at the Millennium Park, Calabar, with the theme: “Season of Sweetness”, the governor said the theme is apt, stressing that after a tough season, the people would smile.
Otu said, “This particular theme came as a result of almost all the other themes which capture the carnival from inception.
“After COVID-19, there was a total breakdown and people were so disillusioned. After that, the carnival has been trying to pick up and never really picked up.
“Whether people like it or not, after a season of very tough situation, hunger and other things there will actually come a season where people are going to smile and fortunately this is that season and people are going to smile,” he said.
Otu said preparations for this year’s edition as seen from the dry runs is massive.
The governor said hoteliers are adequately prepared to host guests from far and near to take part in the biggest ceremony in Africa.
He welcomed tourists and visitors across the world to the 2023 carnival and assured them that they will enjoy the hospitality of Calabar and see the real destination of tourism as far as Nigeria is concerned.
An official of the state carnival commission Mr. Austin Cobham said the third dry run marked the end of preparations for the carnival.
The occasion was graced by a former minister of culture and tourism Chief Edem Duke as well as the state commissioner for tourism Abubakar Ewa.
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