Duke Leads Team To Rejig Calabar Carnival
A former minister of culture and tourism, High Chief Edem Duke is to lead a team of prominent citizens of Cross River State to undertake a review of the Calabar Carnival programme, with a view to restructuring the annual tourism event.
Duke, a renowned tourism stakeholder, is going to work with Onari Duke, wife of a former governor of the state and initiator of the Calabar Carnival. The others listed as members of the special committee are Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, who has been a major face in the carnival.
Senator Gershom Bassey who once represented Cross River South in the senate as we all Dr Gabe Onah, who has been a major player in the carnival from inception, was also listed as member of the committee.
The others are former commissioners-Chris Agibe, Dr Iyam Ugot, Eric Anderson as well as the secretary to the state government, Prof Anthony Owan Enoh, among others.
The committee will be expected to review the organization of the carnival in the last 20 years and identify the high and low moments as well as the successes and failures during the period under review.
They will also be expected to explore “organic ways of improving the carnival by making it our cultural expression. Initiate the establishment of carnival museum for the preservation of carnival culture” and also “advise on the improvement of regulations and organization to align with world best practices.”
