Glitz, Glamour As Kogi Prepares to Host 2024 International Carnival
……Babaeko, Other Kogites Rally Support
The historic city of Lokoja and other key locations across Kogi State are abuzz with preparations for the highly anticipated Kogi International Carnival 2024, a week-long celebration of culture, tourism, and community development.
Scheduled to run from December 1 to December 7, 2024, the carnival will be held across four cities, namely Lokoja, Kabba, Okene, and Ayingba. With the theme “Come, Experience, Explore, and Invest in the Confluence State,” the carnival seeks to promote unity, celebrate Kogi’s rich cultural heritage, and drive economic growth through tourism and entertainment.
The event which was designed to be citizen-driven has continued to receive the endorsement of prominent indigenes of Kogi State in various sectors, including traditional rulers. In particular, a foremost Marketing Communication practitioner, who doubles as President of the Nigeria chapter of International Advertising Association (IAA), Mr. Steve Babaeko has indicated his intention to support the carnival in any way possible.
Speaking about the chain of carnival activities, Prince Philip Orebiyi, leader of the Kogi International Carnival (KIC) 2024 project team, described the carnival as “more than just a celebration.” He emphasized its role in fostering cultural exchange, community bonding, and global recognition of Kogi State’s unique offerings.
“The Kogi International Carnival is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of our shared humanity, and showcasing Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage to the world. Visitors will have a unique experience that highlights our state’s beauty, talent, and investment potential. We invite everyone to join us for this unforgettable experience,” Orebiyi said.
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According to Orebiyi, KIC will feature spectacular performances by local and international artists; cultural exhibitions and traditional dance displays; food festivals featuring local and international cuisine; fashion shows showcasing Nigerian and African designs; workshops and masterclasses on art, music, and entrepreneurship.
Also speaking about the proposed carnival, Babaeko, who is the CEO/Chief Creative Officer of the nation’s leading advertising firm, X3M Ideas, described Kogi State as a unique state that has a lot of historical relevance to Nigeria. To this end, he called on Kogites, home and abroad to rally round the team championing the course to organise the one week carnival and use it to position Kogi state as an ideal destination for tourism, cultural heritage and gateway to Federal Capital territory.
According to Babaeko, “Historically, Kogi is a unique state, with bountiful potentials and geographical relevance. Kogi has a lot of potential, including a good geographical location, abundant natural resources, and a growing population that need to be explored. From Lokoja to Kabba, Okene to Ida, down to Obajana, there are so many hidden treasures that need to be tapped. With this international carnival, government and stakeholders would be able to attract attention to Kogi State as as a home of opportunities.Taking Agriculture for instance, from time immemorial,people of Kogi State have been the food basket of the nation, farming in Kogi, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun State. More importantly, the proximity of Kogi State to Abuja allows our farmers to move their outputs to the FCT with ease.
“With a state like Kogi State, the Federal Government need not to look far for willing partners at a time when Nigeria is facing significant food security challenges, with nearly 25 million people at risk of hunger due to climate change, inflation, and rising food prices,” Babaeko stated.
Also expected at the showpiece are renowned musicians and performers; International dignitaries and cultural ambassadors; local and national government officials as well as economic Investors and entrepreneurs
Orebiyi added that individuals and organizations can get involved by following ‘Kogi International Carnival’ social media handleKogi_Carnival on X Instagram, and Facebook
for updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and exciting giveaways! They can also join the conversation using the hashtag #KogiCarnival2024.
