Abuja carnival to hold in Washington- Minister

The FCT Minister said the FG will hold the Abuja carnival and photography exhibitions outside the shores of Nigeria to encourage foreign investments.

The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olajumoke Akinjide, says her ministry plans to hold the annual Abuja festival in Washington D.C.

“The carnival is being taken beyond the shores of Nigeria to stimulate much needed national and international popularity and also to optimize the commercial opportunities such an event could offer” Ms Akinjide said.

The Minister explained that the international photography exhibition of the Abuja Carnival which held last week at the Tiwani Contemporary, London, was aimed at achieving enhanced national prestige, increased participation, improved sponsorship, and improved packaging of the annual carnival.

“We will also be holding similar Abuja carnival photography exhibition in Washington DC in the United States, Hong Kong and Shanghai in China, and Abuja, Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers and Kaduna in Nigeria,” she said.

Over 50 classical shots from various events of the Abuja carnival were adapted into framed pictures, brochures and e-photo book format; and displayed at the international photography exhibition in London.

Among the artworks on display were Nupe Boat Regatta from Niger State; Kano, Kebbi and Bayelsa Boat Regatta on Jabi Lake; Oyo and Ogun Masquerades; Niger State Durban; Yobe Durban; cultural dancers from Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Nassarawa and the South West; and masquerades from Cross River, Edo and Nassarawa.

Mrs. Akinjide, who supervises Art, Culture and Tourism in the FCT, advised the private sector to take advantage of the annual Abuja Carnival to invest in the Federal Capital Territory.

FG can’t develop Abuja alone

Mrs. Akinjide also stated that the burden of developing Abuja is too much for the Federal Government.

She therefore called for the assistance of local and international investors in the development of the FCT.

“The burden of FCT’s development has been singularly borne by the government,” Mrs. Akinjide said. “We welcome the local and foreign investors to take advantage of the photography exhibition and the Abuja Carnival to invest in the FCT.”

The Minister said the Government remained committed to the development of Abuja and the Satellite Towns as a deliberate way of decongesting the city centre.

“We have, however, developed a framework to involve the private sector in Abuja’s development through the public-private-partnership (PPP) arrangement,” she said.