2012 Abuja Carnival: FG to hosts 12 countries

By CALEB AYANSINA

In an effort to promote its rich cultural diversity to the world, the Federal Government will play host to not less than 12 countries from four continents at the forthcoming 8th Edition of the Abuja Carnival.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved in its last meeting, November 24 – 27 for the Carnival with theme: ‘The Carnival of Peace and Harmony’, featuring minimum of fifteen events.

Briefing the Press last week in Abuja, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke said the carnival would be “a platform to boost the economy of Nigeria especially the informal sector of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, through the influx of tourists.

”The carnival as you know is to promote the unity and the diversity of Nigeria”. He said adding that”to use the carnival as a platform for not just showcasing and promoting of our culture but also to show that culture is a major collateral in building unity among many people and invest in our culture in order to build a strong pillar in the promotion of unity, by bringing in other countries all over the world from different continents.”

According to the minister, twelve contries have confirmed their participation viz; Egypt, India, Trinindad and Tobago, China, South Africa, Cameron, Sudan, Botswana, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana and Senegal.

Duke therefore appealed to schools within FCT to brace up for a competition in some areas of the creative industry to  help encourage and develop their creative ingenuity.

The minister also canvassed for cooperation of both the students and the school authorities of those schools that will accommodate state contingents, pleading that such event could not be held without people’s involvement.