By Akeem Salau

Despite the economic challenges faced by the nation in 2015, many institutions and agencies in the country managed to put together different activities to mark the yuletide season and to welcome the New Year.

One of such events is the 8th edition of the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carol Festival which came to life recently amid a display of great splendour and magnificence. The first in the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel, this year’s edition produced  excitement beyond the usual.

Despite being the first for the Emmanuel’s administration, the celestial night, no doubt, has continued to receive acceptance by the people of the state and tourists.

Although this year’s edition took  a  new dimension, as the record making 9999 choir did not featured at the carol night, the star studded event featured-international gospel artistes including Donnie McClurkin, Voices of Barbados, Angella Christie and Chevelle Franklyn, with performance of local gospel acts including Asu Ekiye, Anne Inyang, Lara George, Chinelo Dellimono, Aity Dennis and David Eka who literally charged the event.

Indeed, the atmosphere at the Akwa Ibom Township Stadium, venue of the festival, was lively. Over 10,000 guests who participated in rendition of praise and worship of God were filled with joy and happiness.

The festival had carnival-like decorations around the stadium with two long platforms – one was for the governor and family, members of the state executive council, the legislature and the judiciary and another one was for dignitaries. This year’s edition of the gospel concert had the support of  Globacom, United Bank for Africa, Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Hensek and Zenith Bank.

The Akwa Ibom governor and organising committee showed  creativity in the staging of the annual event that was started by the administration of Godswill Akpabio in 2008. It was repackaged in a manner to remain the cynosure  of all eyes  as well as attract new visitors.

The festival was beamed live on global broadcast media such as DSTV (African Magic and dedicated channels), NTA and  AIT.

The event was flagged off by Emmanuel accompanied by his wife and children. In his address, the governor disclosed that the annual Christmas Carol Night is one of the shining legacies of the  Akpabio administration. He said, “We are proud to inherit, sustain and improve upon it for the good of Akwa Ibom State. This night we have come here to sing to the supreme God who can take us to the Supreme Court.”

The night was electrified when international gospel act, Pastor McClurkin, brought down the Shekinah glory when he sang in Efikl anguage, ‘’Eyama ne kwo, eyama ne nekikwo idara ke esami‘’. Angella Christie and David Eka the saxophonists, also charged the stadium with popular gospel hits.

Shortly after the flag-off, the General Overseer of TREM, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, mounted the podium to offer Christmas message. The guest preacher, reading from Isaiah 9 and Luke 2: 7-11, said, ‘’The love of God to humanity has not changed since creation, to attract the love of God demands building of faith and believing in the teaching of the Holy Spirit.”

In his benediction, Senator Godswill Akpabio said, ‘’ This is one of the legacies that God can never forget because we have kept faith with God, we have come here to join our voices to praise God and we shall continue to have blessings upon us.”