Offot Ukwa Festival Novel, Worthy Of Support – Dr. Uwemedimo Udo

The Executive Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, Akwa Ibom State, Dr Uwemedimo Udo has extolled the people of Offot Ukwa Clan for instituting a festival to keep alive their arts and cultural heritage.

The council chairman, speaking while receiving in audience the Central Planning Committee (CPC) for the Offot Ukwa Festival of Arts and Culture 2022, at the council secretariat, recently, commended the leadership of the clan for the bold initiative to put together a festival, describing it as an avenue to unify the people.

Mr Udo appreciated the contents and programmes lined out for the festival, describing the motto for the festival as “Celebrating Unity & Cultural Legacy” and the theme “Offot Ukwa Festival 2022: Utilizing Arts and Culture for Socio-economic & Political Growth” as being very apt and noble.

He pledged the support of the Uyo Local Government Council towards the successful organisation of the festival – beginning with the unveiling of the logo on Saturday, August 06, 2022, and the main event which is to be held later in the year.

The chairman acknowledged the sacrifice of Offot Ukwa as the host of the seat of government as enormous considering their lands given for the sitting of government offices and private infrastructures.

“So you deserve every form of support and cooperation. Offot Ukwa is the landlord of Uyo Local Government Council and other offices of government and private establishments.

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“It is also good that the programme is fashioned to attract tourists from within and outside Uyo. It is good, especially when you have peace in the locality. There is a nexus between peace and tourism. And that couldn’t have been possible if we never had a Governor that is peaceful; that has a peaceful disposition.

“No matter what you say to him, no matter how you abuse him on social media or how you criticise him on social media. Leadership entails that you must embrace all shades of opinion. We have a governor that is very peaceful in his disposition. He allows the state to be peaceful. Even in this political era, we know how it used to be. We use to run up and down. If they say that the governor does not support you; then you have to run out of the state. But we have s situation where everyone has an equal opportunity to aspire to be anything in Akwa Ibom State. So we also thank him for creating that atmosphere for us.

“Of course, we know that no business investor will come to your community if there is no peace. So let me also commend our chiefs for maintaining peace in their various domains. We commend you all for that. This government is happy with the role our chiefs are playing. Council will stand by you to ensure you have a fruitful outing,” he stated.

The chairman also spoke about the modest efforts and achievements of the local government council and commended the leader of the Uyo Legislative Assembly for ensuring effective synergy with the council for the successes so far.

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Earlier in his speech, the chairman of the CPC, Elder Patrick Albert, said the visit was to formally inform the council and to seek support and cooperation for the successful organization of the 3rd edition of the Offot Ukwa Festival of Arts and Culture, 2022, recalling that the first edition was organised in 2013 while the second edition was held in 2016.

“It has been a unifying medium among our people as well as helping to galvanise our cultural heritage, et al. It will interest you to know that this year’s festival has been upgraded to be multi-content. This is to enable us to explore and promote various areas of arts, culture and sports. Accordingly, we intend to feature: Music, Dance, Plays, Pageantry, Arts and Recreational Games (Traditional and Modern Sports),” Albert added.

According to him, “the festival will offer our communities and Akwa Ibom State as a whole, the opportunity to boost the abundant cultural, arts and tourism potential – towards creating socio-economic opportunities for local and global patronage.”

With the chairman of CPC, Offot Ukwa Festival of Arts and Culture, Elder Patrick Albert on the courtesy call were CPC’s Secretary – Mrs Nkereuwem Bassey; village heads in Offot Clan: Eteidung Nsikak Ime Essang – Ikot Ntuen Offot; Eteidung Cletus Okon Benson – Nsukara Offot; Eteidung Patrick Enefiok Ibanga – Anua Offot; Eteidung Ekpe Ekpenyong Udoekong – Anua Obio Offot; Akwaobong Michael Ibanga; Obonganwan Mary Patrick, President of Offot Youth Council, Prince John Ekpenyong and Mr William Ubiam.