Sir Charles Udoh Commends Offot Ukwa On Forthcoming Festival
...Seeks Love, Unity And Cooperation Among Offot Ukwa Indigenes
The Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Akwa Ibom State, Sir Charles Udoh has given thumbs up to the Central Planning Committee for the Offot Ukwa Festival of Arts and Culture 2022 for the lofty innovations and programmes lined out for the forthcoming carnival.
The commissioner, who spoke when a delegation of the Central Planning Committee (CPC) paid a courtesy visit on him recently, said he was quite desirous of a united and prosperous Offot Ukwa and pledged his support towards the successful organisation of the festival.
Sir Udoh, who is also an indigene of Offot Ukwa – a clan in Uyo Local Government Area, recalled his contributions toward various socio-cultural and economic developments in the clan, and also solicited the cooperation of others towards meeting the needs of the clan.
He reiterated that Governor Udom Emmanuel means well for Offot Ukwa Clan, Uyo Local Government Area and the entire state and used the occasion to solicit support for his completion and succession agenda.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and chairman of the CPC, Elder Patrick Albert had briefed the commissioner on the efforts of the CPC since its constitution by the His Royal Majesty, Edidem Sylvanus Effiong Okon, Clan Head of Offot Ukwa and Paramount Ruler of Uyo LGA in concert with the Offot Ukwa Clan Council of Chiefs – made up of 22 Villages.
Related: 2022 Carnival: Offot Ukwa Clan Convokes Stakeholders Meeting, Wednesday
“We are here to formally inform you and seek your full support for the successful organisation of the 3rd Edition of Offot Ukwa Festival of Arts and Culture, 2022. The Central Planning Committee (CPC), upon its constitution, early in the year, has outlined the framework and key objectives for the festival. We have devised it to be multi-contents to enable us to explore and promote various areas of interest covering arts, culture and sports.
“Accordingly, we intend to feature; Music, Dance, Plays, Pageantry, Arts and Recreational Games (Traditional and Modern Sports). Participation at the Carnival will also be open to visiting cultural troupes, artists and marketers. We hope that the organisation will conform to standards.
“We wish to reiterate that the festival, as we are set to organise, offers effective ways for communities to exhibit their culture and arts potentials as well as promote their uniqueness and identity. Festivals also enhance unity and espouse the characteristics of the people. As a socio-economic venture, festivals through their inherent value chains create employment and business opportunities as well as bring host communities into local and global spotlights.
“It is, therefore, our plans to drive the 2022 Offot Ukwa Festival of Arts & Culture towards promoting and creating socio-economic opportunities to participating villages, individuals and groups,” adding that the “festival will be driven to regenerate Offot Ukwa Clan’s values, status and recognition as an established people with rich history, culture and exploits in various spheres.”
He hinted that the festival has the motto “Celebrating Unity & Cultural Legacy” while the theme for the celebration is “Offot Ukwa Festival 2022: Utilizing Arts and Culture for Socio-economic & Political Growth.”
Albert further informed the commissioner that to deepen awareness among the people, the CPC undertook a tour of the 22 villages of Offot Ukwa Clan as well as inaugurated sub-committees in the villages.
Related: Offot Ukwa Festival of Arts And culture 2022: CPC Inaugurates Subcommittees In Villages
According to him, the CPC followed up by convening a stakeholders’ meeting of Offot Ukwa on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, to brief leaders and elders of the clan on the forthcoming carnival in other to achieve a very successful outcome.
He informed the commissioner that the CPC is gearing up efforts for the unveiling of the festival logo and other items for the festival in Uyo, the state capital on Saturday, July 30, 2022.
“Thereafter, HRM Edidem Sylvanus Effiong Okon, Clan Head of Offot Ukwa and Paramount Ruler of Uyo LGA with members of the Offot Ukwa Clan Council of Chiefs and the Central Planning Committee (CPC) will undertake royal visits to all the 22 villages, spanning August to October 2022,” he added.
The chairman conveyed the appreciation of the clan to Governor Udom Emmanuel for the love and cooperation extended to the clan in appointing two commissioners in the State Executive Council as well as the chairmanship of Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA), among other appointments and infrastructural development carried out in Offot Ukwa Clan.
