Uwemedimo Udo Lauds Paramount Ruler, Offot Ukwa Clan On Festival

The Executive Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Dr Uwemedimo Udo has commended the Clan Head of Offot Ukwa and Paramount ruler of Uyo Local Government Area, HRM Edidem Sylvanus Effiong Okon and indigenes of Offot Ukwa for instituting a cultural festival in the area.

The chairman gave the commendation while performing the unveiling of the festival logo, Offot Ukwa Unity Mass Choir and cultural attires for the forthcoming Offot Ukwa Festival of Arts and Culture, 2022 at Ibom Plaza on Saturday, August 6, 2022.

Dr Udo, who was the chairman of the occasion, noted that the upcoming festival will showcase the collection of the people’s cultural legacy, thereby creating an avenue for the utilization and promotion of arts and culture for the socio-economic and political growth of the clan, Uyo and the state as a whole.

He stated, “In this light, I congratulate our amiable Clan Head, His Royal Majesty, Edidem Sylvanus Effiong Okon NDM (JP), who also happens to be our Paramount Ruler for his thoughtfulness in mobilising the clan council, stakeholders, and the entire Offot people to convoke this very important festival.

“It is interesting to note that the historic Offot Ukwa Cultural Festival 2022 will display the assemblage of the cultural heritage of the people, thereby creating a window to further utilise arts and culture for the socio-economic and political growth of Offot Clan, Uyo Local Government Area and Akwa Ibom State at large.”

According to him, “culture has dual tendencies; a tendency towards stability and a tendency towards change and rapid development, and it is left for us to use this opportunity to boost the abundant cultural, arts, and tourism potentials in our areas as tourism centred on culture and arts contribute greatly to the economic growth of a state or nation.”

The chairman urged all in the area to maximise the great opportunity that the festival offers, felicitated all the people of Offot Ukwa Clan on the important event and pledged the council’s support and solidarity to the success of the celebration later in the year.

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

In dedicating and proclaiming the items for unavailing, the Clan Head of Offot Ukwa and Paramount Ruler of Uyo LGA, HRM Edidem Sylvanus Effiong Okon, said Offot Ukwa, as the host of the state capital city, will continue to give maximum cooperation to Uyo Local Government Area and Akwa Ibom State government at all times.

The paramount ruler commended the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Rt. Hon. Orman Esin and the Executive Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, Dr Uwemedimo Udo for supporting the clan to make the unveiling ceremony possible and called for more support and cooperation to ensure the success of the forthcoming festival in October 2022.

Earlier in his introductory remarks, the chairman of the Central Planning Committee (CPC) of Offot Ukwa Festival of Arts and Culture, Elder Patrick Albert said the unveiling ceremony signalled the readiness of the Clan for the forthcoming fiesta in October 2022.

Elder Albert listed events for the unveiling ceremony to include the logo for the festival; the birth of Offot Ukwa Unity Mass Choir; the inauguration of Offot Ukwa Clan Logo/Flag and Offot Ukwa cultural regalia.

“Today has been eagerly awaited. It berths with a great thrust of enthusiasm across the length and breadth of Offot Ukwa Clan, made up of 22 populous villages, situated in the heart of Uyo Capital City in Akwa Ibom State.

“The event of today, being the unveiling of the logo to signal the forthcoming Offot Ukwa fiesta in October 2022, comes with a memorable package – the birth of Offot Ukwa Unity Mass Choir; the inauguration of Offot Ukwa Clan Logo/Flag and Offot Ukwa cultural regalia. Without romanticizing, the attires as will be unfolded reinforce the very uniqueness of our gathering as a new record is set about our royalty, bond and cultural identity,” he said.

According to him, “the landmark achievement came through a painstaking process of interface with the leadership and stakeholders of the Clan vis-à-vis the Clan Head/Clan Council of Chiefs; leaderships of the respective villages and stakeholders. It is a rebirth well cherished as we set out to celebrate the 3rd edition of Offot Ukwa Festival.

The chairman recalled that the festival started in 2013 while the second edition was held in 2016, adding that this year’s fiesta has been upgraded to be multi-content to enable the clan explore and promote Music, Dance, Plays, Pageantry, Arts and Recreational Games (Traditional and Modern Sports).

Albert said the Offot Clan extends invitations to other sister clans in Uyo Local Government Area and interested cultural troupes, artists and marketers to participate in the forthcoming festival.

Related: Paramount Ruler of Uyo Undertakes Tour of Villages in Offot Ukwa Clan

He said, “Tourists from within and outside Nigeria are being expected to attend the one-week carnival scheduled to begin with a Dedication/Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, October 23; Official Opening on Monday, October 24 and the Grand Finale on Saturday, October 29, 2022.

“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.
The motto for the festival is “Celebrating Unity & Cultural Legacy” while the theme is “Offot Ukwa Festival 2022: Utilizing Arts and Culture for Socio-economic & Political Growth.”

“Often referred to as the LANDLORD, Offot Ukwa Clan hosts major Government Offices and infrastructures. These include Government House; Governor’s Office; Governor’s Office Annex; Police Area Command/ ‘A’ Division; Uyo Correctional Centre; Uyo Local Government Secretariat, Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council Chambers, Anchor Insurance Coy and others, along with the entire stretch of Wellington Bassey Way to Ibom Plaza and beyond.

“Similarly, Federal Housing/Banking Area on Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Idongesit Nkanga State Secretariat, Federal Secretariat, Ewet Housing Estate, Unity Park/Ibibio Museum, Ibom Hall, Akpan Andem Market, St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua, Government Farms – Use Offot, University of Uyo (main campus) and UUTH, Champion Breweries, State Secretariat of PDP, NLC, NUJ, Pioneer Newspapers, a greater portion of land accommodating Godswill Akpabio International Stadium and many other public and private establishments are on Offot Ukwa land. We are a great shade for all who sojourn our Land. Our people are hospitable, intelligent, industrious, kind and godly.”

He expressed gratefulness to the Akwa Ibom State government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for granting the clan the free use of Ibom Plaza for the unveiling of the Logo and the Unity Park/Ibibio Museum for the hosting of the weeklong festival in October 2022, starting specifically from Monday – Saturday, October 24-29, 2022.