Calabar Carnival promotes cultural heritage – UAC manager

The role that the Calabar Carnival plays in tourism and cultural development of the country prompted UAC Foods to support it.

According to the General Manager Marketing, UAC Foods Limited, Joan Ihekwaba, the company’s sponsorship and involvement of the organisation in the carnival was borne out of the desire to provide the needed support to the state government in preserving and projecting the country’s culture and values.

 This, she said in a statement, would further put the Carnival on the international pedestal as well as galvanise its potential to generate revenue for the state and engender bonding.

“We strongly believe in the ideals of the Calabar Carnival. We have watched with keen interest the passion with which the state government has continued to celebrate our people’s culture and values and so the best way to indicate an endorsement of this effort is to partner with the government in ensuring the objectives of the carnival are fully realised,” Ihekwaba said.

She further explained that the Carnival provides a platform for UAC Foods Limited to identify with the culture of its consumers from all the geo-political zones of the country. Ihekwaba, who assured that the company would strengthen its participation in the project, maintained that it would become a strong pillar behind the yearly event.

With the sponsorship of Calabar Carnival which has turned Calabar, Cross River State capital into centre of attraction every December, UAC Foods Limited has demonstrated its commitment towards uplifting the country’s cultural heritage and also demonstrated its resolve to be at the forefront of efforts aimed at making Nigeria the tourism hub of Africa and perhaps the world at large, the manager stressed.

The carnival that peaked on December 27, 2013 is said to be the largest cultural festival in Africa with over 50,000 costumed revelers and over two million spectators. It was created as part of the vision to make Cross River State the number one tourist destination for Nigerians and tourists across the world.