Rivers In Festive Mood For CARNIRIV

L-R: Sole Administrator, Rivers State Waste Management Board, Mr Ade Adeohun; Representative of Rivers Commissioner for Environment, Mr Napoleon Awule, and Paramount Ruler of Rumuodara, Eze Oha Chukwu, during the commissioning of NESREA Demonstration Waste Control Compost Plant at Rumuokpolu, Rivers State, yesterday.

All is now set for this year’s double celebration as the city of Port Harcourt hosts tourists and culture enthusiasts to the 2012 edition of the Rivers State Cultural Carnival (CARNIRIV) and the centennial anniversary of the state capital, Port Harcourt.

This year’s celebration has been planned to show-case to visitors from all parts of the world, the unique culture of the various ethnic groups of the State and expose the huge tourism potentials that would open up the hospitality industry in the State as a veritable source of employment generation and wealth creation.

The fiesta which promises to be the best packaged in the history of CARNIRIV will begin on Sunday, December 9, 2012 with Kids’ Carnival. The carnival will take off from Elekahia Road to the Port Harcourt Civic Centre Complex. A praise jam will also be held Monday, the formal opening day which will also witness music performance by international stars including Shaggy who will perform alongside Patra. Established reggae artiste such as Ras Kimono, Orits Wiliki, Majek Fashek and other popular and budding musicians will also feature at the fiesta.

The festival expected to be attended by cultural ambassadors and people from all walks of life will also host the Nobel Laureate, Prof Woke Soyinka. Other events scheduled to hold are Art Exhibition, Colloquium, Acquatic displays, Culture parade, Peace Concert, Black African music fiesta, among others.

The 23 Local Government Areas had intensified preparations as each contingent seeks to win the various trophies up for grabs.  Many schools are taking their Christmas holidays today as youths gear up to participate in the fiesta.

The theme song of the CANIRIV 2012 will be sold and the proceeds donated to the victims of the flood disaster in Rivers State. The foreign music stars are also expected to visit the flood ravaged local government areas and the victims of the disaster.