PH Centenary: Jonathan,Gowon To Grace Symposium …Amaechi Reassures On Cultural Revival

President Goodluck Jonathan and former Head of State, Dr Yakubu Gowon are among dignitaries expected at the symposium being organised to commemorate the centenary celebration of the city of Port Harcourt.
According to the Port Harcourt City centenary celebration planning committee, the symposium with the theme: Port Harcourt City, Past, Present and Future” will hold at the main bowl, Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt on Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 10.00am, with the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as chief host.
The Port Harcourt City centenary celebration which was flagged off in August with a marathon race featured a Jumaat service and an international church service in September, 2013, while a road show was organised on October 25, 2013. A cultural display by ethnic groups took place at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, last Saturday as part of the centennial festivities.
A release from the office of the Secretary to the State Government by Chidi Adiele indicated that the finals of the football competition would hold at the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia on Saturday, November 2, 2013
Several shows and gigs are also expected to take place at Elekahia.
Also scheduled as part of the celebration are opening of an exhibition and  a museum on Sunday, November 3, 2013 at the Civic Centre, the Miss Centenary Beauty Pageant and the Banquet Award Night which will take place at the Banquet Hall of Government House on November 13 and November 30, 2013 respectively.
More shows and gigs will take place in Diobu on December 7, while a centenary cultural fiesta featuring boat regatta, street parades and a big band concert will hold from December 15-21, 2013.
Port Harcourt, a name founded by the colonial Governor General, Sir Fredrick Luggard in 1913 in honour of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Viscourt Harcourt became the second most important city after Lagos, being the second town to attain first –class township status in 1949.
In 100 years, Port Harcourt has grown from being  the take-off point for movement of coal across the West African coastline to becoming the oil and gas capital of Nigeria and West Africa.
The city is celebrating a new vision that will make Port Harcourt in the next 100 years a megacity and the leading West African international cosmopolitan trading and leisure centre.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has restated its commitment towards the revival of the culture of the various ethnic groups in the state.
The governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi stated this at the weekend in Port Harcourt, during  cultural displays by different ethnic groups as part of activities commemorating the centenary of Port Harcourt City.
Governor Amaechi who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Barrister Dickson Umunakwe, also urged the people to always identify with their rich cultural heritage.
The governor described culture as part and parcel of people of various ethnic groups, stating that his government would continue to focus on the promotion of the  rich culture of the people.
He commended the various cultural groups that turned out  for the event for their level of maturity and called on youths in the various communities to cultivate the attitude of peace for which their people were known.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Nabbs Imegwu said that Rivers State  would continue to showcase her rich cultural heritage to the world.
Dr Imegwu said that the state annual cultural festival (CARNIRIV) had done so much in the promotion of her rich cultural heritage and commended the various cultural groups for turning out enmass for the event and solicted their continued support to make the centenary celebration a success.
Cultural groups which turned out for the event included  those from Opobo, Kalabari, Oroigwe, Yoruba and the Akarikpo masquerade of Khana

Alpheaus Paul-Worika

Masquerades performing during the cultural display by ethnic groups, as part of events to commemorate the 100 years of Port Harcourt City, at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, last Saturday.