Entertainment
CARNIRIV 2012’ll Promote Rivers Economy – Dede
As preparations for the 2012 edition of the Rivers State Carnival, popularly referred to as Carniriv, intensify, the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency, RSTDA, has explained that this year’s event is targeted at impacting the economic prosperity of the people of the state. Carniriv 2012 holds from December 8 to 15, 2012 at the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt.
Dr. Sam Dede, the Director-General, Rivers State Tourism Development Agency, RSTDA, speaking on the level of preparedness for Carniriv 2012, said government is desirous of making this year’s event one of the major platforms to bring about significant economic well-being and empowerment for the people of the state.
He added that the prosperity of the people will ultimately result in exponential growth in the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state put currently at US$21,073,410,422. With a population of 5.1 million people and GDP per capita of $3,965, Rivers State is Nigeria’s second largest economy after Lagos State.
”The hosting of Carniriv offers a strategic connection for the people of Rivers State. The reason is that Carniriv is a brand that is owned by the people. Our strategic intent is, therefore, that the carnival must not just be a showcase of the pristine cultures of our people to the world, but a tool for the empowerment and socio-economic prosperity of the people of Rivers State. We are persuaded that ultimately, when the people prosper, Rivers State will prosper, and Nigeria will also prosper,’ Dede said.
The RSTDA Director-General further noted that the strategic linkage between economic prosperity and destination marketing is compelling for countries in view of the current global economic recession. ‘We are well-focused in our hosting of Carniriv for the sixth time, and the positive impact we intend to see on the economy of the state.
”We intend to see more than a good show. We intend to see recorded economic growth. We intend to use this edition of the carnival to put money in the hands of the average man and woman on the street who will engage in one socio-economic activity or the other during Carniriv. That is how Carniriv can impact and improve their lives. We are therefore focusing on the economy of the carnival itself,” he explained.
‘’In South Africa, tourism rose from being the fifth contributor to the GDP to the second position by the year 2007, second only to mining. This is where we have our eyes on from this year. We intend to track the economic impact of the carnival from this year going forward.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.
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