CARNIRIV To Go Global In Five Years – SAM DEDE

CARNIRIV To Go Global In Five Years -SAM DEDE

Director-General of the Rivers State Tourism Development
Agency, Mr. Sam Dede says the annual Port Harcourt cultural carnival known as
‘CARNIRIV’, will be made a global brand.

The carnival, which began in 1988, will hold from December
10 to 15 in Port Harcourt.

Dede said in Port Harcourt  that there
were plans to make the carnival a global brand in the next five years.

According to him, this year’s carnival, which coincides with
the 100 years of Port Harcourt city, will be used as a platform towards
achieving the global brand objective, saying the carnival would be a special
edition.

“CARNIRIV 2012 is a special edition. Special edition because
it will also coincide with Port Harcourt city at 100.

“It is the biggest brand that we have as a people, so it is
bound to get better. It can only get better.

“So, this time around, a lot of other events have been
introduced and we have had to brand each event to have an icon and to make it
more sellable to corporate organisations.

“Like we have the ‘carniriv kids carnival’, it is still
coming up; we have the carnival praise jam.

“And this time around again, we have introduced drama
element into the programme and we have also introduced a carnival colloquium
into the scheme of things.’’

Dede, a popular movie star, said there would be cultural and arts exhibitions, international aquatic fiesta or boat regatta, the black African music fiesta; and the international heritage parade in this year’s carnival.

He said the Soweto gospel would also perform at the gospel
praise jam while other international artists would perform at the opening and
closing ceremonies