Glo partners Ofala Festival to boost tourism

The 2017 edition of Ofala Festival, sponsored by telecommunications services provider, Globacom, kicked- off yesterday with the Oraeze International Arts Exhibition at the Ime Obi, Onitsha, Anambra State.

According to a statement issued by the company in Lagos, this year’s celebration would run from October 10 through 16.

The schedule of activities shows that a youth carnival will take place on October 12, while the main Ofala with Azu Ofala, according to the plans,

will take place on October 14, while the Ofala Music Concert, during which the most beautiful girl in Onitsha will be crowned Miss Ofala 2017, will be held on Sunday, October 15, at CJ Patterson International Auditorium, Onitsha.

The activities will be rounded off with a Royal Banquet in honour of the Agbogidi, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe. The banquet will be held at the Dolly Hills Hotel, Onitsha, on Monday, October 16.

The telecommunications company expressed satisfaction that “the festival is growing bigger and bigger every year since we officially took over its sponsorship in 2011.

We commend the Agbogidi for all the innovations he has over the years introduced to the festival to make it more exciting and a tourist attraction”. We are delighted to be part of this noble festival for another three years”.

Globacom urged all lovers of tradition and culture to troop in to the Ime Obi, Onitsha Palace, to witness first hand, the celebration of the biggest festival in the entire Ndigbo race and enjoy the hospitality of Onitsha people.

Globacom has been the official sponsors of the Ofala Festival since 2011, and recently signed an agreement to extend the sponsorship to 2019. The company has added colour and grandeur to the celebrations.

The six days’ long 2017 edition the festival took off with on Wednesday, with the Oraeze International Arts Exhibition at the Ime Obi, Onitsha, Anambra State.

Fathers and Elders of the land acknowledged the youths by devoting Thursday (yesterday) to the young souls to exercise their strength in a colourful day-long carnival as they rehearsed for the tomorrow they are destined to occupy.

But the annual celebration of rites of renewal of the Obi that defines spiritual and natural authority across Onitsha principally – and other neighboring Igbo communities, including Nnewi, Ukpo in Dunukofia Local Government Area among others, started in earnest this Friday morning.

Later today, a cocktail party, Eze Onicha is slated to take place, according to the programme of event.

For the fathers of the land who appreciate the taste of good fish, Azu Ofala is the event that is a must-attend tomorrow, October 14.

Sunday the 15th will witness a parade of the most beautiful daughters of the land while the Ofala Music Concert will showcase their skills and talent.

The grand finale of the day would be the crowning of Miss.Ofala 2017 at CJ Patterson International Auditorium, Onitsha.

On Monday, October 16, a royal banquet in honour of the Agbogidi, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, will hold at the Dolly Hills Hotel, Onitsha, to round off the festival.