Globacom on Wednesday served off its sponsorship of this year’s edition of the Ofala Festival in Onitsha, Anambra State, with the Youth Carnival organised by the Onitsha Ado Youth Council (OYC).
The colourful procession featured different cultural groups, including the Otu Odu Onitsha, Egwu Odu, and Agbalanze, all adorned in full traditional regalia dancing through the streets of Inland Town, Onitsha, to celebrate the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe. It was also an occasion to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Onitsha indigenes.
The youth beautifully embodied the grandeur of the city’s traditional institutions, appearing in carefully made costumes of prominent traditional rulers, including the Obi of Onitsha, the Oba of Benin and the Ooni of Ife.
After the procession, the youths later converged on the old Ime Obi, St Stephen Anglican Church Road, where they showcased fashion through parades and different competitions among the different groups.
The Ofala celebrations will continue with the Iru Ofala on Friday, October 16, and the Azu Ofala on Sunday, October 17. A Royal Banquet organised by Globacom in honour of Igwe Achebe will also hold on Wednesday, October 21, at the Ime Obi, Onitsha. The activities will be rounded off with an Ofala Thanksgiving service scheduled for Sunday, October 25 at St. Stephens Anglican Church.
Globacom noted in a statement that its continued association with Ofala “reflects a philosophy that places culture alongside connectivity as instruments of national development.
“Ofala is far more than an annual cultural celebration. It is a living expression of identity, continuity and collective aspiration. Our sustained partnership with this magnificent institution reflects our belief that preserving heritage and advancing society are not competing imperatives; they are mutually reinforcing pillars of a progressive nation.
This is the spirit of Globacom’s clarion call, ‘Never Settle for Less’, which is to honour what is worthy, while continually striving for something greater” the company added.
