Momentum builds up for Warri carnival 2016

The much-awaited maiden edition of the annual Warri carnival in Delta State has been confirmed to hold September 28 – October 1, this year. This is so, as arrangements towards the successful hosting of the five-day event have reached advanced stage. Carnival-Calabar-2014-= Announcing this during a media chat in Lagos, the chief promoter and initiator of the carnival, Sunny Nikoro, stated that the carnival is targeted at entrenching Warri as a gateway to the Niger Delta region, and listing it as a tourist destination in Nigeria. Activities lined up for the five-day event include unveiling of symbol of unity, top artists performance and comedy fair, carnival float/street parade, land boat regatta, Miss Warri beauty pageant, cultural dance and performance, including carnival cup 2016 – football novelty match. The match will feature the likes of ex-Nigerian footballers, Segun Odegbami, Frank Obire, and Henry Nwosu, among others, who will be playing alongside the local team, Warri Wolves Land Regatta will feature the festival that offers a breathtaking display of the wealth and artistic splendour of the heritage of the riverine people of Delta State. It provides an opportunity for all riverine communities and dwellers to showcase their dexterity in boat building, decoration, parading, paddling and manoeuvring. The most artistic and creative boat will win a trophy. Noting that the Warri Carnival is being organised to also coincide with the Nation’s 56th Independence Day Anniversary celebration on October 1, Nikoro assured that the event which is already attracting tourists’ enquiries from African countries and across the world, will be nurtured to become Africa’s biggest street carnival. “Apart from entertaining the anticipated millions of spectators coming from within and outside the state, the Warri Carnival will bring out the joy and bliss associated with the season, while also promoting commerce, laughter and love among the indigenes of Warri,” he went further to say. Warri city is one of the major hubs of petroleum activities and businesses in southern Nigeria. It is the commercial capital city of Delta State, with an estimated population of 2,000,000 people,” says Nikoro.