Onah: Carnival Calabar Needs More Private Funding
Charles Ajunwa The Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission for Carnival Calabar, Gabe Onah, has said more private sector funding was needed for the 2026 Africa’s biggest street party.
Charles Ajunwa, Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission for Carnival Calabar, Gabe Onah, has called for increased private and public sector funding for the 2026 street festival. In Lagos recently, Onah emphasized the need for collaboration with the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to boost the event's success.
He stressed that the festival, dubbed the "orange economy," offers a "low-hanging fruit" opportunity for tourism development. For this year's Carnival Calabar, Onah announced plans for digital streaming and online voting, encouraging Nigerians in Africa to join as festival members. The adjudicators, who bring elements of theatre to the event, will allow public participation in selecting winners, similar to programs like Big Brother.
Onah highlighted that the successful adoption of Carnival Calabar by four successive governors of Cross River State sets a precedent, questioning the sustainability of the festival under future leadership if funding is not secured.
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