Kogi has potential to put Nigeria on global tourism map

The Special Adviser to the Governor of Kogi State on Arts & Culture, Juwon Demas Olorunnipa, is one of the arrow heads of the Kogi International Carnival, slated for the first week of December. In this interview with JOSEPHINE AMAOLE, he speaks on the importance of the carnival and the uniqueness of Kogi State.

Between December 1 and 7, Kogi State will be hosting millions of people from Nigeria and people in the Diaspora who will be participating in the Kogi State International carnival; what informed the carnival?

Generally speaking, you will agree with me that Carnival is an important platform for a society to showcase its culture and allow an opportunity for tourists to be immersed in various traditions. The Kogi International Carnival is long overdue because Kogi State has a rich cultural heritage and a lot of potential to put Nigeria on a global map if well harnessed. All over the world, carnivals contribute a lot of cultural and economic derivatives to a nation. In line with the drive of the current Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, we see the need to organise the carnival and make it a yearly event to tell the world the untapped resources in Kogi. Historically, Kogi is one of the most relevant states to Nigeria’s political and social development but only a few people know this and the time to bring what we have to the fore is now. 

Growing up and till date, we hear, read and watch on television about Notting Hill Carnival, a yearly Caribbean Carnival that has taken place in London since 1966 on the streets of the Notting Hill of Kensington. It is led by members of the British Caribbean community and attracts around two million people yearly, making it one of the world’s largest street festivals, and a significant event in the British African Caribbean. In 2006, the UK public voted it onto a list of icons of England.

In Nigeria, there is the popular Calabar Carnival that has become a popular platform for tourists all over the world to explore Nigeria during the yuletide period. In the last 10 to 15 years, the carnival had featured distinct themes and remains one of the best platforms for acquiring education and dissecting cultures across Nigeria and the world.
What should participants be looking forward to?

With the theme, “Come, Experience, Explore, and Invest in the Confluence State,” the Kogi International Carnival is designed to show to the world through a week-long celebration of culture, tourism, and community development, potential in the Confluence State.
Scheduled to run from December 1 to December 7, 2024, the carnival will be held across four cities, namely Lokoja, Kabba, Okene, and Ayingba. In all the cities, visitors should be looking forward to new experiences and opportunities as we determine to use the carnival to promote unity, celebrate Kogi’s rich cultural heritage, and drive economic growth through tourism and entertainment.

Succinctly speaking Kogi International Carnival (KIC) 2024 is more than just a celebration because it’s meant to fostering cultural exchange, community bonding, and global recognition of Kogi State’s unique offerings. It’s a celebration of our shared humanity, and showcasing Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage to the world. Visitors will have a unique experience that highlights our state’s beauty, talent, and investment potential. To this end, we invite everyone to join us for this unforgettable experience.

Do you think Kogi State has the expected infrastructure and facilities to host such a huge crowd or what measures are the team putting in place to make sure attendees are secured and comfortable?

Let me start by stating that Kogi’s geographical location is a blessing. It’s common to hear our people describing their state as a gateway to Nigeria because of its closeness to the Federal Capital Territory and by extension to Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport. From Abuja Airport to Kogi State is a journey of less than three hours and this will be a great advantage to people flying in through Abuja Airport and people who are resident in Abuja and want to participate in the carnival.

In the area of security, Kogi is one of the safest states in Nigeria because the government has invested so much to tackle insecurity. Till date, Kogi remains the only state where kidnappers, regardless of their status in the society, are not pampered. Through the drastic intervention  of the government in this regard, kidnapping has been reduced to the barest minimum and this is commendable.

In the area of accommodation, Kogi has a lot of international standard hotels that are currently underutilised. From Lokoja, to Kabba, Ida to Ayingba, there are hotels that tourists will find attractive and comfortable.

Can you speak on the economic benefits of this carnival to the people of the state?

I just mentioned that we have many good hotels that are under utilised. With thousands of visitors around for the one week of the carnival, there will be a boost in the hospitality sector in the state. Naturally, there is always boost in business during festivities; given that the influx of people into the area tends to boost the local economy. This is so because there is increasing demand for accommodation; increasing demand for food; increasing demand for transportation and other facilities and businesses.

From the feedback so far, can you say the carnival has got the buy-in of stakeholders?

Surprisingly, yes. In fact, it’s like Kogi people within and outside were waiting for the whistle to be blown because since we muted the idea of the carnival, it has attracted huge support from Kogi indigenes all over the world. Don’t forget, Kogi is blessed with many successful men and women; in business, politics, entertainment and in other various endeavours. One of such people is our son, the immediate past President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, (AAAN), Steve Babaeko, who has identified with us fully and given us necessary support. Like him, many others are doing the same so that we can have a robust carnival. Today, we are all speaking with one voice; the Kogi International Festival must be held to showcase Kogi State to the world.