Akwa Ibom State Government has announced measures to further mitigate the prevailing high cost of living and hardship, beginning with the Yuletide season, saying the measure is intended to ensure that the traditional joy associated with the season is not lost to the hardship in the land.

This is contained in a statement by the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh, at the weekend in Uyo, to unveil developments concerning the 2024 Christmas Unplugged Season 2.0, titled, “It’s Time to Unplug as Another Christmas to Remember Holds in Akwa Ibom State”.

According to him, a major highpoint of the Yuletide season is the state’s Christmas carol, which celebration is felt round the state and beyond through visiting tourists and wide broadcast aimed at not just Akwa Ibom citizens in a right mood for Chrismas, but to provide quick business opportunities for citizens as they attend to local and other tourists during the fiesta.

Describing one of the latest developments as divine intervention, the commissioner said the only hitch that would have dampened the business aspect of the fiesta had been cleared by the intervention of state Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who had announced the decision of the state government to subsidise the cost of kiosks for persons intending to do business during the coming Christmas Unplugged Season 2.0.

He said the governor’s intervention grossly reduced the cost of renting kioks and open spaces when compared to what obtained last year.

“The measure is part of efforts by Governor Umoh Eno to cushion the effects of the current high cost of living and hardship confronting the people,” the commissioner said, adding: “The
compassionate and people-loving governor has considered the plight of the people of the state in the face of the present economic downturn, and has, therefore, subsidised the costs for the benefit of budding entrepreneurs and petty traders.”

According to Udoh, the 2024 Christmas Unplugged Season 2.0 is a 32-day event, commencing from December 1, 2024 to January 1, 2025, billed to hold at Christmas Park, located within the Unity Park, and packaged to showcase the rich cultural heritage and culinary skills of the people of Akwa Ibom State.

The Christmas fiesta will feature a mixed blend of cultural displays, music, drama, comedy, games, talent shows and folklores as well as a daily dose of back-to-back entertainment.

“There will be a segment known as Sights and Sounds of Local Government Areas, where the 31 local council areas in the state will take turns daily, in alphabetical order, to showcase their unique art, culture and culinary expertise with prizes for the top three local council areas to be determined by an adjudication panel and through an online poll in the event website,” he said.

He said the event which attracted over 1.5 million local and foreign tourists over the 32-day period last year, had been widely adjudged to be the biggest of its kind in Africa by the size of its location and potential for growth.

The event, last year, he added, provided opportunity for over 721 direct jobs, while 64 artistes & entertainers performed.