Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara on Tuesday evening received the Rivers contingent to the recent Abuja international cultural carnival where Rivers State emerged the overall best.
At the ceremony held in Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Fubara promised to launch a talent hunt for gifted Rivers youths who would be groomed to become world beaters in their various areas of specialities.
The Governor explained some of his plans towards giving culture and tourism a boost with platforms created to discover talents, saying, “What is the duty of government? Is it not to provide the enabling environment, give the necessary support, and make the people happy?
“You can imagine what we have done here. We didn’t make an announcement, and we didn’t advertise it. But the number of youths from our state that were involved in that Abuja International Carnival was overwhelming. Within that period, some little stipends were paid to them and they also showcased their talents.
“That brings me to that part of our story, which you will start hearing soon. We intend to start a talent hunt programme where some of our youths, those of them gifted in the field will come and showcase their talents, and when you do well, from there, we can begin to push you higher.”
Governor Fubara also charged the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism not to rest on his goal but think outside the box and come up with an enduring programme that can further promote talents and showcase the rich culture of the State.
He said: “So, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, your duty is not just going to win awards for us in Abuja carnival. Look for a way to bring our best talents together. In this State, we can bring our best together, have one TV programme or, and it can be in series that will showcase the culture of Rivers State. It will become legendary.”
Governor Fubara said the success that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is celebrating is also a success to reckon with his administration, and thanked the Commissioner for working cooperatively with his Permanent Secretary to achieve the feat.
He challenged organisers of the Abuja carnival to prove their conviction as true by bringing mega cultural and arts events to the city of Port Harcourt.
The organisers had said that their visit to Port Harcourt was first-hand experience to correct the negative media framing of Rivers State, which they described as orchestrated to deny the State of the benefits of culture and tourism-related activities.
Read Also: Release 33-yr-old take-off grant to UniUyo, alumni association begs FG
The Governor vehemently pointed to the heritage-rich and blossoming hospitality of Rivers people, prevailing peace, the abundant infrastructural components, beautiful public facilities and ongoing regeneration of neighborhoods that can offer unforgettable experience to participants of such shows when organised in the State.
The Governor said, “This is one of the most peaceful states; that is the truth. Apart from the political propaganda that you hear and read on social media, we are a very peace-loving and accommodating people.
“So, we want to thank the organisers too for organising this wonderful festival in Abuja. Over the years, Rivers State has always been outstanding when it comes to these festivals.”
Governor Fubara stated: “To the organisers, when you are coming again, come with more things. You have seen that Rivers State is a fertile ground for events, bring good events that will engage our youths. Don’t bring those things that will create problems for us. Bring things that will promote the good side of the State. So, we will be expecting to hear from you.
“Just let it be a package that will be educative, motivate our people positively, and also help us economically. It is important because I need more money to do more things for our people while we are here.”
Governor Fubara, on behalf of the State Government, congratulated the Rivers troupe for being worthy ambassadors of the State and doing it proud with the prizes they won, saying that it is often not enough to sponsor participants to a carnival, insisting that the outcome must justify the spending.
Governor Fubara noted that the Rivers troupe conquered the festival and returned home gloriously, noting: “And I also believe that it will not be in our own administration that things will now start falling apart in our hands. You need to do better and better. So, I am happy that we came back with the overall best and with a lot of otherside awards. It shows that we were really prepared, and we showed our preparedness in that event.”
He expressed delight at the kind words used by the Chief Executive Officer, Abuja International Carnival, Mr Kehinde Adegbite, when he described the rich experience of a peaceful Rivers State, enviable nightlife, hospitable and courteous people, serene and clean roads, and lovely environment.
Governor Fubara challenged the media to rise above the deliberate injection of negativity on the minutest one-off sad episode in Rivers State which they used to represent the State consistently, urging that the negative portrayal of Rivers in the media must stop because it served as a disservice to the State.
In his speech, the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Israel Lebura Ngbuelo, informed the Governor that the support he provided the ministry energized them to attend the carnival, and emerge as overall best.
Also speaking, the CEO/Executive Director, Abuja International Carnival, Mr Kehinde Adegbite, who is also known as Mallam Yankee, said from the day they arrived to the very last day of the carnival, Rivers Team distinguished itself, was outstanding and adjudged the overall best.
Mr Adegbite promised that his experience of Port Harcourt has erased all negative portrayal of the State, adding that he is more determined to bring more shows to the city of Port Harcourt because it is alluring than most of the cities that international and national shows are staged.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of the prizes won by the State Team in different categories, the Overall Best State, and Best Supportive Governor to the State Chief Executive.
