Effiong Ekpenyong doubles as the Special Adviser, Events Management and the chairman, Carnival Calabar & Festival Committee. Ekpenyong and his team worked round the clock and behind the scenes to ensure the success of Carnival Calabar 2025, which was the 20th edition of the annual Christmas festival.
In this interview, he shares with Obinna Emelike some of the efforts put in place to ensure a successful outing, government’s support, crowd control, quality content, among others.
Do you agree with many that Carnival Calabar 2025 is a huge success?
Thank you very much. I share that collective sense of pride and fulfillment. The 20th edition of Carnival Calabar was more than a celebration; it was a statement of resilience, growth, and cultural continuity. Seeing the streets come alive, the bands perform with excellence, and the overwhelming turnout from both residents and visitors affirms that the carnival has truly come of age. It was a successful blend of culture, entertainment, tourism, and unity.
What made the whole festival successful?
The success came from purposeful planning, strong political will, and collective ownership. We had the full support of Prince Bassey Otu, governor of Cross River State, and the unwavering encouragement of Bishop Eyoawan Out, the first lady. Beyond that, stakeholder engagement played a major role from security agencies, band leaders to performers, volunteers, sponsors, and the media. Everyone understood the vision and played their part. When preparation meets commitment, success is inevitable.
What did your team do differently?
This year, we focused strongly on structure, coordination, and experience. We started planning earlier, improved inter-departmental collaboration, and placed greater emphasis on safety, crowd control, content quality, and time management. We also expanded the festival programming to appeal to a wider demographic from gospel nights and cultural exhibitions to youth driven concerts and family-friendly activities. Technology and improved logistics also helped us deliver a seamless experience.
What is the high point of the whole Christmas festival?
The high point was the unity and energy felt across the entire state throughout the season. Every segment of the festival had its own magic, but the carnival parade remains the soul of the celebration. It perfectly captured our cultural diversity, creativity, and communal spirit. Equally important were the nights of music, worship, and cultural pride that created something for everyone, reinforcing Calabar as Nigeria’s leading Christmas destination.
Outside the weather, what were the challenges you faced this year?
One of the main challenges was managing the scale of attendance, as interest exceeded our projections. Logistics, crowd control, traffic flow, and accommodation demand required real-time coordination. Funding pressures and heightened expectations also tested our capacity, but with adaptive planning, strong security collaboration, and an experienced workforce, we were able to manage the challenges effectively without compromising safety or quality.
Do you have figures of attendance and participation in the different sections of the festival?
While comprehensive data collation is still ongoing, preliminary figures indicate a significant increase in attendance compared to previous editions. We recorded hundreds of thousands of attendees across the carnival parade, concerts, gospel night, cultural showcases, and ancillary events. Participation by bands, local creatives, vendors, and hospitality operators also saw notable growth. The final audited figures will be officially released, but all indicators confirm that this edition set new benchmarks for participation and engagement.
