… Unveils activities for festival
By Ene Asuquo
The State Governor, prince Bassey Otu says the leboku International Festival will continue to create Vistas of opportunities for investors both Nationally and Internationally .
The Governor who was represented by the chief of staff, Mr Emmanuel Ironbar during a press briefing to officially unveil activities to kick start the 2023 Leboku International Festival billed to take place in Ugep, Yakurr local government area from 20 to 21August 2023, described the event as one of the largest cultural festival in Africa has as it’s theme for this year; “Ugep International Festival, an agro tourism event and a panacea for post COVID-19 economy”.
He said the globally known festival has come to stay as an agro tourism in Cross River, explaining that government will continue to invest widely and wisely in Leboku Festival, to keep the event in the world map especially as it represents a celebration of love, peace and fertility for the people of Yarkurr, state and nation.
“This is the season of sweetness and the sweetness will sweeten the activities of Leboku this year.
“The sweetness of the activity will be seen in the colourful event of the activities come August 20 and 21,” the governor assured.
Regretting that the event in the past four years never took place at the stadium which served as venue of the event, Otu remarked that Leboku will continue to grow from strength to strength to enable the community get more recognition.
The Paramount Ruler of Yarkurr and Obol Lopon of Ugep, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng said, “the event takes place after four months of planting hence considered as a celebration after the hunger period.”
The Royal Father explained that the date of the celebration is not changed as “Leboku Festival is not marked by Gregorian calendar but follows our traditional calendar.”
“Leboku will continue, there is no year it will not hold. It is our major celebration, even if you fix elections on August 20, we will still hold Leboku.”
“For me not to do Leboku, I better die because Leboku is a period when people leave hunger period to a period of plenty where foodstuffs are gotten.”
Obol Eteng who disclosed that Leboku has many benefits including getting new wives, drawing community members in Diaspora to home, and the availability of food in the area, also said, “those who hardly eat pounded yam can be sure of one during the event.”
Regional Manager, MTN Calabar, Chibuzor Akuchie, revealed that the service provider had in the past years embarked on health, educational and infrastructure development of the area, adding that for this year, it will drive more on financial inclusion.