The 7th edition of the Abuja National Carnival 2011, tagged “Carnival of Reconciliation,” which was held between the 26th and 29th of November 2011, has ended with Akwa Ibom State emerging overall winners.

The Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, presented the awards to the overall Best Winners Awards at the 2011 Abuja National Carnival as follows: 1st Position went to Akwa Ibom, 2nd Position went to Benue, 3rd Position to Ogun and 4th Position went Kano.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, who was among the dignitaries that graced the closing ceremony of the Carnival at Eagle Square, Abuja, presented awards to winners of the Boat Regatta event.

It would be recalled that, the NICO Chief Executive also gave the welcome address at the Boat Regatta event, held on Monday, 28th November 2011, at Jabi Lake, Abuja.

The breakdown of the categories of events contested by states that participated at the carnival and awards won, include the following:

Boat Regatta Event
Best Decorated Boat: 1st place – Niger State, with Rivers, Ogun and Bayelsa states coming 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.
Best Regatta Performance: 1st place went to Rivers State with Niger, Kogi, Kano & Ogun States coming 2nd, 3rd and 4th in that order.
Best Regatta Costume: Rivers State took 1st place, while Niger, Ogun and Bayelsa States came 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

Masquerade Fiesta Event and Winners:
Best Masquerade Performance: Akwa Ibom State 1st, with Niger, Benue and Osun States coming 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Best Masquerade Costume: 1st place went to Rivers State with Ogun, Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi States coming 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Most Spectacular Masquerade: 1st place went to Akwa Ibom State, while Niger, Benue, Ekiti & Osun States taking 2nd, 3rd and 4th in that order.

Durbar Event and Winners:
Best Decorated Horse: 1st position went to Bauchi State while Niger, Yobe and Ogun took 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions.
Best Durbar Display: Bauchi State came 1st with Yobe, Niger and Ogun States coming 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Best Durbar Costume: Yobe State 1st, Bauchi 2nd, Niger 3rd and Ogun 4th.

Street Carnival Event and Winners:
Best Carnival Costume: Akwa Ibom State came 1st while Benue, Ogun and FCT took 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Best Carnival King: Kaduna State took the 1st position with Benue, Akwa Ibom and Kano taking 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions.
Best Carnival Queen: Benue State came 1st, Akwa Ibom state came 2nd while Kaduna and FCT came 3rd and 4th respectively.

Cultural Night Event and Winners:
Best Cultural Night Competition: 1st Place went to Ondo State while Benue, Nasarawa, Ebonyi & Osun States came 2nd, 3rd and 4th in that order.
Best Carnival Performance Event: 1st position went to Akwa Ibom State with Bayelsa, Kano and FCT taking the 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions.

Traditional Food fair Event and Winners:
Kano State came 1st, Bayelsa 2nd, Yobe 3rd and Benue State 4th.

Children Event and Winners:
Best Carnival Children Participation: 1st position went to Benue State while 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions went to Akwa Ibom, Ekiti and FCT, respectively.

Float Event and Winners:
Best Carnival Float: 1st position went to Benue State while Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Kano States took the 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions, respectively.

Other dignitaries that attended the Closing Ceremony of the 7th edition of the Abuja National Carnival 2011 include, the Vice President Federal Republic of Nigeria, Arch. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry for Tourism, Culture & National Orientation, Dr. B.D. Ibe, the Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality & Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Munzali Dantata, the Executive Director, Natioanl Council for Arts & Culture (NCAC), Mr. M.M. Maidugu, the Director-General, National Gallery for Art (NGA), Alhaji Abdullahi Muku, the Director of Culture in the Ministry, Mr. George Ufot, among others.

Jonathan N. Nicodemus
Corporate Affairs