Adenuga Says Ofala Festival is Positive Avenue for Social Cohesion, Growth

Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr., chief promoter of cultural heritage and chairman of Globacom Limited, over the weekend said that the annual Onitsha Ofala Festival was a positive instrument for  social cohesion,  peace and community development.

He made this remark in Onitsha on Saturday in his goodwill message at the 2016 Ofala Festival celebrations held at the Ime Obi, Onitsha, where he further added that the festival had over the years fulfilled the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (UNESCO) objectives for cultural initiatives.

Said he, "Ofala Festival, for us in Globacom, is an important vehicle which has been used to drive social integration, promote peace and community development. But more importantly, the festival immortalises a lofty heirloom of the Onitsha people".

The international business guru disclosed that the company's  collaboration  with custodians of Ofala "is also in line with our vision to identify with initiatives that empower us as a nation and raise future leaders who will not only be exceptional in their professional endeavours but will also be worthy ambassadors of our cultures and traditions. This was why we instituted the Glo Heritage Series to support festivals that help the realisation of this noble cause".

Dr. Adenuga poured encomiums on the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, Agbogidi, for introducing what he termed ' unique initiatives' to the festival by raising its bar in content, scope and scale.

A major part of the innovations is the Oraeze Arts Exhibition, which, according to him, had over the years enabled exhibitors to "use their works to focus Nigerians' attention on momentous national issues and shaped narratives on how we could build a bigger and better society.  "Through their creativity, the outstanding artists who have been showcased on the platform have shown that, truly, arts is life," he said.

Dr Adenuga added that  "Globacom is proud of the interventionist roles it has played in the promotion of arts by investing in our budding and established talents.  Our latest contribution in this sphere is a television satire, Professor Johnbull.  Produced in the Eastern part of Nigeria and shown weekly on the NTA Network, the television drama series is not just entertaining but also didactic. Its objective is to make people learn and laugh as they relish the drama played by top Nollywood stars to call attention to various challenges facing the nation and how we can smash our obstacles into smithereens."

The respected Monarch said in his address that with Globacom's intervention in the Ofala Festival, Dr Adenuga had displayed personal commitments to the success of the cultural event. He seized the opportunity to pray for more grace for Dr. Adenuga  to continue to  positively affect humanity.

"We are particularly thankful for the personal commitment of the Executive Chairman of Globacom, Otunba Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr., GCON, towards the success of Ofala Onitsha for the past six years. We pray that God continues to bless him to enable him to continue to serve humanity", Obi Achebe prayed.

Globacom has been the corporate sponsor of the Ofala Festival for six unbroken years just as it is the main sponsor of Ojude Oba and Lisabi Festivals in the South West of the country among other activities of interest to the brand.