Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe
Excitement has already overtaken the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State as the 2017 edition of Ofala Festival, sponsored by national telecommunications company, Globacom, kicked off on Tuesday at the Ime Obi, Onitsha, with an Art Exhibition entitled Oraeze.
Globacom, in a statement in Lagos, stated: “The festival is growing bigger and bigger every year since we officially took over its sponsorship in 2011. We commend the Agbogidi for all the innovations he has over the years introduced to the festival to make it more exciting and a tourist attraction. We are delighted to be part of this noble festival for another three years.”
It explained further that this year’s celebration started on October 10 and ends on October 16.
The activities lined up include Youth Carnival on October 12, to be followed by the celebration of main Ofala in the morning of October 13, while a cocktail party, Eze Onicha, will be held later in the evening.
October 14 has been set aside for Azu Ofala, while the Ofala Music Concert, which will feature beauty pageant and crowning of Miss Ofala 2017, will be held at CJ Patterson International Auditorium, Onitsha on October 15.
The grand finale of the festival will be a Royal Banquet in honour of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, which will take place on October 16 at the Dolly Hills Hotel, Onitsha.
The Telecommunication company, therefore, called on all Onitsha indigenes as well as other Nigerians to visit the the Ime Obi, Onitsha Palace, and be part of the celebration of the biggest festival in the Igboland.
Globacom has added colour and grandeur to the Ofala festival celebrations since the commencement of the sponsorship in 2011.
The company recently signed an agreement to extend the sponsorship to 2019.
