Glo-Sponsored Ofala Festival opens with spectacular youth carnival
The 2026 Globacom-sponsored Ofala Festival in Onitsha, Anambra State, commenced in spectacular fashion on Wednesday with a vibrant Youth Carnival organised by the Onitsha Ado Youth Council (OYC), heralding the commencement of a celebration in which cultural heritage, youthful exuberance and royal tradition converge in magnificent harmony.
The carnival featured an array of cultural groups, including the Otu Odu Onitsha, Egwu Odu and Agbalanze, whose members, resplendent in elaborate traditional regalia, danced through the streets of Inland Town, Onitsha, in honour of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe. Beyond its festive allure, the procession provided a compelling showcase of the rich cultural heritage, enduring customs and collective identity of the Onitsha people.
One of the most captivating highlights of the carnival was the imaginative manner in which young participants recreated the grandeur of Nigeria’s traditional institutions. Adorned in meticulously crafted costumes representing eminent traditional rulers, including the Obi of Onitsha, the Oba of Benin and the Ooni of Ife, the youths transformed the streets into a living tableau of royal splendour, underscoring the capacity of cultural expression to bridge generations and keep ancestral traditions alive.
Following the street procession, the participants converged on the old Ime Obi, along St Stephen Anglican Church Road, where fashion parades and a variety of competitions among the participating groups added further colour, excitement and creative expression to the festivities.
The Ofala celebrations will continue with the Iru Ofala on Friday, October 16, and the Azu Ofala on Saturday, October 17. A Royal Banquet, organised by Globacom in honour of Igwe Achebe, is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, at the Ime Obi, Onitsha. The festivities will culminate in an Ofala Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, October 25, at St Stephen’s Anglican Church.
In a statement, Globacom said its enduring association with the Ofala Festival reflected a corporate philosophy that recognises culture, alongside connectivity, as a vital instrument of national development.
“Ofala is far more than an annual cultural celebration; it is a living testament to identity, continuity and collective aspiration. It embodies the enduring spirit of a people, preserving the wisdom of their past while illuminating the possibilities of their future.
“Our sustained partnership with this magnificent institution reflects our conviction that preserving our heritage and advancing society are not competing imperatives, but mutually reinforcing pillars of a progressive nation. Culture provides the roots from which collective identity draws its strength, even as innovation creates new pathways to shared prosperity.
“This is the essence of Globacom’s clarion call, ‘Never Settle for Less’: to honour what is worthy, preserve what is precious and continually aspire to something greater,” the company added.
