The Cross River State Carnival Commission has intensified its sensitisation campaign for the 2026 Carnival Calabar Essay and Creative Writing Competition, taking the initiative to secondary schools across the Calabar metropolis as part of efforts to promote youth development, reading culture and intellectual creativity.
The two-day exercise, led by the Commission Member and Head of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr James Bulem, was designed to acquaint students with the competition while encouraging them to discover, develop and harness their creative abilities.
Bulem and his team visited Government Girls Secondary School, Big Qua Town; Government Secondary School, State Housing Estate; Estate Secondary School, Ikot Ansa; Government Secondary School, Federal Housing Estate; and NYSC Model School, Highway, Calabar, where they interacted with students and explained the objectives of the competition.
At each school, Bulem urged the students to take reading and creative writing seriously, stressing that the skills acquired through intellectual development could open doors to opportunities beyond the classroom and contribute significantly to their future success.
He challenged the students to dream beyond their present circumstances and deliberately invest in expanding their knowledge through continuous reading and writing, reminding them that many accomplished writers began developing their talents at a young age.
“You may be the next Chinua Achebe or the next Wole Soyinka,” Bulem told the students, stressing the importance of providing young people with the encouragement and opportunities required to identify and nurture their creative potential.
He further emphasised that education and talent are important ingredients for success, urging the students to identify their areas of strength, develop their abilities and remain committed to excellence.
Drawing inspiration from the success story of Nigerian international footballer Victor Osimhen, Bulem explained that talent only becomes meaningful when it is discovered, developed and consistently pursued.
He encouraged the students to approach the essay and creative writing competition as an opportunity to express their ideas, sharpen their writing skills and demonstrate the intellectual potential within them.
The sensitisation campaign also reinforced the Commission’s broader objective of using Carnival Calabar as a platform not only for cultural celebration but also for youth empowerment, education and the discovery of emerging talents.
The Commission expressed optimism that the school outreach would stimulate greater participation in the 2026 competition and inspire more young people to embrace reading, writing and other creative pursuits.
By Ibu Harrywills
