In a strategic move to deepen digital innovation, strengthen stakeholder participation and boost revenue generation ahead of the 2026 Carnival Calabar and Festival, the Cross River State Carnival Commission on Tuesday convened a high- level engagement with leaders of the competing carnival bands and its official technology partner, Nugi Technologies Nig Ltd.
The interactive session, held at the State Library Complex Hall, Calabar, brought together the Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, Sir Gabe Onah; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Event Management and Chairman of the Carnival Calabar and Festival Committee, Sir Effiong Ekpenyong; Executive Secretary of the Carnival Commission, Evangelist Austin Cobham; Executive Chairman of the Cross River State Internal Revenue Service, Sir Prince Edwin Okon; Commissioners of the Carnival Commission; leaders of the competing carnival bands; and the management team of Nugi Technologies Nig. Ltd, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Miss Ajoke Akinlabi, Chief Technology Officer, Mr Godswill Adie, Chief Operations Officer, Mr Brown Okoi, and Senior Project Manager Nugi Media and Entertainment, Miss Regina Odok.
Speaking during the engagement, Chairman of the Carnival Commission, Sir Gabe Onah, applauded Nugi Technologies Nig. Ltd for its impressive outing at the recently concluded London Tech Week 2026, where Carnival Calabar attracted significant international attention and generated renewed investor interest.
He noted that the Commission is committed to repositioning Carnival Calabar as a globally competitive tourism product by embracing technology driven solutions capable of expanding audience participation and creating sustainable revenue streams.
According to Sir Onah, the Commission is introducing digital voting, online membership registration, merchandising opportunities and other innovative platforms that will increase public involvement while creating additional economic benefits for participating bands.
He explained that public participation through online voting will account for 30 per cent of the overall competition score, while 70 per cent will continue to be determined by the creative and theatrical performances of the competing bands.
“This initiative is about making the public an integral part of Carnival Calabar. Beyond the street parade, we want Nigerians and supporters across the world to actively participate, own the experience and contribute to the growth of our tourism economy,” he stated.
Sir Onah further disclosed that the Commission is developing a private sector-driven framework to commercialise the carnival value chain, noting that stronger collaboration with investors and technology partners would unlock greater opportunities for tourism, youth empowerment and economic development.
He also announced that a broader stakeholders’ engagement would hold later in the week, urging each carnival band to nominate between 10 and 15 management representatives to facilitate seamless implementation of the digital initiatives.
Highlighting the vast tourism potential available to the state, the Carnival Commission Chairman observed that attracting even one per cent of Nigeria’s over 250 million population as organic tourists would significantly boost visitor traffic and internally generated revenue for Cross River State.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Event Management and Chairman of the Carnival Calabar and Festival Committee, Sir Effiong Ekpenyong, described the partnership between the Carnival Commission and Nugi Technologies Nig. Ltd as a forward-looking initiative that aligns with Governor Bassey Otu’s vision of leveraging innovation to reposition Cross River as Nigeria’s premier tourism destination.
He commended Nugi Technologies Nig. Ltd for its commitment to expanding the global visibility of Carnival Calabar through digital technology while creating new opportunities for stakeholder engagement and revenue generation.
The Executive Chairman of the Cross River State Internal Revenue Service, Sir Prince Edwin Okon, emphasised the importance of transparency, accountability and collaboration in implementing the initiative.
He urged all stakeholders to embrace the digital transformation process with sincerity and a shared commitment to ensuring its long-term success for the benefit of the state.
Presenting the technology platform, Chief Executive Officer of Nugi Technologies Nig. Ltd, Miss Ajoke Akinlabi, said the company’s vision is to leverage technology to make Carnival Calabar more accessible, inclusive and interactive for participants and audiences around the world.
She unveiled the Carnival Calabar Voting Application and Membership Application, explaining that the platforms are designed to simplify participation, encourage continuous engagement and provide carnival enthusiasts with easier access to the festival throughout the year.
Miss Akinlabi reaffirmed Nugi Technologies Nig. Ltd’s commitment to working closely with the Cross River State Government and the Carnival Commission to deliver a digitally enhanced Carnival Calabar 2026 that will set new standards for cultural tourism in Africa.
Ibu Harrywills
