Israel Umoh
Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival for 2021 is set to roll. Ibom Hall Arena, along IBB Way in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital is wearing fresh look. The ambience sparkles with grandeur and vivacity.
From the entrance to the well-lit arena, festivity is on the air. The outside is painted yellow and the walls are emblazoned with art relief forms. From the main entrance stands another art relief form with a conically elevated two hands clasped together overlooking the main entrance to Ibom Hall.
”This is Ibom Hall Arena. Venue for The Return. Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival 2021. Friday, December 17, 2021. 6 P.M.’’
Sauntering through the main to the left is beautifully constructed hall with MEDICALS. Security-vigilant members of Nigerian Legion sit outside giving orders to visitors where to tread and where to keep off. The walls inside are decorated with gold-green ribbon to depict royalty and fruitfulness.
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From Medicals stands a giant-sized Christmas tree measuring 24 metres high and 36 metres base. Decorated with lights to add colour to the yearly global event. Scintillating musicals would ooze from the tree at the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival.
At the main entrance to main bowl of the event is a well-tarred area painted black with yellow stripes reserved for the Akwa Ibom Governor to access into the arena. Eagle-eyed security men have cordoned off the area.
Across the entrances stands giant stand sure brimming with lighting effects. Beside it are eight enclosures clearly marked: White, Gold, Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, VVIP. These are the entrances for the guests to walk into their different seats. At one end, the entrances are demarcated with a network of wires, and at the other, with wall angles. The entrances are neatly demarcated to accommodate traffic to the event.
A visit by this writer to the arena on Thursday, December 16, 2021 opens up the preparedness of the host to do justice to the event. One fanciful entrance is well-paved and decorated with rug carpet. The canal-like entrance is a beauty by itself bowling into a step-constructed field and emptying into the bed-like VVIP arena.
Beside the VVIP sitting is VIP corner for the special guests to feel sonority of the gospel singers and experience the illuminating contours and ridges of the eerie event.
Inside the arena are well-arranged plastic chairs adorned with different colours. The 38,000 square metres Ibom Hall Arena used by AKCAROLSFEST boasts of eight Compact Sanitising Tunnel well placed for the guests to sanitise their hands in line with the COVID-19 protocol.
Leading to the different stands are well-lined and decorated platforms of different makes. Down the columns are grown palms to beautify the arena.
The eight enclosures lead to the sprawling 35,000 sitting capacity main bowl of the arena. At the centre is Water Fountain surrounded with synthetic carpet and well-sculptured gravels spewing water to the delight of the guests.
At the left side is the main stage emblazoned: AKCAROLSFEST with glittering lighting effects. The imposing sound system meets the International standard. On the ground are large-sized loud twin speakers numbering seven. On top of the stage are sound mixers and filters spread over the place. At the various but strategic places are hung giant-sized loudspeakers for sound effects. This is where the gospel artistes are to stand and perform.
On top of the stage is intimidating but customised Plasma television measuring more than 100 metres in length and 30 metres in breath being the first of such to be mounted in the world. The screen to beam the event could be viewed from any part of the arena.
Behind is Event Centre meant for the guest artists to refresh themselves and move out for scintillating performances. This is another wonder of the sparkling event. It is a moving but living house. It is well-furnished with rug carpet. Giant air-conditioners and plasma television sets are fixed. It has kitchen, living rooms and toilet facilities to match. A giant Mekano plant is provided to supply electricity.
Another wonder is Online Media and Internet Hub for at least 26 online workers. It is roundish with steeped steps flushing into leading to the hub. The floor is properly tiled with glimmering lights. From here are beautiful steps that would usher guests to other platforms with synthetic carpets.
The Choir stand poses another wonder of the event owing to its size and beauty. It is well decorated and solidified. It has a capacity to accommodate more than 10,000 choristers.
At the extreme end of the arena are water system toilets numbering 10. A borehole facility with well-treated water is provided.
Unlike the London Clock that was used in 2019 for the flag off, the initiator of the event is keeping this year’s flag off facility to his chest to bolster the festival.
The arena is officially adorned with emblems of Zenith Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank and the banks too have some pots to enhance visibility during the event. Behind the arena are seated two DSTV Outside Broadcasting fans as well as Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation’s OB van.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, Raphael Edem, the Special Assistant to Akwa Ibm Governor on Public Affairs, said arrangements have been put in place for the successful hosting of the event.
He noted that the festival was conceived to enhance the spiritual rejuvenation of the state and people, adding that the purpose has remained undefeated after 12 successful editions.
“From inception, the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival was conceived to enhance the spiritual rejuvenation of the state and people, and after 12 successful editions, that purpose of the Carols Festival has remained undefeated,” he said.
He further stated that this will be the first time that the event will feature two officiating ministers as the Senior Pastor of the Potter’s House Church, USA, Bishop Thomas D. Jakes and the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, are billed to minister.
“The event will also feature predominantly Nigerian/renowned gospel music ministers such as legendary Panam Percy Paul and other award-winning gospel singers like Tim Godfrey, Dunsin Oyekan, Ada Ehi, Aity Dennis, Bobby Friga, David G, Ema Onyx, GUC, Progress Effiong, John Bassey, Patience Ekwere and Uduakobong Akpan Jnr etc,” he added.
It is an eight-hour event that looks like a thousand in a month. The arena is an architectural masterpiece sired by a master mind- Mr. Aniekpeno Mkpanang, who is also the initiator of the programme since 2008. When the door of this year’s event closes, AKCAROLSFEST opens another on December 16, 2022.
