Israel Umoh
The dusk of the spectacular Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival 2022 is Friday, December 16 from 6 p.m. to feature sparkling gospel performances and exhorting drumming, Straightnews reports.
On Thursday night, Mr. Aniekpeno Mkpanang, the event organiser was busier putting finishing touches to the arrangements to make the event a huge success attended too to some visitors who were full of praises for his ingenuity.
Mkpanang, in company of Raphael Edem, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor and some close aides, sat on a half wall, in an episodic tete a tete to smoothen some rough edges of the enchanting event.
Also read: Unveiling Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival 2022
The retired but not tried Permanent Secretary later moved around from one place to place to another, dishing instructions to some planners.
From the main entrance of the arena, the event smells vivacity and conviviality as all the fixtures have been put in place and the arena turns to modern-day Dubai.
At the main entrance, gadgets had been fixed to record the crowd that will pour into the arena for trial and judgment of the event by Guinness Book of Records.
In the main bowl of the arena, hefty sound systems have been displayed at the performers’ stage while large-sized speakers are hung at strategic locations in the arena to oozing sound effects.
Inside the arena, plastic chairs of different colours covered with hair rest have been arranged to fit the six types of card holders.
In the front row, executive seats from Government House Banquet Hall, Uyo are kept and properly arranged for the First family and other important guests.
The performers’ stage even up to VIPs stage is covered with red carpet.
Eagle-eyed security men are on red alert while performers coming for rehearsals milled around the arena.
In the media arena, DSTV parked three luxury vans at the back of Ibom Hall Grounds, and beside AKBC (Television Service) van parked its own too for live transmission of the event.
Drone revved the air over the arena for capturing of images during the event.
Excited Engr. Etido Inyang speaking with Straightnews at the arena on Thursday night notes ‘‘The architectural piece, the ingenuity, the creativity after Aniekpeno who is the master of this edifice and the creator of this carnival is commendable.
‘‘It is arena in which if you come in, your mouth is ajar. Is it the screen, the biggest screen you ever sit to watch the carols night? Is it the stage? Is it the stage, or VIP section? Is it the tunnel that is taking you to different sections? Is it the red carpet area? It is a piece of art, the security of ensuring your yellow card does not take you to red card section. The barricade is friendly. The convenience (no matter where you are sitting) you would not be an impediment to others and nobody is impediment to yours. You can see the stage straight ahead.
The Chairman of Ibom Power remarks ‘‘Everything is measured to precision. If you are not here before, you get missing. So, I have met the choir that is doing rehearsals. For me, it is amazing and this can only be God. So, I must thank His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel for giving his free hand to Aniekpeno Mkpanang to come up with this. Is it the Christmas tree? It is one way to tell God ‘thank you.’
‘‘And 2022 Christmas Carols Night will stand out. The sound system (if you were here in 2021) Aniekpeno is saying it is a triple effect of what we saw in 2021. The ambience is conducive, the sitting arrangement is comfortable and the sound system is awesome. We give glory to God and thank everyone involved in this event,’’ he states.
Also speaking with Straightnews, Mr. Akan Ekpenyong, a movie producer and event planner, observes ‘‘Well, the arena is beautiful. We have been here for the past one month. I am part of the organizers. We have been doing rehearsals for the past one month. Everything is set. Rehearsals have been done.
‘‘This year’s carols night being the last of His Excellency Udom Emmanuel as the governor will be something else. Come expecting more- a fun-filled night. There is no other good way to begin the Christmas in earnest than this and by today, we will have a feel of the beginning of festive period up to December 25 and January 1. Akwa Ibom will be festivities-induced around,’’ Ekpenyong sums it.
Mrs. Eucharia William, the manager of Ibom Hall grounds, views ‘‘I wish this place could be turned to another event centre. Our problem is lack of maintenance culture. It is beautiful. It gives Ibom Hall a new phase. And I pray that the facilities should be maintained. I wish the Governor had approved this arena for subsequent so that these walls and the facilities could be kept and maintained for rent by interested persons.’’
The event kicks off … No more waiting. Go forward…And join the heavenly hosts in singing to the Lord.
