JOS CARNIVAL 2019: A SEED SPROUTING AND FLOURISHING

JOS CARNIVAL 2019: A SEED SPROUTING AND FLOURISHING

Governor Simon Lalong in procession

When the Jos Carnival idea was originally conceived in 2016 and tabled before relevant stakeholders and potential sponsors and partners, many thought it was just another idea that will fizzle away like many other noble ideas that were embedded in files and allowed to gather dust and later to be eaten by termites and worms!

But thankfully, the Plateau State Government under the able leadership of the captain of the Rescue Administration - Rt. Hon. Dr. Simon Bako Lalong and other stakeholders embraced it and decided to give it a shot.

The first edition in the Easter of 2017 with the theme: Glamour and Limitless Possibilities was received with mass applause and widespread acceptance.

Governor Simon Lalong

In planning for the second edition in 2018, the Jos Carnival Central Planning Committee decided to seek more knowledge from those who had dived into the carnival pond and decided to involve consultants from the Calabar Carnival Commission and they brought their wealth of experience to bear on the second edition and it turned out well. So much so that the Calabar Carnival consultants famously remarked that the Jos Carnival had achieved in two years what the Calabar Carnival struggled to achieve in their fifth year!

This was a massive testimonial from tested hands.

The 2019 edition turned out to be the best yet. Not only did it exceed expectations, but it also served as a rebinding force for the good and peace-loving people on the Plateau after they had been sharply divided along political party lines in the aftermath of the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state which was won by the incumbent Governor Simon Lalong.

Jos Carnival Pageants

It is a thing of interest to note that Governor Lalong has taken a keen interest in the development of the tourism potentials of the State by declaring a state of emergency on Tourism in Plateau during the first ever Plateau Tourism Conference in 2018. This first of its kind tourism conference had speakers and resource persons from within and outside the country and they gave far reaching recommendations for the achievement of a tourism utopia in Plateau State. These strides, including the sustenance of the Jos Carnival, gave the Governor a new moniker of the "Tourism Governor". All tourism-dependent societies have one form of festivals/carnivals or the other to sell their culture, heritage and history. The Jos Carnival is aimed at doing same for Plateau State; we are making progress. Even though we are not where we plan to be yet, every objective mind will agree to the fact that much has been achieved in the last three years and the room for improvement is still wide open. Good news is, the Carnival has come to stay with approval ratings growing by the years!

Jos Carnival King & Queen Pageantry audience

Under the stewardship of the Plateau State Commissioner of Tourism, Culture and Hospitality, Honorable Tamwakat Weli, the 2019 Carnival was packaged to leave a lasting impression on the minds of the people. Famous Nollywood celebrity, Evangelist Patience Ozokwor and renowned Nigerian footballer and legend Coach Samson Siasia were invited to grace the occasion and take part in the street parade alongside the Governor, his cabinet dignitaries from all over Nigeria and the good people of the State.

The now famous Secretariat Junction was rechristened the Bridge of Unity and painted gleefully to reflect the various tourist attractions in Plateau State. The paintings on the bridge have now become a tourist mecca of some sort as people now alight from their cars and slide under the bridge to take selfies and even make short films! The Carnival has fostered unity, hope and strength amongst the people irrespective of affiliations!

Who ever believed that an ordinary flyover bridge could become a tourist attraction, but the Plateau State Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Hospitality and The Carnival Team with the support of Folks Innovations Ltd (organizers of the Carnival) made it a reality.

Jos Carnival 2019 logo

The Carnival has many benefits for the State one of which is the swelling of the Government's purse through the increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and the booming of businesses. The Carnival project is a long term project. The early phase of it is to make the populace believe and buy into it which we have been able to do and are still doing (in this phase, the Government has to invest through confidence building, financing and other forms of support); the next phase is the gradual disengagement of the Government which will then lead to the full take over by the Private Sector - that is the phase we are now. Soon, the benefits of the activities of the Carnival will begin to impact positively on the Government. Meanwhile, the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) have started benefitting from the Carnival. The multiplier effects are enormous, to say the least!

Jos Carnival mini polo tournamnet

The theme of the 2019 Jos Carnival is  "One People: Jos Go Green" a thematic extension of the 2018 theme which was 'One People'. The theme was aptly chosen to reflect the current realities of global warming, looming deforestation, depletion of flora and fauna and its attendant drastic negative effects on the ways of life of the people. To promote the culture of tree planting and discourage the indiscriminate felling of trees, the Governor, during the Carnival Street Parade, symbolically planted a tree at the Hill Station Hotel Junction to a rapturous applause.

The Jos Carnival 2019 surpassed the successes of the 2017 and 2018 editions to now taking its pride of place as the Largest Street Party in Northern Nigeria. The Carnival has further stamped the well endowed State and much loved city of Jos on the World Tourism Map and in the hearts of tourists, fun seekers and revelers the world over. We have surely announced our presence, and boldly too!

Jos Carnival procession

The 2019 Jos Carnival had various aspects like the Carnival Village which entertained revelers on a daily basis, the Carnival King and Queen Pageantry, the Mini Polo Tournament, the Photo Contest and Hiking.

The economic multiplier effect of the carnival cannot be overemphasized. From tailors who gained financially from making the costumes to choreographers and dancers, carpenters, technicians, transporters, hoteliers, painters, and even photographers, videographers and social media influencers, there were opportunities for the takers to make some money.

Jos Carnival mascots

The 2019 Jos Carnival couldn't have been a monumental success without the embrace and active participation of the Plateau people and those other people who drove or flew into Jos to be part of history. As we speak, plans are already underway for the 2020 Jos Carnival with a view to even besting the 2019 performance.


The Jos Carnival Team