All is set for the 2014 edition of the annual Akwa Ibom State Government Carol Night, slated to hold on Saturday, December 20, at the new Ibom International Stadium in Uyo.
In a statement announcing the programme, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, stated that “the 9,999 Carol Night, apart from been a recordbreaking gathering of Carol Singers, has become a major source of spiritual tourism that attracts pilgrims from around the world.”
He said the event “gives the Christian community and general public a compelling need to be in the city of Uyo to celebrate Christmas and honour the birth of Jesus Christ.” He explained that the event, which is the creation of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration, and is coordinated by the Akwa Ibom State Directorate of Protocols, was inspired by the governor’s desire to gather people from every church, hamlet and village from across the state to share in the joy of Christmas by singing praises to the Almighty God.
According to him, since its inception in 2008, “the Akwa Ibom State Christmas Carol Night has enjoyed the benevolence, involvement, support and passion of Governor Akpabio, and has also served as avenue for the promotion of spiritual growth, peaceful coexistence among ethnic, religious and cultural groups in the State, in an evening of praise, worship, love and unity.”