Culture

Okhma Global Investment Workshop Attracts Top Brands for Carnival Calabar

Published

1 year ago

September 3, 2025

Okhma Global investment workshop attracts 70 top brands in Lagos, boosting interest in Carnival Calabar and strategic sponsorship opportunities for 2025

Okhma Global investment workshop has drawn participation from over 70 top-tier brands in Lagos as the firm seeks corporate partners for the upcoming 20th Carnival Calabar.

Also read: Cross River government plans major restructuring of Calabar carnival after 20 years

The event, hosted at the Oriental Hotel, was organised by Okhma Global, the official marketing and brand agency for Africa’s biggest street festival.

Attendees included key players in banking, telecoms, aviation, oil and gas, FMCGs, hospitality, and entertainment.

According to Okhma’s Managing Director, Mary Ephraim-Egbas, the Carnival Calabar 2025 is projected to welcome nearly two million physical attendees and reach over 200 million global viewers via media and streaming platforms.

“This session provided the platform to not only answer questions but also correct misconceptions about the carnival’s strategic value to brands,” Ephraim-Egbas told participants.

She added that the annual event offers exceptional brand visibility, audience engagement, and a return on experience that few platforms in Africa can rival.

This session provided the platform to not only answer questions but also correct misconceptions about the carnival’s strategic value to brands.

The workshop also served as an investment roadshow, showcasing how brands can participate through sponsorships, activations, and co-branded content during the December-long festival.

Executives at the session expressed strong interest in collaboration, with many submitting formal expressions of interest to partner with Okhma and the Cross River State Government.

The 2025 edition of Carnival Calabar is backed by Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu, who has pledged increased executive support for the cultural showcase.

Ephraim-Egbas noted that this marks a new era of innovation and global appeal for the carnival.

Also read: Calabar Carnival 2024 attracts over 300,000 tourists, boosts local economy

As anticipation builds for the milestone 20th edition, Okhma Global’s workshop has reaffirmed the carnival’s position as a premier cultural and commercial platform for Africa and the world.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”