Glo empowers Anioma Festival ...Signs three-year MOU

Sales Manager, Delta State Globacom, Mr. Aaron Johnson (right), presenting a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding for the sponsorship of Anioma Festival by Globacom  to Mr. Paddy Ugboh, Vice President, Organisation for the Advancement of Anioma Culture while the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Obi Prof. Chike Edozien watches the proceeding.

The Anioma community in Delta State on Tuesday sealed a deal with national telecommunications operator, Globacom, to sponsor the highly celebrated Anioma Festival for the next three years.

The community, according to a statement made available to SHOWBIZPLUSng, said it decided to pitch its tent with Globacom because of the company's ability to take the festival to a higher level and give it its rightful place among prominent festivals in the country.

Speaking in Asaba at the signing of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding on the sponsorship of the festival by Globacom, the President of the Organisation for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC), Mr. Keister Ifeadi, said that Globacom's involvement in the festival would help in deepening cultural allegiance in the clan.

Ifeadi, who was represented by his vice, Mr. Paddy Ugboh, added that beyond reawakening the consciousness of the Anioma people, "the coming on board of Globacom will further cement allegiance, encourage reciprocity and keep the beautiful flame of our culture in synergy with Nigeria's cultural heritage for the unity, peace and development of our dear nation".

"I want to seize this opportunity to thank the management of Globacom Limited for this new relationship with the people of Anioma. I believe that in no distant time, the name Globacom will go down in history as having contributed immensely to the growth and development of culture, tourism and community development in Delta State and the country as a whole", he added.

The Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien, who was at the ceremony said that he had no doubt that Globacom would add great value to the festival just as the Omu of Anioma, Her Royal Highness, Matha Dunkwu, pointed out that the entire "beautiful people of Anioma will now believe that Globacom is complete by coming to identify with our cultural heritage, the Anioma Festival".

In his remarks at the occasion, Globacom's State Manager, Delta State, Aaron Johnson, said that the signing of the MOU was the beginning of an enduring partnership with the people of Anioma. "Since culture reflects the essence of a people, showcasing their ways of life, preferences and taboos, be rest assured of our resolve to take Anioma Festival to the next level by making it among the best festivals celebrated not only in Nigeria, but in the entire black race," he stated.

Johnson assured the people that the company would bring its wealth of experience to positively project the festival and celebrate the unique selling propositions of the Anioma people, as it had done in other festivals such as Ojude Oba, Ofala and Lisabi festivals.

Traditional rulers from the nine Local Government Areas making up the Anioma clan such as the Obi of Onich-Ugbo, Obi of Ejeme Aniagor, Obi of Ubulu-Okiti, Obi of Utegbeje, Obi of Ute-Okpu and the Omu of Anioma were present at the ceremony.