Kayode Akinyemi
Fifteen years of unwavering dedication, memorable experiences and legacy-defining moments in Globacom’s sponsorship of the Ofala Festival of the Onitsha Kingdom represent a wealthy heritage that deserves to be preserved for posterity. Recognising that recollections fade with time, Globacom Nigeria was impressed to doc the total spectrum of its involvement within the pageant with a colouful espresso desk guide titled “Ofala – A Royal Heritag” – “A Glo Cultural Legacy Beyond Borders”. From the origins and evolution of the sponsorship partnership to the tales, landmark occasions, personalities and establishments which have formed this outstanding journey. This guide is due to this fact a celebration of fifteen years of a cherished partnership, printed to commemorate Globacom’s fifteenth yr of affiliation with the Ofala Festival and the 2026 version of this iconic cultural celebration.
The 2026 Ofala Festival, which got here to a profitable shut final week, was not merely a celebration of tradition, festivities and history-making moments; it was additionally an event to protect and doc historical past for posterity by each print and digital archives. In a bid to remodel fleeting moments into a permanent legacy, Globacom Nigeria printed a commemorative guide titled “Ofala, A Royal Heritage, A Glo’s Cultural Legacy Beyond Borders.” The fantastically curated compendium chronicles Globacom’s outstanding journey with the Ofala Festival, capturing the milestones, defining timelines, landmark occasions and memorable moments which have formed its longstanding partnership with the Onitsha Kingdom. Through this publication, Globacom ensures that the wealthy tales and enduring significance of this cultural heritage stay accessible to current and future generations.
The guide incorporates a Goodwill Message from the Chairman of Globacom, Otunba (Dr.) Michael Adenuga Jr., who expressed delight that by Globacom’s affiliation with the Ofala Festival, the corporate was privileged to make its modest contributions to the preservation, celebration and wider projection of the priceless cultural heritage. He expressed his satisfaction and pleasure to hitch the individuals of Onitsha and the Igwe annually in showcasing to Nigeria, Africa and the broader world, the wonder, dignity and enduring values represented by Ofala.
Dr. Adenuga Jr. counseled the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, for his knowledge, dignity and exemplary management with which he had presided over the affairs of his individuals over time. In explicit, he extolled Igwe Achebe’s outstanding capacity to protect the cherished traditions of the previous whereas embracing the aspirations and alternatives of the trendy age, noting that such management type had continued to boost the status of the Onitsha Kingdom and earn it deserved recognition far past its borders.
As Igwe Achebe presided over the week-long occasion, the Globacom Chairman prayed for ample knowledge, energy and glorious well being for him, and wished him many extra fulfilling years of distinguished service to his individuals and Nigeria, Above all, he prayed for continued peace, progress and prosperity all through the Onitsha Kingdom below His Majesty’s revered management.
In a foreword to the guide, Igwe Achebe counseled Globacom for preserving their heritage alive by the sponsorship deal. Specifically, he mentioned the transformation of the Ofala Festival from a palace ritual to a world-renowned cultural pageant owed a fantastic deal to purposeful partnership with Globacom, stating that since 2011, the telecom firm had stood along with his kingdom as its principal accomplice, a interval of 15 lengthy years of unwavering dedication. The monarch famous that what started as a deeply sacred royal obligation had, below the individuals’s collective custodianship, grown right into a pageant of nationwide and international significance, with out shedding its religious core, as a heritage asset–for id, unity, tourism, youth enterprise, and neighborhood rituals. He mentioned as an alternative, what has developed is the pageant’s energy to talk to up to date Nigeria wellbeing.
“Ofala, A Royal Heritage: Glo’s Cultural Legacy Beyond Borders” is split into six components, every exploring a defining aspect of the pageant and highlighting the wealthy cultural traditions, historic significance, royal heritage, key personalities, landmark occasions and enduring partnerships that make the Ofala Festival a really outstanding celebration.
Part one appears to be like at Ofala as a residing heritage, explaining its origin, related establishments, in addition to the cultural, religious, and neighborhood layers that give it its profound nature and significance
Part two x-rays town of Onitsha, tracing its historical past to over 5 centuries. This half examined the position performed by the River Nigeria within the cultural and industrial significance of town. Onitsha is described as a metropolis of resilience, entrepreneurship and a confluence of the previous and new the world. A metropolis steeped in tradition and a vibrant centre of commerce and commerce.
Part three examines Ofala Onitsha as symbolizing spirituality, custom, and continuity, whereas half 4 is a highlight on the Agbogidi – the persona of the Obi, the throne, custodianship and his affect on the event and prosperity of town of Onitsha.
Part Five explores the enduring partnership between Globacom and the Ofala Festival, highlighting how strategic sponsorship has elevated the pageant past the shores of Nigeria and positioned it on the worldwide cultural stage. It chronicles a journey of shared imaginative and prescient, cultural promotion and transformation, demonstrating how a purposeful company partnership can amplify the visibility of a conventional pageant, develop its attain and protect its heritage whereas connecting it to audiences internationally. It is a compelling lesson within the energy of sponsorship to remodel cultural heritage right into a globally celebrated legacy.
Finally, the guide examines Onitsha youth as custodians of the Ofala and the way forward for tradition. In explicit, half six appears to be like on the evolving position and significance within the tradition of Onitsha by the colorful youth carnival which has develop into a key part of the cultural fiesta.
From the angle of the creator/writer, the partnership between Globacom and Ofala Festival is a wedding of the drum beat and the digital sign, with the drum beat carrying reminiscence by sound, whereas the digital sign carries reminiscence throughout distance. Still utilizing the metaphor of the drum beat and the digital sign, the guide summises that one summons the neighborhood to the palace whereas the sign summons the world to Onitsha.
Indeed the strategic partnership between the Onitsha Traditional Council and Nigeria’s Frontline indigenous telecom service supplier represents greater than sponsor and pageant; it embodirs a partnership during which company citizenship turns into cultural custodianship, with expertise turning into an ally of custom. The companions’ journey collectively demonstrates that heritage needn’t select between preservation and progress, however it could protect its soul and enlarge its horizon.
As rightly identified by the creator/writer, the corporate has helped translate an attention-grabbing native cultural expertise right into a nationwide dialog and, more and more, a world proposition, whereas its communication attain and digital capabilities have helped bridge the palace courtyard and the broader world.
Profoundly resonating with this cultural partnership of over 15 years is that whereas some sponsorships are mainly transactions, concentrating on numbers and margins, this one just isn’t of that style however a pillar of assist for continuity, neighborhood improvement, peace, unity, and cultural renewal. This partnership had develop into the heart-beat of a Kingdom’s main cultural occasion.
Globacom’s legacy of supporting and preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage is outstanding. Over the previous 21 years, its sponsorship of the Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu-Ode and 15 years of partnership with the Ofala Festival in Onitsha have infused these iconic cultural celebrations with renewed vibrancy, expanded their attain and elevated their profiles on the worldwide stage. Through these enduring partnerships, Globacom has demonstrated how strategic company sponsorship can protect cultural traditions, amplify their significance and showcase Nigeria’s wealthy heritage to audiences world wide.
• Akinyemi, a Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, writes from Lagos
