… Cultural groups, traditional regalia light up Inland Town as Obi Achebe’s 25th anniversary celebrations commence
By Rashidat O. Okunlade | Lagos
The 2026 Globacom-sponsored Ofala Festival began on a spectacular note on Wednesday in Onitsha, Anambra State, with the Youth Carnival organised by the Onitsha Ado Youth Council (OYC).
The carnival featured different cultural groups, including the Otu Odu Onitsha, Egwu Odu and Agbalanze, dressed in full traditional regalia and dancing through the streets of Inland Town, Onitsha, in celebration of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe. The carnival was also used to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Onitsha indigenes.
Youths Embody Royal Grandeur
A striking aspect of the ceremony was the way young people embodied the grandeur of traditional institutions, appearing in carefully made costumes of prominent traditional rulers, including the Obi of Onitsha, the Oba of Benin and the Ooni of Ife.
After the street procession, the youths gathered at the old Ime Obi, St Stephen Anglican Church Road, where they held fashion parades and different competitions among the different groups.
Festival Continues
Ofala celebrations will continue with the Iru Ofala on Friday, October 16, and the Azu Ofala on Sunday, October 17.
A Royal Banquet organised by Globacom in honour of Igwe Achebe will be held on Wednesday, October 21, at the Ime Obi, Onitsha.
The activities will be rounded off with an Ofala Thanksgiving Service scheduled for Sunday, October 25, at St. Stephens Anglican Church.
‘Culture and Connectivity as Instruments of National Development’
Globacom disclosed in a statement that its continued association with Ofala “reflects a philosophy that places culture alongside connectivity as instruments of national development.”
“Ofala is far more than an annual cultural celebration. It is a living expression of identity, continuity and collective aspiration. Our sustained partnership with this magnificent institution reflects our belief that preserving heritage and advancing society are not competing imperatives; they are mutually reinforcing pillars of a progressive nation. This is the spirit of Globacom’s clarion call, ‘Never Settle for Less’, which is to honour what is worthy, while continually striving for something greater,” the company added.
Why It Matters
The Youth Carnival serves a purpose beyond spectacle. By placing young people at the centre of the Ofala proceedings, dressing them in the regalia of revered monarchs and inviting them to compete in cultural performances, the Onitsha Ado Youth Council is deliberately transmitting heritage across generations.
In many Nigerian communities, traditional festivals risk becoming the preserve of elders, with younger generations increasingly detached from ancestral practices. The OYC’s approach reverses that trend, giving youths a stake in the celebration and a sense of ownership over their cultural identity.
The inclusion of costumes representing the Oba of Benin and the Ooni of Ife also signals a broader pan-Yoruba and pan-Nigerian consciousness, a recognition that Onitsha’s heritage is part of a wider tapestry of African traditional institutions.
Globacom’s continued sponsorship, now spanning more than 15 years, provides the financial stability that allows such events to be planned and executed at scale. The company’s framing of culture and connectivity as complementary instruments of development is also noteworthy: it positions telecommunications not merely as a commercial enterprise but as a participant in Nigeria’s cultural preservation project.
As the 2026 Ofala unfolds over the coming weeks, culminating in the Royal Banquet and Thanksgiving Service, it will serve as a reminder that tradition, far from being an obstacle to modernity, can be a foundation for it.
For Ndi Onitsha, the celebration is a homecoming. For Nigeria, it is a lesson in the enduring power of cultural continuity.
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