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As part of efforts to ensure the preservation of the cultural heritage of the people and ensure that it does not go extinct, the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), South-East Zone, in conjunction with the Umuahia South LGA, has unveiled the Face of Umuahia South 2025, a cultural carnival that will also feature beauty pageant and showcase the moores, folkways of the people.
The event will avail the communities in Umuahia South, opportunity to showcase their rich cultural heritage that the people of Umuahia South are known for, including mode of dressing, different kinds of delicacies, among other things that were passed onto them by their forefathers.
Speaking to newsmen on Monday in Umuahia the Abia State capital, the Vice President, Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), South-East Zone, Ambassador Mrs.Onyekachi Atuloma Loveday, said the event which is for people between 18 to 24 years of age, is slated for 28th and 29th of December 2025 at Apummiri Ubakala, the Headquarters of Umuahia South LGA.
She said, “The Festival will unveil our rich cultural heritage and showcase things that Umuahia South is proud of, starting with our foods. It will be an opportunity to showcase the Umuahia South brand that can represent either our state or local governments at any national or state pageant.
Speaking further, Mrs. Loveday, reiterated that the event will serve as an avenue for Ndi Umuahia South to showcase their rich cultural heritage, emphasising that all the visitors and invited guests are expected to dress in cultural outfit.
“I want to use this opportunity to unveil this programme officially and believe that the masses out there will key into it. Why I am doing it in Abia State is because I am a bonafide daughter of Abia, born, bred and married also in Abia State. So after this edition, I believe that next year we are going to do it in the entire state which will involve the 17 local governments of Abia State.
She revealed that participants from all the communities in Umuahia South, will participate by paying N2,000 per candidate, She pointed out that the essence is to ensure that every community is represented during the pageant, adding that those who are not from Umuahia South but have domiciled in the LGA for a long time, will be allowed to participate in the event.
On prizes to be won during the pageant, Mrs. Loveday said, “We are giving the winner N500,000, N400,000 for the second position while N300,000 will go to the 3rd position just as there will be consolation prizes for those who tried and could not get the first, second or third positions.
She solicited partnership from groups, individuals among others, saying, “This is not a party pageant. It’s not a party stuff. We are going to do it to showcase what we have as a people. We are showcasing our oneness, uniqueness, tradition, our core values as a people, not as a party.
Mrs. Loveday also used the opportunity to call on the Abia State Government to invest in the tourism sector, saying the State stands to gain a lot if it invests hugely in the sector, arguing that the tourism sector has the potentials of sustaining a State like Abia State.
She decried that despite the enormous opportunities that a state like Abia can exploit from the sector, the current administration led by Governor Alex Otti, is yet to identify these benefits with a view to tapping into it for the benefit of the State.
“In terms of tourism, we’ve not been doing well. I need to be honest with you. So I feel that there are areas the Governor of Abia State needs to really put his interest in. We don’t really take tourism business seriously in this part of the country.”
Mrs. Loveday noted that apart from creating job opportunities for Abia teeming youths, studies have shown that it has the potentials of shoring up the economy of nations. She called on Abia Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy to be alive to its responsibilities.
She specifically called on Governor Alex Otti to revive the Abia Tourism Board, maintaining that, “Once the tourism board is revived, a whole lot of positivity will come into the state through the Board. There are Agencies that will not want to work with the Ministry, but they prefer to work with the Tourism Board because it has to do with Tourism, the Ministry is there to play an advisory role.
Mrs. Loveday revealed that if the sector is developed fully, it will attract people from different walks of life to Abia State, advising Abia State Government not to sit on the fence anymore but tap into this all important sectors.
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