Globacom extends sponsorship of Ofala Festival

....Pledges global promotion of Nigerian culture

Globacom has announced the extension of its sponsorship of the 2025 Ofala Festival in Onitsha, Anambra State, renewing its commitment for another three years.

The annual event is a customary obligation performed by His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha. This year’s celebration will feature the Iru Ofala on 17 October and the Azu Ofala on 18 October.

At a press conference held by the Ofala Festival Organising Committee at Ime Obi, the Obi’s Palace, Onitsha, on Thursday, Globacom said it had consistently supported the festival since 2011 in recognition of Nigeria’s cultural heritage and its potential to generate employment and revenue.

The company reaffirmed its determination to elevate the Ofala Festival to the global stage. It noted:

“In 2025, Nigeria’s tourism sector is projected to contribute N11.2 trillion to GDP, up from about N10.9 trillion in 2024. Domestic tourism expenditure is also expected to be around N6.1 trillion, while international visitor spending is forecast at about N803.2 billion. These figures show not only recovery from the disruptions of recent years, but strong growth. They underscore a simple truth: culture and tourism are not luxuries, they are vital to our economy, our identity, and our future.

"Globacom is committed to pushing that future forward. Our support for Ofala is part of a broader belief that investment in culture yields returns beyond the balance sheet. It builds communities, jobs, local businesses, pride.”

Globacom further disclosed that this year’s sponsorship would be accompanied by initiatives to delight its customers. The company stated:“We are designing a special package for our subscribers. We are continuing aggressive roll-out and upgrade of network infrastructure across Nigeria, particularly 4G-LTE in zones like the South East, so that all our subscribers will enjoy an enhanced experience on both voice and data services.”

The telecommunications giant also highlighted two new offerings unveiled earlier in the week: Talkmasta, which provides customers with extra talk time and data at no additional cost, and the Welcome Bonus, which gives new subscribers unmatched benefits.

Chairman of the Strategic Marketing and Communications Committee, Mr Nnaemeka Maduegbuna, announced that the 2025 Ofala Festival will begin with the annual lecture on 7 October, followed by the Oreze Art Exhibition, which will showcase works by Nigerian and African artists. Other highlights include the Ofala Youth Carnival on 15 October, a Medical, Health and Wellbeing Community Outreach, the Iru Ofala on 17 October, the Azu Ofala on 18 October, and a Royal Banquet in honour of Igwe Achebe on 22 October.

He assured that arrangements had been finalised for a spectacular celebration, with security and visitor comfort given top priority.

Senior palace chiefs and members of the organising committee were also present at the briefing.