Organisers of the Akwaaba African Travel Market, West Africa’s biggest travel and tourism expo, wish to celebrate a remarkable individual whose dedication, leadership, and cultural insight have helped sustain and elevate one of Africa’s most iconic festivals.
Happy Birthday to Sir Gabe Onah PhD, Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission — a tireless advocate for the creative sector and a pillar of continuity in the evolution of the Calabar Carnival.
While not the originator of the carnival, Sir Gabe Onah has played an instrumental role in steering it through various phases of growth and transformation.
Under his stewardship, the Calabar Carnival — widely celebrated as Africa’s Biggest Street Party — has maintained its stature as a world-class cultural showcase that celebrates the vibrancy of Nigerian and African heritage.
Sir Onah’s calm but strategic leadership has ensured that the carnival remained not only a source of entertainment but a driver of economic activity, tourism, and youth engagement. Year after year, through changing administrations and shifting realities, he has brought consistency, vision, and professionalism to the carnival’s planning and execution.
His efforts have helped strengthen Cross River State’s position on the global tourism map, while creating space for artists, entrepreneurs, and performers to thrive. Through his work, Sir Gabe Onah has proven that culture is not just celebration — it is strategy, it is economy, and it is identity.
On this special day, we honour your contributions, Sir. May your continued service and passion for cultural development keep inspiring the next generation.
