By Ayomide Otitoju
The 2026 Globacom-sponsored Ofala Festival has commenced in Onitsha, Anambra State, with a youth carnival organised by the Onitsha Ado Youth Council (OYC).
The carnival, held on Wednesday, featured cultural groups, including Otu Odu Onitsha, Egwu Odu and Agbalanze, whose members dressed in traditional regalia and paraded through the streets of Inland Town in honour of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
The event also showcased the cultural heritage of Onitsha, with young participants wearing costumes representing prominent traditional rulers, including the Obi of Onitsha, the Oba of Benin and the Ooni of Ife.
Following the street procession, participants gathered at the old Ime Obi on St Stephen Anglican Church Road for fashion parades and competitions among the various groups.
The festival will continue with the Iru Ofala on Friday, October 16, and the Azu Ofala on Saturday, October 17. A royal banquet organised by Globacom in honour of Igwe Achebe is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, at the Ime Obi, Onitsha.
The celebrations will conclude with an Ofala Thanksgiving service on Sunday, October 25, at St Stephen’s Anglican Church.
In a statement, Globacom said its continued partnership with the festival reflected its belief that culture and connectivity could contribute to national development.
“Ofala is far more than an annual cultural celebration. It is a living expression of identity, continuity and collective aspiration,” the company said.
Globacom added that preserving cultural heritage and advancing society were complementary goals, linking the partnership to its “Never Settle for Less” brand philosophy.
