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Ofala Festival: Igwe Achebe Applauds Globacom’s Enduring Cultural Partnership (PHOTOS)
The Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, has commended Globacom for its unwavering commitment to the preservation and promotion of Nigeria’s cultural heritage, noting that the telecommunications company’s sustained support has helped transform the Ofala Festival into a world-renowned cultural celebration.
Speaking at the 2026 edition of the festival, held at Ime Obi, Onitsha, Anambra State, on Friday, the monarch paid a glowing tribute to Globacom for its longstanding role as the principal sponsor of the festival, a partnership that has spanned fifteen consecutive years since 2011.
According to the monarch, “Their partnership has transformed the festival from a palace ritual to a world-renowned cultural festival owes a great deal to purposeful partnership. Since 2011, Globacom has stood with us as our principal partner – now fifteen consecutive years of unwavering commitment.” He added that “In good times and challenging times, Globacom has helped us preserve the authenticity of Ofala while enhancing its presentation, documentation, broadcast and global reach. They have helped take a living heritage to the global stage”.
Igwe Achebe also applauded the vision of Globacom’s Chairman, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr., whose commitment to cultural preservation, he noted, reflects a profound appreciation of the role of indigenous traditions in strengthening national identity and social cohesion.
“I thank Globacom and its Chairman, Otunba (Dr) Mike Adenuga Jr., GCON, a true man of culture, for his vision and belief that culture is not a luxury but a foundation for unity,” the monarch said.
Commenting on the theme of this year’s festival, “Igba Mbo, Iga N’Iru” — Strive and Advance — Igwe Achebe described it as a compelling call to diligence, excellence, self-improvement and collective progress. He explained that the theme embodied the enduring spirit of the forebears who built the Onitsha kingdom on the banks of the Niger, while challenging younger generations to preserve that legacy through enterprise, purposeful endeavour and a commitment to progress.
In his goodwill message to the monarch and the people of Onitsha, Dr Adenuga described Globacom’s association with the Ofala Festival “since 2011 has been much more than a corporate partnership. It has been a relationship which we cherish deeply and regard as a privilege”. He expressed profound appreciation to Igwe Achebe for the opportunity afforded Globacom to contribute to the preservation, celebration and wider projection of the community’s priceless cultural heritage.
He noted that the annual festival provides a valuable platform for showcasing the rich cultural traditions, dignity and enduring values of the Onitsha people to audiences across Nigeria, Africa and the wider world.
Through its longstanding partnership with Ofala, Globacom continues to demonstrate that corporate citizenship extends beyond commercial enterprise to the preservation of the cultural foundations that give communities their identity, strengthen their unity and connect generations.
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PHOTOS: Looting, Pillaging and Attacks on Police: Protests Turn Violent Across France as Tens of Thousands Take to the Streets
More than 270 people were arrested as tens of thousands joined nationwide demonstrations; a protester lost a hand to a police crowd-control grenade amid clashes, vandalism and attacks on public buildings.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across France on Saturday to demonstrate against the rising cost of living, with rallies turning violent in several cities. Demonstrators clashed with police, looted shops, set fires and stormed public buildings, while authorities reported more than 270 arrests nationwide.
The demonstrations, which brought together students, trade unionists and supporters of the Yellow Vest movement, were marked by violence in several cities including Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Lille. Police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse groups involved in confrontations, while fires and vandalism were reported around protest sites.
A protester in the southern city of Saint-Étienne had a hand blown off by a police crowd-control grenade, a police source told AFP. The source did not specify whether the device was a stun grenade or a tear gas grenade.
The incident was the second such case in less than two weeks. On October 5, a 15-year-old student lost his left hand when a stun grenade exploded outside his school in Lens, which had been blockaded by student protesters. The injuries have added to scrutiny of police tactics during the unrest, which has prompted clashes between demonstrators and security forces in several parts of the country.
Town halls stormed as violence spreads
In the northern city of Lille, protesters forced their way into the town hall, smashed their way inside and vandalised the premises before leaving, an AFP reported. Riot police entered the building shortly afterwards and confirmed that all the protesters had left.
The incident followed a similar intrusion in the southern port city of Marseille, where protesters rammed their way into the town hall before police forced them out. Reports from the city also described damage to shops and a municipal police station.
In Lyon, France’s third-largest city, a fire broke out at the tourist office as masked protesters confronted police. Officers used tear gas and water cannons to push back groups involved in the clashes.
Paris also witnessed confrontations, with masked demonstrators setting vehicles and street fixtures on fire, damaging property and attempting to loot shops. Police responded with tear gas as unrest unfolded alongside larger marches.
Marine Le Pen blames ‘rioters’
France’s far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen condemned the violence, arguing that those involved in looting and attacks had undermined the demonstrations’ original demands.
“Looting, pillaging, attacking police — rioters have once again sullied the October 17 demonstrations over the cost of living,” Le Pen wrote on X.
She added that protesters’ demands had been “hijacked by the far left”. Her remarks came as the unrest raised questions over public order and the direction of a movement that has brought together people with varied economic and political grievances.
The protests come months before France’s presidential election, scheduled for April and May 2027, and have added to pressure on the country’s political leadership over living costs and public services. The demonstrations’ scale and the violence reported in several cities have made the unrest a significant test of the government’s response to mounting social discontent.
Union puts turnout at 500,000
France’s main CGT trade union said around 500,000 people had participated in 1,750 rallies nationwide to protest the rising cost of living.
“The government must stop its repression and respond immediately to the social demands,” the union said in a statement sent to AFP, after police used tear gas, crowd-control grenades and water cannons during the demonstrations.
The protests have drawn together people concerned about rising prices and deteriorating public services, alongside students who have been blockading schools in recent weeks over their grievances.
The mobilisation has also revived the Yellow Vest movement, which emerged in 2018 amid anger over fuel prices and broader economic inequality. Saturday’s demonstrations brought together different groups seeking to channel their grievances into a nationwide show of discontent.
Credits: FIRSTPOST.COM
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A road accident involving a diesel tanker and four Micra cars has been reported at Aduloju Bus Stop, opposite Dominion City, along the Iwo Road–Ojoo Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The collision reportedly occurred on the busy expressway, with pictures and video from the scene showing the vehicles involved.
The number of casualties remains unconfirmed as of the time of filing this report, while details about the identities and conditions of those involved in the accident are yet to be established.
The incident has raised concerns about road safety along the expressway, with motorists advised to exercise caution, observe speed limits and ensure their vehicles are in good working condition to help prevent avoidable accidents.
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