28th January, 2011
The preparation for the 45th Havana Music Carnival tagged “Non-Stop Action for Charity” slated for 22nd-25th March 2011 at the University of Ibadan campus and the Trans Amusement Park, Ibadan is in top gear as the organisers are leaving nothing to chance to ensure the biggest event this decade is a huge success.
The historic and popular Havana Carnival of Sigma Club, University of Ibadan, is gathering momentum across the country amongst youth, if the number of hits on the Havana carnival website is anything to go by.
The 47-man production crew of Havana Carnival 2011 had an insightful 3-day retreat and recee of the of the venues of the forthcoming Havana Music Carnival in Ibadan last week.
Havana Carnival is the oldest musical carnival in the history of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. It has been in existence since 1955. It has over the years become the biggest musical and beauty pageant contest on any Nigerian university campus. It has a record of bringing together over 30,000 participants consisting of Nigerian students from all tertiary institutions, working class citizens, and fun loving Nigerians. The carnival has brought the best of the Nigeria musical acts to the University of Ibadan e.g Late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Lagbaja, K1 de Ultimate, KSA, Alhaji Ayinde Barrister, Obesere, Saheed Osupa, Seun Kuti, etc. At every carnival, a queen emerges and is crowned Miss Havana (the queen of all Nigerian campuses).
It is on record that the Sigma Club, as a students’ organization has made meaningful and positive impact in the society over the years in keeping with the dreams and visions of the founding fathers of Nigeria of producing youths who are worthy in character and sound judgment. Hence, the carnival is aimed at inspiring the youth positively and giving back to the society.
Proceeds from Havana are channeled towards charity. Beneficiaries of Havana benevolent gestures include Oluyole Chechire Home Ibadan, Ibadan Motherless Babies Home, Alaanu Fund of the University College Hospital Ibadan, Jaja Clinic University of Ibadan, Leper Settlement Uzuakoli in Imo State, Armed Forces Remembrance Fund, Cocoa House Refurbishment in Ibadan, scholarship for indigent university students across the country among others. A remarkable philanthropic endeavour was the provision of a full postgraduate scholarship for the pursuit of a doctoral programme in the university in 1977.
It has a pot-pourri of activities like Medics, Career, Guidance & Counseling, Sponsor’s Exhibition, Walk/Work for Hope (Advocacy/painting of old buildings in Ibadan city, cleaning of drainage by students), Havana Mentoring Session, Havana musical concert + Miss Havana + Mr. Macho, etc.
Havana Carnival will be featuring 22 Nigerian international artistes, 2 customised stages and sets, Hours of Live Broadcast, 240,000 watts of sound, Fireworks and Effects etc.
Old Sigmites who are all over the world have shown enormous interest and support for Havana Carnival to be resuscitated after almost a decade of lull and inability to stage the carnival due to logistic reasons. These old members of Sigma Club are men of integrity; opinion leaders and people who have made tremendous impact in the society, having passed through the tutelage of Sigma leadership training. Today, some of them are the ones holding key political offices and head corporate organisations in Africa.
Against the backdrop of the success of the event last year, which was sponsored by MTN, Afribank, Lucozade Boost and Zmirage, students from different campuses are already eager and excited about the news of the great 45th Havana Music Carnival, as many have started making enquiries about attendance and requesting for Miss Havana Beauty Pageant forms and that of Mr. Macho for participation.
Havana Carnival 2011 promises to bring back the old glorious moment that the carnival is known for over the years, as students, youth, staff and non- academic individuals are in high mood and expectation to participate in the carnival this year.
The carnival is the content of the Sigma Club, University of Ibadan, while it has ZMC, G’Ennie Entertainment and Laface as partners on the project.
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