OBAJI AKPET|19 November 2016
Global optics and imaging multinational corporation, Nikon Corporation says it plans to hold an academy to train about 60 persons in the area of photography in Calabar during the Carnival Calabar period as part of activities happening in the ancient city during the festive season.
During the yuletide season Calabar, Cross River's capital city is known to be the hub of entertainment and hospitality activities including hosting Africa's biggest street party tagged 'Carnival Calabar,' the reason Nikon found it rife to improve the skills of enthusiasts in the area of photography to enable the recording of interesting moments in the period.
Nikon made this announcement of beginning an academy to help top the game of photographers in the state was made by the company's Nigeria Marketing, Communication Manager, Mr. Richard Eko during a 'photo walk' organised by the Peter Bello Foundation (PBF) in Calabar, yesterday.
"We are looking at setting up a Nikon School here in Calabar within the carnival period."
"That taking place will help enhance the qualities Calabar has, it's an awesome town with beautiful scenery, fresh, green and monumental place built in the eighteen centuries."
Speaking to newsmen at Tinapa where the photo walk ended, the Special Adviser to Cross River Government on Events, Mr. Ken Anklah commended PBF and Nikon for the opportunity it provides photographers in the state adding that photography venture was soon going to become a big income earner for Cross Riverians.
Speaking on the planned Nikon school to hold in Calabar within the Carnival period, Anklah said: "I expect that with that school a lot of them their skills will be sharpened; others who have not thought of photography by seeing young men, like we've seen here today will soon be encouraged, then it will become some means of livelihood to Cross Riverians,' the SA said.
Speaking on the goal of the photo walk, Iserena Enyenihi, Late Captain Bello's sister told newsmen the photo walk was continuation of the capacity building goal of the PBF since the foundation launched in August 12 this year in memory of late captain who died while as a copilot of the ill fated Bristol aircraft that crashed in Lagos-Nigeria last year.
High points of the photo walk include pet talks by resource persons from Nikon, photography contest with the theme 'Calabar unseen,' aimed at submitting pictures of Calabar from the eyes of photographers. The photo walk began at the Calabar International Conference Centre (CICC) and ended at Tinapa.
Obaji Akpet
Writes from Calabar
