Glo Celebrates Ofala With Coffee Table Book, Preserves Cultural Heritage

Kayode Akinyemi

Fifteen years of unwavering commitment, memorable experiences and legacy-defining moments in Globacom’s sponsorship of the Ofala Festival of the Onitsha Kingdom constitute a rich heritage that deserves to be preserved for posterity. Recognising that memories fade with time, Globacom Nigeria was inspired to document the full spectrum of its involvement in the festival with a colouful coffee table book titled “Ofala – A Royal Heritag” – “A Glo Cultural Legacy Beyond Borders”. From the origins and evolution of the sponsorship partnership to the stories, landmark events, personalities and institutions that have shaped this remarkable journey. This book is therefore a celebration of fifteen years of a cherished partnership, published to commemorate Globacom’s 15th year of association with the Ofala Festival and the 2026 edition of this iconic cultural celebration.

The 2026 Ofala Festival, which came to a successful close last week, was not merely a celebration of culture, festivities and history-making moments; it was also an occasion to preserve and document history for posterity through both print and digital archives. In a bid to transform fleeting moments into an enduring legacy, Globacom Nigeria published a commemorative book titled “Ofala, A Royal Heritage, A Glo’s Cultural Legacy Beyond Borders.” The beautifully curated compendium chronicles Globacom’s remarkable journey with the Ofala Festival, capturing the milestones, defining timelines, landmark events and memorable moments that have shaped its longstanding partnership with the Onitsha Kingdom. Through this publication, Globacom ensures that the rich stories and enduring significance of this cultural heritage remain accessible to present and future generations.

The book contains a Goodwill Message from the Chairman of Globacom, Otunba (Dr.) Michael Adenuga Jr., who expressed delight that through Globacom’s association with the Ofala Festival, the company was privileged to make its modest contributions to the preservation, celebration and wider projection of the priceless cultural heritage. He expressed his satisfaction and joy to join the people of Onitsha and the Igwe each year in showcasing to Nigeria, Africa and the wider world, the beauty, dignity and enduring values represented by Ofala. 

Dr. Adenuga Jr. commended the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe,  for his wisdom, dignity and exemplary leadership with which he had presided over the affairs of his people over the years. In particular, he extolled Igwe Achebe’s remarkable ability to preserve the cherished traditions of the past while embracing the aspirations and opportunities of the modern age, noting that such leadership style had continued to enhance the prestige of the Onitsha Kingdom and earn it deserved recognition far beyond its borders.

As Igwe Achebe presided over the week-long event, the Globacom Chairman prayed for  abundant wisdom, strength and excellent health for him, and wished him many more fulfilling years of distinguished service to his people and Nigeria, Above all, he prayed for continued peace, progress and prosperity throughout the Onitsha Kingdom under His Majesty’s revered leadership.

In a foreword to the book, Igwe Achebe commended Globacom for keeping their heritage alive through the sponsorship deal. Specifically, he said the transformation of the Ofala Festival from a palace ritual to a world-renowned cultural festival owed a great deal to purposeful partnership with Globacom, pointing out that since 2011, the telecom company  had stood with his kingdom as its principal partner, a period of 15 long years  of unwavering commitment. The monarch noted that what began as a deeply sacred royal obligation had, under the people’s collective custodianship, grown into a festival of national and global significance, without losing its spiritual core, as a heritage asset–for identity, unity, tourism, youth enterprise, and community rituals. He said instead, what has evolved is the festival’s power to speak to contemporary Nigeria wellbeing.

“Ofala, A Royal Heritage: Glo’s Cultural Legacy Beyond Borders” is divided into six parts, each exploring a defining element of the festival and highlighting the rich cultural traditions, historical significance, royal heritage, key personalities, landmark events and enduring partnerships that make the Ofala Festival a truly remarkable celebration.

Part one looks at Ofala as a living heritage, explaining its origin, associated institutions, as well as the cultural, spiritual, and community layers that give it its profound nature and importance

Part two x-rays the city of Onitsha, tracing its history to over five centuries. This part examined the role played by the River Nigeria in the cultural and commercial importance of the city. Onitsha is described as a city of resilience, entrepreneurship and a confluence of the old and new the world. A city steeped in culture and a vibrant centre of commerce and trade.

Part three examines Ofala Onitsha as symbolizing spirituality, tradition, and continuity, while part four is a spotlight on the Agbogidi – the personality of the Obi, the throne, custodianship and his influence on the development and prosperity of the city of Onitsha.

Part Five explores the enduring partnership between Globacom and the Ofala Festival, highlighting how strategic sponsorship has elevated the festival beyond the shores of Nigeria and positioned it on the global cultural stage. It chronicles a journey of shared vision, cultural promotion and transformation, demonstrating how a purposeful corporate partnership can amplify the visibility of a traditional festival, expand its reach and preserve its heritage while connecting it to audiences across the world. It is a compelling lesson in the power of sponsorship to transform cultural heritage into a globally celebrated legacy.

Finally, the book examines Onitsha youth as custodians of the Ofala and the future of culture. In particular, part six looks at the evolving role and importance in the culture of Onitsha through the colourful youth carnival which has become a key component of the cultural fiesta.

From the perspective of the author/publisher, the partnership between Globacom and Ofala Festival is a marriage of the drum beat and the digital signal, with the drum beat carrying memory through sound, while the digital signal carries memory across distance. Still using the metaphor of the drum beat and the digital signal, the book summises that one summons the community to the palace while the signal summons the world to Onitsha.

Indeed the strategic partnership between the Onitsha Traditional Council and Nigeria’s Frontline indigenous telecom service provider represents more than sponsor and festival; it embodirs a partnership in which corporate citizenship becomes cultural custodianship, with technology becoming an ally of tradition. The partners’ journey together demonstrates that heritage need not choose between preservation and progress, but it can preserve its soul and enlarge its horizon.

As rightly pointed out by the author/publisher, the company has helped translate an interesting local cultural experience into a national conversation and, increasingly, an international proposition, while its communication reach and digital capabilities have helped bridge the palace courtyard and the wider world.

Profoundly resonating with this cultural partnership of over 15 years is that while some sponsorships are basically transactions, targeting numbers and margins, this one is not of that genre but a pillar of support for continuity, community development, peace, unity, and cultural renewal. This partnership had become the heart-beat of a Kingdom’s major cultural event.

Globacom’s legacy of supporting and preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage is remarkable. Over the past 21 years, its sponsorship of the Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu-Ode and 15 years of partnership with the Ofala Festival in Onitsha have infused these iconic cultural celebrations with renewed vibrancy, expanded their reach and elevated their profiles on the global stage. Through these enduring partnerships, Globacom has demonstrated how strategic corporate sponsorship can preserve cultural traditions, amplify their significance and showcase Nigeria’s rich heritage to audiences around the world.

• Akinyemi, a Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, writes from Lagos