President Goodluck Jonathan has endorsed the commencement of this year's edition of the Abuja carnival. The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke made this known to journalists yesterday.

At a press briefing which took place at the Silverbird Galleria, Chief Duke said "President Jonathan holds our culture and tradition in high esteem and has endorsed the commencement of the forth coming Abuja National Carnival."

With representatives from China, Egypt, Sudan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Cuba, the minister said Nigeria is proud to sit amongst countries which share common values and aspirations with Nigeria.

"Participants from the 36 states of the country will be at the carnival and it must draw participation from all over the world.

"In an effort to mainstream the carnival in the global carnival circuit, 12 countries including Egypt, India, Trinidad and Tobago, China, South Africa, Sudan, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Senegal, Ghana, Namibia, and Cuba are participating," he revealed.

He added, "It would also be a platform for youths, women and special groups to express their creativity and to use culture as enterprise to ensure that we escalate the understanding of the creative industry in this phase that is been set by the carnival as an opportunity for the transformation of our local economy".

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will be a vivid part f the fiesta as well as participation of Nigerian women led by the Ministry of Women Affairs and the National Council for Women Society (NCWS).