Bayelsa@30: State Unveils Four-Day Programme Featuring Carnival, Boat Regatta, Concert
By Jonah Fubara, YENAGOA – Bayelsa State will mark the 30th anniversary of its creation with a four-day celebration featuring an Ijaw language awareness campaign, sports, cultural carnival, boat regatta, musical concert, exhibition, mega praise and an anniversary dinner with special awards.
The programme, scheduled for September 28 to October 1, 2026, is designed to bring together cultural, sporting, entertainment and commemorative activities as the state clocks 30 years.
Bayelsa was created on October 1, 1996, out of the former Rivers State, with Yenagoa as its capital.
The celebration will open on Monday, September 28, with an Ijaw Language Awareness Campaign at 10am at the Banquet Hall, followed by sporting activities at 4pm at the Sports Complex.
The second day, Tuesday, September 29, will feature a float, streets rally, cultural carnival and boat regatta from 8am across Yenagoa and around Oxbow Lake. A Bayelsa Musical Concert will follow at 4pm at Oxbow Lake.
On Wednesday, September 30, activities will continue with a lecture and exhibition at the Banquet Hall from 9am, while Bayelsa Mega Praise is scheduled for 4pm at the Sports Complex.
The anniversary will culminate on Thursday, October 1, with an Anniversary Dinner and Special Awards at the Banquet Hall from 4pm.
The state government had earlier described the anniversary programme as comprehensive and people-centred, with activities intended to celebrate Bayelsans and the state’s journey since its creation.
The programme places particular emphasis on Ijaw language, cultural heritage and the state’s riverine identity, alongside entertainment and public celebration. This aligns with Bayelsa’s official tourism agenda of promoting its cultural, natural and historical heritage.
With the anniversary falling on October 1, the four-day programme is expected to provide a platform for reflection on Bayelsa’s three-decade journey while bringing residents and visitors together through culture, sports, entertainment and recognition of individuals and contributions to the state.
