JUST like she played the key role last year declaring the 2012 edition of the African Arts and Crafts (AFAC) Expo open, the First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan will, on Monday, June 10, perform the same function at the opening ceremony of AFAC Expo 2013 holding at the Eagle Square in Abuja. It will run till Friday, June 15.
At a briefing last Tuesday in Abuja, Culture and Tourism Minister, Chief Edem Duke expressed satisfaction about “the level of preparedness towards a successful hosting of the 6th edition of African Arts and Crafts (AFAC) Expo 2013.”
Flanked by the duo of Permanent Secretary, Culture and Tourism Ministry, Mrs Nkechi Ejele; and Executive Director/CEO, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mr. Mwajim Malgwi Maidugu, the minister drew a correlation between the expo and Federal Government’s determination to “diversify our sources of revenue generation with a view to effectively respond to the challenges of job creation, youth empowerment and rural economic transformation.”
Chief Duke recalled, “the idea to initiate this laudable programme six years ago was geared towards supporting these efforts.”
He is happy that “AFAC is succeeding in re-awakening our consciousness and leveraging on the abundant potentials in the cultural industries for youth empowerment and wealth creation in which Nigeria in particular and the African region in general have comparative advantage.”
He praised the NCAC for initiating the expo, which, he stressed, had succeeded in bringing together artists and craftsmen within the African Region and beyond.
What gladdened the Minister’s heart is the platform that the expo has created through which participants have continued to: expand and grow the business of the Arts and Crafts Industry; share ideas and network with other practitioners in areas that relate to their competence such as production, marketing, packaging and presentation techniques; while meeting with prospective investors amongst many other benefits.
“I am particularly pleased with the choice of the theme for this year’s AFAC, which is Leveraging on the Arts and Crafts Industry for Job Creation and Economic Empowerment. Through it, some of our untapped cultural resources could be brought to the fore in our inward looking strategy for sustainable economic growth and rural transformation.
“The 6th edition of AFAC is intended to build upon the successes of the previous ones. This year, we expect a better exhibition of talent and creativity in the areas of product design, finishing, packaging and presentation. All these are aimed at meeting the global market standard, thereby bringing the economic advantage accruable in the crafts industry to bear,” said Chief Duke.
The hosting of AFAC, the minister added, “is one way of demonstrating Nigeria’s leadership role in the process of realizing the goals of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) as well as other regional economic aspirations.”
As a key highlight of the one-week outing, the Investment Forum component, he said, was designed for stakeholders and experts to discuss how best to add value to our craft industry as well as imbibe the best global practices in order to take advantage of our endowments in the industry.
“In this regard, I am glad to report to you that preparation for this year’s AFAC have reached an advanced stage and that, by our records, in addition to the usual massive states’ participation, 17 countries have indicated their interest to participate including Gambia, Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana, Egypt, Niger, Mali, Republic of Benin, Togo, Guinea Conakry, Cote D’Ivoire, Pakistan, South Korea, China, Sudan, Chad, Liberia making a total of over 250 foreign exhibitors.”
At the home front, participants are expected from most of the states of the federation and FCT, the Local Government Areas, the women and youth groups, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders.
Duke reasoned further, “the tremendous gains of the previous editions of AFAC, as exemplified by the overwhelming response of nations from across the world and the ever-increasing enthusiasm of arts and crafts entrepreneurs have made us more determined to sustain AFAC so that Nigeria and Africa can continue to benefit from its potentials for transforming the rural economy of the region.”
Specifically, he urged the media to continue to partner with the organisers “in the onerous task of sensitizing and creating the much needed awareness on the benefits derivable from this expo. I implore you to sensitize the general public on the need to develop this sector, which is so vital towards empowering the rural populace.”
He also commended the support the expo has received from the media, noting that, “the successes achieved in the previous editions could not have been possible without your cooperation and support. We urge you to redouble your efforts towards giving us maximum publicity in order to have a resounding success at AFAC Expo 2013.”
The expo came into being in 2008 in response to the realization of the role cultural industries, especially arts and crafts, play in fast tracking economic development.
The NCAC, the brain behind the project, had anchored the expo on the belief that any major development designed to be sustainable could hardly afford to neglect the creative sector, more so, when it is considered second only to agriculture in job creation, holds the key to a sustainable technological development and advancement, in addition to providing a solid plank on which the tourism industry can thrive.
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