At the closing ceremony of the ninth edition of the African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC) on Tuesday, Kogi, Anambra and Gombe were among states that emerged winners in various categories of the event.
Kogi State which had a unique display of artifacts and jewelries made from cassava paste, won AFAC’s highest award, as the ‘Most Enterprising.’
Anambra State won the award for Ornaments and Gombe state, best in Calabash designs. Other winners were Niger which had the best brass works, Plateau for the best metal works.
Ogun was the best in textile, Bauchi state was the best in wood works, Katsina State, best in leather work design while Lagos and Kano States had a tire as the most innovative in packaging,
In his remark, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed called on the private sector to increase efforts towards exploring the opportunity for investment inherent in Nigeria’s arts and crafts industry.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba, who was represented the minister said foreign participation in the expo offers Nigeria the opportunity to draw other African countries to itself and give them a hand of friendship.
Mohammed said this is important to position Nigeria within the continent adding that it would promote regional unity and integration in line with the African Union Charter as the expo had given Nigeria a glimpse into the huge potential of culture and tourism products it has.
The minister who commended the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) for a job well done in organising the 2016 Expo, irrespective of the economic recession, said: “This sector has a great future and is emerging as the most prosperous sector in the world.
“If culture and tourism products in Nigeria were well packaged, it would trigger the much needed socio-economic development and attract additional revenue to individuals, communities and government at all levels.”
NCAC Director-General, Mrs Dayo Keshi, was happy AFAC ended as a huge success.
She said: “I am happy with success the Expo has made and the quality of the products displayed.
“The fair is one regional platform that has great prospects in transforming the Nigerian economy in particular and that of the African region in general.
“The experiences shared at the fiesta by the participants should not be lost. The value and lessons gained should be used to reposition the industry in a manner that can transform it into a viable one.
“I am very optimistic that if the sector is appropriately developed, it could contribute significantly to the economic development of the country,” Keshi said.
