AFAC 2010 to address rural economy

This year the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation has announced its programme for the third edition slated to hold from May 28th to June 12th 2010. With the successes of the two previous editions, which focused on Growth Potentials of the ‘Arts and Crafts Sector’ in 2008 and ‘Stimulating Economic Growth Potentials of […]

This year the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation has announced its programme for the third edition slated to hold from May 28th to June 12th 2010.

With the successes of the two previous editions, which focused on Growth Potentials of the ‘Arts and Crafts Sector’ in 2008 and ‘Stimulating Economic Growth Potentials of Arts and Crafts Sector’ in 2009, while addressing a world press conference, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed informed that the 2010 edition is targeted at ‘Growing the Rural Economy through the Crafts Industry’.

According to the Minister, AFAC 2010 is intended to build upon the success of the previous ones by contributing significantly to a quantum growth in the rural economy by utilizing Nigeria’s abundant resources for wealth creation and national development.

On hosting AFAC he said, “is one way of demonstrating Nigeria’s leadership role in the process of realising the goals of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by creating a vibrant market place in Nigeria for our cultural industries.

The event which will be declared officially open by the Acting President on June 3rd will showcase arts and crafts, world class leather designs, ceramics and pottery works, hand crafts, bronze works amongst many other pieces of African heritage.

In line with the objectives of AFAC to promote import/export business of African arts and crafts to buyers worldwide and showcase some aspects of African Cultural heritage and to establish an International African Arts and Crafts market place in Nigeria, countries like Trinidad and Tobago, Cameroun, and Kenyan have indicated their interests to participate.

According to the Minister, the investment forum component of the Expo is designed for stakeholders and experts to discuss ho best to add value to our craft industry as well as imbibing the best global practices for the upliftment of the industry.

The NCAC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Malgwi Maidugu stressed the importance of the participation of press and that through their efforts the tempo be heightened. He said this is an opportunity to showcase our best cultural heritage and for crafts men in the villages to bloom and unless the government give them the opportunity, they will wallow in poverty and with Nigeria taking the lead other African countries will follow.

He also buttressed the fact that AFAC has been registered on the calendar of the African Union, (AU) as an AU programme where a representative will be present.

AFAC, he emphasised, will lift the craft sector to become a viable industry as well as an avenue to arrest issues of youth employment.

AFAC has always challenged the ingenuity of Nigeria’s craftsman ship as artisans and local crafts men tasked their brains to produce items from absolutely sourced materials. In the last edition, Kano state took the lead with the fabrication of its technological innovation of locally fabricated fountain using clay pots and water tap mechanism as well as an indigenous concept of aquatic engineering by Auwal Hassan Gayawa.

Such spectaclar creations are what Nigeria and the outside world look forward to come AFAC 2010.