Promoting, marketing Nigerian arts and craft using AFAC

In the pre-colonial era, cultural industries, which have now been relegated to the background, played a significant role in the growth of our rural economies. The rich collection of African crafts found in ivory, bronze, brass and glass castings, leather works, textiles, basketry etc produced in different parts of the country and dispersed by travelling […]

In the pre-colonial era, cultural industries, which have now been relegated to the background, played a significant role in the growth of our rural economies. The rich collection of African crafts found in ivory, bronze, brass and glass castings, leather works, textiles, basketry etc produced in different parts of the country and dispersed by travelling traders thrived greatly owing to the large patronage it enjoyed, especially from royal dignitaries and courtiers.
The desire to recapture the essence of this industry as well as re-enact its wealth creation potentials led to the initiation of the African Arts and Crafts (AFAC) expo in 2008 by the National Council for Arts and Culture, a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.
AFAC has so far witnessed 6 editions; and it is designed largely to reawaken and reenergize the culture sector through a well-coordinated plan of action that will attract African craftsmen and women in a forum where ideas are shared. It also attempts to create an `organized market’ for the sale of the rich African craft Works as well as afford relevant government agencies the opportunity of sharing information with various producers. More importantly, AFAC is expected to become a forum for linking the financial service sector with practitioners to boost the small and medium enterprise development.
The success of previous AFAC expo inspired the choice of subsequent editions, which were aimed at consolidating on the achievements recorded and providing a background for worked out strategies on how the Arts and Crafts sector could be one of the pillars in realizing the Transformation Agenda of the present administration. The sector presents an avenue through which jobs could be created, poverty alleviated and skills acquired by the most productive segment of our population. AFAC expo has therefore become a practical workshop for the deployment of our cultural industries for National Economic Transformation.  
Conservative estimates indicate that over 80 percent of the total population of Africa are rural dwellers who engage in farming along with various form of crafts, pottery, carving, textiles, weaving, spinning , embroidery, leather works, raffia weaving, basketry, beads, glass works, calabash decoration, blacksmithing , bronze casting, etc and these constitute major aspects of our rural industries.
Indeed, Africa has abundant reservoir of crafts products and practioners which if properly harnessed can become sources of employment and wealth creation. In fact, any major development designed to be sustainable cannot afford to neglect this sector, because it is second only to Agriculture in job creation, and holds the key to a sustainable technology and development revolution.
In achieving this desire, a conscious and deliberate effort must be geared towards the establishment of support measures for production of crafts, and new techniques that can with stand domestic and global competition.
This year AFAC expo taking place at Eagles Square Abuja goes with the theme “African Arts and Crafts: Tools for Economic Empowerment”
Declaring the expo open on Tuesday, Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke said that the expo initiated 7 years ago has grown steadily to become a veritable platform for mobilizing youths and women towards actualizing their talents, skills and creativity.
He emphasized that Nigerians are globally known for their creative ability and have excelled in this sector, saying any efforts that contribute towards expanding and developing this Nigerian leadership in world craftsmanship is welcome.
“True to its bidding, AFAC has lived to its expectation of regional integration and unity as well as bringing to the fore the economic opportunities that abound in the creative industry. Its potentialities should therefore be properly harnessed as this will surely contribute towards arresting youth restiveness, rural-urban drift, reducing poverty and unemployment and many other societal vices.”
The minister expressed his delight on the choice of this year`s AFAC theme: “African Arts and Crafts: Tools for Economic Empowerment,” which he said, is quite in line with Nigeria’s desire to diversify the productivity capacity of our economy as well as our vision 20:2020.
He said that AFAC is increasingly becoming a platform for craftsmen and woman all over Africa and beyond to make contacts, interacts, showcase and market their products.
 Duke said, “With a population of about 170 million, Nigeria is a waiting fertile market for any qualitative product. Therefore, government is determined to support Arts and Crafts industry towards developing the capacity for large volume and high standard products which can effectively dominate the domestic market and excel in the global market.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Mr. M.M Maidugu said that from inception to date, it has recorded consistent increase in the number of participating African countries.
 Maidugu said, “We have recorded increase from nine countries in 2008 to 18 in 2013 with over 300 NGOs and about 20, 000 visitors to the exhibition. Through these editions, we have succeeded in reawakening our consciousness of the abundant potentials in the cultural industries that could be tapped and developed towards addressing the challenges of youth empowerment and wealth creation.”
He said that the 2014 expo include the exhibitions showcasing the best of our handicrafts and designs.
He added that at the end of the ceremony, there will be award to participants that have distinguished themselves in various categories including: best product design, best pavilion design best participating states and countries etc.