For 22 days, participants drawn from 17 African countries, Nigeria’s 18 states and hundreds of SMEs showcased quality arts and craft at this year’s 10th African Arts and Craft Expo in Abuja, which ended last Sunday. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.
Over two thousand women received training in e-marketing, bead-making, cloth weaving, soap, air freshener, shoe making, hair-do, waste-to-wealth and make-up, among other skills at this year’s 10th African Arts and Craft Expo in Abuja.
The 22-day expo, which ended last Sunday, also provided free medical tests for blood sugar and Body Mass Index for about 1,120 Nigerians, who could not afford such exercises. Also, 200 Nigerians were given free eye glasses while 620 got free dental test.
Apart from the tremendous improvement in infrastructural development and content, the exercise was part of the innovations (investment round table, and states special days), which made this year’s AFAC Expo tagged: Nigerian Crafts: Untapped treasure, to surpass previous editions in its 10years of existence. Little wonder 17 countries, 18 states, 94 local government councils and over 200 NGOs participated in the expo, which attracted an unprecedented numbers of the diplomatic corps as well as other foreigners.
Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, Mrs Uyo Etta, who drew the curtain on the expo, said she was impressed with what she saw at the event, especially the security, excellent layout of pavilions and the skill acquisition programme for women. She urged the council not to rest on its oars, but take arts and culture to greater height, adding that stakeholders and the states should partner regions and countries for better promotion of the expo.
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism Grace Isu Gekpe, who was excited by the quality of the organisation of the expo, said Otunba Runsewe brought lots of innovations into the expo, noting that it was the best ever since the expo started. “I believe that next year will be better and bigger as he executed this year’s edition with little or nothing. On the part of the ministry, we will do all within our capacity to support the expo,” she added.
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who was represented by Secretary to Kogi State Government, Mrs Folashade Arike pledged the state’s support for the promotion of culture.
Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, said given the height of creativity and ingenuity of African exhibitors as complemented by professional colleagues from other parts of the world, this year’s expo has set a new benchmark. He said the event has increased both domestic and international traffic in Abuja on the days the expo lasted. Otunba Runsewe, who pledged that the council would not rest on its oars until it realises the vision of making the expo the best in Africa and one of the best in the world, renamed it International Arts and Craft Expo.
“The challenge before us now is how to attract critical stakeholders to join hands with the National Council for Art s and Culture to develop a vibrant expo that is second to none in the world. We need to leverage the potentials of this industry to help drive the economic diversification policy of this administration. I therefore call for the collaboration of government, corporate organisations, tour operators and art vendors,” he said.
Otunba Runsewe, who described the expo as an opportunity for showcasing products and networking by exhibitors as against outright sales of arts and craft, disclosed that considering the challenges posed by the rain, next year’s expo would be held before the rainny season sets in.
On what spurred him to repackage the expo, he said: “I needed to prove my competence as was done in tourism because many did not believe I could re-enact same feat in culture, especially in the face of the economic challenges facing the nation now. Above all, I want to use this sector to kick-start cultural diplomacy that can be used in resolving many national crises.
“When you appeal to the people using their cultural elements, the job of reducing hate speeches is half done.”
Otunba Runsewe cited reconstruction of venue, re-engineering of safety and security, using National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as arrow head, introduction of skill acquisition and redesigning of the pavilions as part of the strategies used to repackage the expo.
Before now, the venue of the expo only had four toilet facilities for the guests and participants. But, this year 30 mobile toilets and one exceutive toilet were provided.
Former National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Director-General, Mr. Tom Adaba, described Runsewe as cat with the proverbial nine lives, who goes and comes back better, articulate and ready to serve. He urged the DG to keep it up and take the expo to international standard, noting that arts and crafts are the products that distinguished Nigerians as a people.
Senator Smart Adeyemi said apart from football culture is what ‘we can use to cement our diversity. As a state, Kogi is endowed culturally and capable of hosting a similar event.’
United Kingdom (UK) trained entrepreneur Adaobi Jennifer Ifeadi, who deals on body and hair cream products, said she made good sales throughout the duration of the expo. “On a normal day, I sold products worth N20,000. I appreciate the opportunity the expo provided to show and sell my products and hope to be here next year,” she said.
Executive member, Society of Nigerian Artists (Abuja Chapter), Mr. Onyeka Ilo Anya, described this year’s expo as the best in the last 10years in terms of planning, publicity and packaging. “In fact, I scored the expo the best in all ramifications. This year’s expo is an edition to beat. There is guaranteed security in the pavilion 24/7, products are very safe even when you are sleeping at night and after closing nobody is allowed to stay back. Unlike past editions, exhibitors slept in the venue. Last year the society only sold one miniature whereas this year we made good sales. We pray next year will be better and bigger,” Anya said.
