NAN-HE-75
Minister
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer/Maureen Okon
Abuja, Sept. 5, 2015 (NAN) The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has called on the private sector investors to capitalise on opportunities at the African Arts and Crafts Export (AFAC) to showcase and sell their products.
Mohammed made the call at the official opening ceremony of AFAC on Tuesday in Abuja.
He urged the private sector to step up efforts toward exploring the opportunity for investment inherent in the Arts and Crafts sector in Nigeria.
“The AFAC 2017 will afford the nation a glimpse into the huge potential of culture and tourism products in Nigeria.
“If culture and tourism products in Nigeria are well packaged, it will trigger the much needed socio-economic development and attract additional revenue to individuals, communities and government at all levels.
“Foreign participation in the AFAC will also offer the nation the opportunity to draw other African countries to itself and give them a hand of friendship.
“This development will also promote regional unity and integration in line with the African Union Charter,” Mohammed said.
The minister said that the lesson of the expo was that culture could be one of the potent tools for driving the country’s development goals and aspirations if properly tapped.
The event was organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture and Culture (NCAC).
The Minister was represented at the event by Mrs Grace Gekpe, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry.
Participants at the expo are artistes, culture experts and arts and craft investors from Ghana, Mali Cameroon and other African countries and will end on Sept. 17. (NAN)
CMY/ATIM/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf
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