ABUJA – The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has solicited support from the private sector/corporate bodies to transform the arts and crafts sector.
Duke made the appeal in Abuja on Tuesday at the opening session of the 2014 African Arts and Crafts (AFAC) Expo, organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).
He said the sector, if properly harnessed, would empower the rural population; discourage rural-urban migration and crate employment.
The minister said AFAC had grown steadily to become a veritable platform for mobilising youths and women towards actualising their talents, skills and creativity.
“Globally, Nigerians are known for their creative ability and have excelled in this sector and any efforts that contribute towards expanding and developing this, are welcome”, he said. [eap_ad_2] Duke noted that the expo had lived to its expectation of regional integration and unity as well as bringing to the fore the economic opportunities that abound in the creativity industry.
Earlier, the House Committee Chairman on Culture and Tourism, Mr Ben Nwankwo, stressed the need to mainstream the arts and crafts sector into the economy.
He said the potentials in the sector should be unlocked to allow for adequate growth and development of the industry in order to help increase the Gross Domestic Product of the country.
The Executive Director of NCAC, Mr Mawjim Maidugu, said the expo had since its inception, promoted import and export business of arts and crafts to the international market.
He said that it had helped to sensitise investors on the need to invest in the enterprise development in the industry and established a viable international market for the region. (NAN)[eap_ad_3]