The Vice President, who said this while closing the second African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC) in Abuja on Thursday, also said the successes recorded from the event had strengthened government’s confidence that Nigeria would soon join the league of nations which derive economic benefits from their cultural industries and tourism potentials.
“The present Administration will continue to support and provide the necessary and conducive environment, including incentives, to encourage and develop the creative industry which we regard as vital towards contributing to the economy, as we reposition to actualise the 7-Point Agenda”, he said.
The Vice President, who was represented by Permanent Secretary in charge of Manpower in the office of the Head of Service, Mr Ochi Achinovu, also said AFAC had paved way for “the desired linkage between the financial service sector and the growing arts and crafts sector for the needed synergy that would further provide impetus for the growth and development of our cultural industries”.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Minster of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Senator Bello Jibrin Gada, said the EXPO was a spring board for growing the country’s GDP and a manifestation of “the level of creativity and ingenuity of the arts, crafts and culture of Nigeria and Africa”, which needed to be developed as instruments of economic and social transformation.
