GOODWILL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ECOWAS COMMISSION, DELIVERED BY COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND GENDER, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 3rd AFR

Your Excellency, The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation of Nigeria, and other Colleague Ministers here present,
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and other Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
International Communities here present,
Distinguished Invited Guests,
Dear Participants,
Gentlemen of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I bring you greetings from the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Victor Gbeho and his Vice Mr. Somda Jean de Dieu; and I am particularly happy to be here in your midst today, at this joyful occasion of the 3rd African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC), holding in Abuja, the beautiful capital city of Nigeria.
Nigeria is endowed with a rich cultural tradition and is a tapestry of people of unique creative origin which is evident in their music, arts and crafts, literature, costume, films etc.
Since culture by its nature, is all encompassing and social integration is anchored on the cultural orientation and dynamics of a people, it is so important to organize these cultural events because they create the enabling environment for mass participation and artistic expression in its multidimensional varieties. Furthermore, cultural events foster the development of the artistic and cultural potential of creators which give fresh impetus and prestige to their work.
I therefore congratulate the Government and people of Nigeria, and especially the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation under whose auspices the National Council for Arts and Culture operate, for its determination to host cultural events of this magnitude that contribute to regional development and integration.
We are all aware of the pivotal role that culture plays in the development of modern societies. We were all guilty of the period when culture was relegated to the background in our development endeavours and the resultant negative effects of that action. Thank God the world has woken up to the realization that Culture is a fundamental dimension that is intrinsic to national and global development. In other words, we are now conscious of the fact that culture must be given its proper place as the centre to which all developmental efforts should hinge. This is because when a man is severed from his cultural roots, that man has lost his identity and will be groping for direction like someone in darkness, one without a foundation.
It is for this reason that ECOWAS Authorities place a premium on Culture by making Cultural promotion one of the priority areas, and as such, began to invest in it early. Thus one sector in which community citizens can be said to have excelled is in their cultural orientation.
For example, the ECOWAS Prize for Excellence instituted in 1992, is aimed at promoting research and creativity. The prize which is awarded every two years is a reward for any individual or institution that has excelled in the fields of Arts and Culture, Science and Technology; and in any other areas that would contribute positively to the image and prestige of the Community by making meaningful and significant contribution to development and to strengthening the regional integration process.
The 5th Edition of the Prize, of which Nigeria participated, was on "Regional Cultural Events" of ECOWAS Member States. This involved the presentation, by each country, the most important cultural events which are held regularly with the participation of other ECOWAS Member States and three winners emerged from Nigeria for which the first second and third prizes were:
- THE ABUJA CARNIVAL
- THE ARUGUNGU FISHING FESTIVAL, and
- THE CALABAR CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL
Thus, borne out of the fact that West Africa has been proven to have essential assets and creativity that could translate into immense cultural" wealth, our men and women of culture, whether they are musicians, painters, sculptors, writers, film makers or dancers, have a reputation for creativity which has transcended regional boundaries. Their creations provide an open valve for the development of our rich cultural industries for marketability, revenue generation and financial gains. These further translate into creating employment and contribute to poverty eradication, which it is hoped will eventually lead to the economic emancipation of our people as envisioned by our Founding-fathers.
From what I see here, I am convinced that our gathering on this 3rd African Arts and Crafts Exposition (AFAC), is due to the respect that we have for each other's differences and cultural approach and preferences. This is one of the qualities of Culture. I also believe that AFAC has already established itself as a key event at an appropriate time and would create the necessary bond between people of diverse cultural heritage, through the interaction and exchange of ideas, open business opportunities, harness tourism potentials, promote unity and the culture of peace. It would also create a sense of wellbeing, a feeling of peace with oneself, with others and with one's environment.
For this reason I encourage and support your endeavors, so that together we can make an impact not only in the economic and social development of our countries and community, but of Africa; and by so doing, requite a legacy for generations yet unborn. I thank you for your kind attention.