REMARKS BY HON. MINISTER TOURISM CULTURE AND NATIONAL ORIENTATION AT AFAC 2010 OPENING CEREMONY

REMARKS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER TOURISM, CULTURE AND NATIONAL ORIENTATION, ALHAJI ABUBAKAR SADIQ MOHAMMED AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 3rd AFRICAN ARTS AND CRAFTS EXPO (AFAC) 2010, ABUJA NIGERIA ON THURSDAY 3rd JUNE, 2010 AT THE OLD PARADE GROUND AREA 10, GARKI, ABUJA BY 12 NOON.

Protocol

It is with great delight that I welcome our Special Guest of Honour, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ably represented by the Hon. Minister of Special Duties, Navy Captain Omoniye Caleb Olubolade rtd.

It is also with great delight that I welcome our distinguished members of the National Assembly and of specific mention are Senator Dahiru Gassol and Rt. Hon. KGB Oguakwa, Chairman Senate and House Committees on Culture and Tourism.

Members of the diplomatic corps, foreign and domestic participants, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, you are all welcome to the Official Opening Ceremony of AFAC 2010.

Mr. President Sir, on assumption of office I realized that there were great opportunities available from our arts and crafts industry that could be harnessed and developed to dovetail into the present Administration’s efforts at generating revenue from the non oil sector. Towards this we are taking some proactive measures aimed at repositioning the sector with a view to effectively deploy our cultural industries, to advantage.

I am happy to say that it is this challenge that has crystallized into this Expo, which seeks to explore, grow, develop, promote market and generally leverage our arts and crafts sector to enable use achieve optimal empowerment for our people, especially the rural populace.

Beyond the immediate, AFAC Expo will also promote import and export of African arts and crafts world-wide, sensitize investors as well as attract public, private partnership to the industry.

The event is being put together by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), a parastatal of my Ministry with the full understanding, conviction and belief that AFAC Expo 2010 will not only act as a major catalyst but help to reposition, propel and galvanize the crafts sector in taking its rightful place by contributing positively to the growth of our national economy.

Africa has the comparative advantage and we should tap the resources of this Expo and other related efforts to grow and market the crafts industry of the Region which is also a platform for exchanging economic and socio-regional integration and cooperation which the African Union Charter seeks to promote.

I wish to assure all participants at this auspicious event that my Ministry through the support of Mr. President, will continue to work with all the stakeholders to reposition and develop the sector, such that Nigeria can soon join the league of nations that are tapping the huge and inexhaustible economic resources that abound from the Culture and Tourism Industry.

Surely the Expo based on the interest it is generating and the emerging promising prospects, for the economic growth and sustenance of Nigeria and indeed Africa has to be embraced by all and sundry.

May I conclude by thanking Mr. President for all the support he is giving the sector and particularly his support for the Expo and for directing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to represent him. We are ever grateful and we assure His Excellency that we are more than ever before more determined in ensuring that the Culture and Tourism sector is repositioned towards addressing our current challenges such as the global economic recession, unemployment and youth restiveness.

Let me at this juncture congratulate the Governing Board, Management and staff of the National Council for Arts and Culture, the members of the Central Planning Committee, the various sub-committees and other stakeholders who in many ways contributed in making this event a reality.

On this note it is my pleasure and honour to invite our Special Guest of Honour, Mr. President, who is ably represented by Alh. Yayale Ahmed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to make his remarks and declare the 3rd African Arts and Crafts Expo AFAC 2010 open.

Thank you and God bless.