VOTE OF THANKS BY CHIEF EBENEZER BABATOPE, OFR CHAIRMAN GOVERNING BOARD OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ARTS AND CULTURE (NCAC) AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF

Protocol

Let me begin by thanking the Almighty God for his travelling mercies and guidance in the course of our various journeys to witness this historic event, the 3rd African Arts and Crafts Expo.

I place on record my profound gratitude to Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his love and commitment to the development of the culture and tourism industry in Nigeria, and the renewed vigour his Excellency is employing to the diversification and growth of our national economy. This has informed a multi-sectoral approach to the challenge of nation building and promises to elevate our country to the big league of the 20 largest economies of the world by 2020. Mr. President, we thank you for your commitment to the building of a new Nigeria that promises to be the pride of Africa. Accept our deepest sympathies on the death of your bosom friend the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. By the grace of God you will succeed.

We sincerely thank the President of ECOWAS for sending a high powered representative in the person of Dr. (Mrs.) Adrienne Diop, Commissioner of Human Development ECOWAS, Secretariat.

Our sincere appreciation also goes to the distinguished members of the National Assembly, for their tireless efforts and interest in moving the sector forward.

Our gratitude also goes to the Hon. Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed for the drive and passion through bringing new ideas, initiatives and vigour towards the repositioning of the culture and tourism sector of our economy, as manifested in the packaging and presentation of AFAC Expo 2010.

We cannot also forget to thank our dear Permanent Secretary, Alh. S. B. Ozigis, OON, mni who has always shown deep interest in all matters relating to culture.

We sincerely thank our sister African countries, and all other countries of the world who in solidarity and shared bond of African brotherhood are participating in this event that is designed primarily to showcase the African treasures to the world.

We place on record our appreciation to all participants from the States of the Federation and the FCT, the Local Government Areas, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organization (CBOs), Artists glee, Nigeria Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and all other stakeholders that have made this event a reality.

We say a big thank you to all our Special Guests for your presence. We urge you to be with us for the remaining part of the programme.

We salute the members of the 4th estate of the realm for their partnership and solidarity. I want to thank you for the publicity that AFAC Expo 2010 has enjoyed so far and to further request you to ensure that you give maximum publicity to every sector of the Expo with a view to projecting the African Arts and Crafts industry appropriately to our advantage. This is what this event is aimed at achieving and as our partners in progress we must all endeavour to ensure that we do not fail in this onerous task.
I thank the members of the Board, Management and Staff of the National Council for Arts and Culture for the dexterous way AFAC Expo 2010 has been packaged, and urge you to aspire to surpass this feat in subsequent editions.
I invite you all to enjoy the exciting moments of AFAC Expo 2010, and don’t forget that it is only your privileged patronage that can sustain this market.

I thank you all for coming and God bless.