As First Lady seeks full development of crafts industryFOR national and regional economic transformation, Africans must, as a matter of necessity, embark on a massive training and skills acquisition for its teeming population.This was the submission of Prof. Ben Ekanem at the Investment Forum of the 5th African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC 2012) currently going on in Abuja. He maintained that opportunities for training that is built into regional and national worldview should be enhanced and strengthened if the tide of poverty was to be stemmed.In a similar circumstance, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, urged the Federal Government to maximize the comparative advantage provided by the arts and crafts industry for youths and women empowerment.Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the Expo, the first lady expressed optimism that when appropriately positioned, arts and crafts industry of which women and youths are major targets could provide limitless opportunities and potentials for job creation and revenue generation.Represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Gender, Dr. Asmau Abdulkadir, the first ladysaid with the nation's teeming population, Nigeria is a fertile market for any standard product.'Therefore, there is the need to support our arts and crafts industry towards developing the capacity for high volume and standard products, which can excel in the global market', she said.The first lady equally saluted the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of participating craftsmen and women from within and outside Africa.The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, highlighted efforts of the sector in re-engineering and refocusing on activities that would enhance the country's Gross Domestic Products (GDP).He added that such activities, which have also earned foreign exchange to the nation, could significantly assist in combating rural-urban drift, youth restiveness as well as encourage youth and women empowerment.Commissioner-in-charge of Human Development and Gender, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr. Adrienne Diop, said the development of cultural industries was of high priority on the agenda of ECOWAS.She noted that the gathering had created a common cultural market for economic transformation. According to Diop, the ambition at ECOWAS was to see a borderless region, where trade can flow seamlessly.Earlier, the Executive Director/CEO, National Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. M.M. Maidugu, organiser of the Expo, said the annual regional market provided a channel through which Nigeria and participating countries could share ideas and knowledge towards the advancement of the industry.He commended the First Lady for accepting to grace the event, stressing that it was an indication of her passion, zeal and drive as a 'mother towards embracing initiatives targeted at uplifting the quality of life of rural populace, especially youth and women, which the event aimed at achieving.'Ekanem, who had been one of regular speakers at AFAC's Investment Forums, underscored the need for a properly structured arts and crafts industry in the country.In his presentation titled 'Promoting Arts and Crafts Industry for Economic Transformation', he viewed publicity and advertisement as other integral parts of the said promotion. In a schematic diagram explaining arts and crafts in relation to economic transformation, the speaker analysed the fact that sensory inputs from the total environment impacted greatly on the mind and intellect.He noted, 'After the art piece is made, craft then takes over, applying skill to reproduce the original in quantity for the purpose of meeting needs. Craft thus lays emphasis on the functional while art appears to favour the ideal. Finally, beyond craft, which is skilled hand-work and the products thereof, manufacturing takes over by the application of automation.'Ekanem went on to say that big industrial nations of the world were conscious of linkages between art, craft and industrialisation and as such, spared no effort at promoting their indigenous arts and crafts.He stated, 'In fact, some of these countries such as China even exploit the arts and crafts of nations such as Nigeria to direct their manufacturing for export to the countries where the demand is. That is how Chinese doors, ceramics and clothing flood the Nigerian market.'Noting that Africa and indeed, Nigeria have a rich heritage of creativity in the arts and crafts, he blamed the retrogression and in most cases, outright abandonment of the heritage on preference for imported goods over locally manufactured ones. He warned that such appetite could only worsen the poor economic status of importing nations.'Those who go to the global marketplace of the emerging village with goods and services are bound to get richer and richer while those who go there only to buy are bound to get poorer and poorer.'Economic transformation becomes imperative for the nations of African if her people are to remain free, active and relevant in the global village. Africa cannot afford to remain poor much longer. Youth unemployment, hunger, poor health and poor education wreck disaster on nations, who choose to bury their heads in the sand', Ekanem warned.To reverse the ugly situation, Ekanem said the first step was to train artists in line with modern trends. According to him, it was by so doing that local arts and crafts could acquire the 'polish' needed for the global market place.'The traditional channel of training is obviously by apprenticeship. But is Nigeria satisfied with this culture as it is today' Can it be systematically improved''He also fingered standard packaging and publicity as other factors that required both government and practitioners' attention towards repositioning the arts and crafts industry.In his recommendations, Ekanem called for the reawakening of arts and crafts teaching, beginning from primary school level. He imagined how enormous the result would be if young Nigerians are brought up with effective psychomotor skill orientation.He also canvassed building of vocational training centres across the country, covering diverse trades and crafts while graduates of such institutions should be financially empowered on graduation to set up their businesses.'In this area, bodies such as the Industrial Training Fund could put their workshops across the country to better use. They need to consider the mounting of short courses and training workshops to help upgrade the skills of our craftsmen.'The tertiary institutions must come to the realisation that today head knowledge alone often leaves the young graduate frustrated. It would be a great thing for instance, to see graduates of Philosophy from our colleges venture into shoemaking. It happens in many advanced economies. Why can't not happen in Nigeria''Many countries including Ghana, Mali, Sierra Leone, Namibia, The Gambia, Pakistan, South Korea, Philippines, Togo, Cameroon, South Korea, Pakistan, Sudan as well as Republic of Benin are participating in the Expo. It closed yesterday.
Click here to read full news..
