The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) an agency of the Ministry for Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy has launched the Nationwide Craft Fiesta as a major initiative to stimulate the foundations of the Creative economy in line with the ambition to elevate the sector?s GDP from $5 billion to $100 billion by 2030, and to create two million jobs. The initiative Is structured to create 200,000 jobs in two years.

The plan is to raise 20 artisans/craft men and women across various specialties from each of the Nigeria?s 774 Local Government Areas, who will participate on a geopolitical basis in one-week fiestas in six geopolitical centres where they will exhibit their works as a direct pathway to the global marketplace.

The Executive Secretary, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, explained that the initiative is led by the ministry through its agency, NICO, as a way of instilling great pride in the Made in Nigeria value proposition, and introducing the craft men and women, who will be celebrated, promoted and marketed to a worldwide platform.

He explained that several summits will precede the fiestas, where stakeholders from the public and private sectors will meet, to raise the profile, encourage participation, re-enforce unity of purpose and galvanize all available resources to make this a success.

Such stakeholders, he added, will include state governors, traditional rulers, local government chairpersons, private sector organizations, IOCs and International Cultural Organizations, Embassies and the Diplomatic community. He further explained that activities planned to introduce the fiesta will include holding several BOOTCAMPS to work with selected awardees to assist them in improving their products to meet international standards.

Six fiestas are planned for 2025, expressing the hope that the Nationwide Craft Fiesta will be an annual event in the creative economy calendar.

The Fiesta Director and Project Manager, Kayode Adeoti, stated that the platform will leverage technology, social and mass media for the selection of participants to ensure transparency and acceptance.

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