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 two hundred

thousand (200,000) jobs in two years.

The plan is to raise twenty (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, National Institute

for Cultural Orientation (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.