- Title: NIGERIA: Nigeria to boost crafts industry to create jobs.
- Date: 19th June 2013
- Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CRAFTSMAN FRANK ARHERDO AT HIS WORKSHOP VARIOUS OF ARHERDO WORKING ON A SCULPTURE (SOUNDBITE) (Pidgin English) FRANK ARHERDO, CRAFTSMAN SAYING: "Sometimes business has been wavering you understand, we don't have fixed price just like that maybe sometimes twenty five maybe sometimes twenty thousand naira (127 US dollars) at the end of the month so as you can see we are just managing, we thank God for everything." VARIOUS OF SCULPTURE WORKS DISPLAYED OUTSIDE HIS SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Pidgin English) FRANK ARHERDO, CRAFTSMAN, SAYING: "We need a lot of money for this business you understand? We need a lot of money so that if government can give us loan so that we can pay back so we could use it to train more people so that everything will be moving fine." VARIOUS OF UNEMPLOYED YOUNG MEN ON STREET WIDE OF EXHIBITION GROUND BANNER READING: "AFRICAN ARTS AND CRAFTS EXPO" VARIOUS OF CRAFTS AT EXPO (SOUNDBITE) (English) MWAJIM MALGWI MAIDUGU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ARTS AND CULTURE, SAYING: "It is designed to look inward and help on those things that are around us with a view to turning them around to create wealth, to create jobs and also to create opportunities whereby our youths and women will be engaged in productive ventures." VARIOUS OF CRAFTED BAGS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) MWAJIM MALGWI MAIDUGU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ARTS AND CULTURE, SAYING: "So in terms of quantum you will find out that what is here directly or indirectly would have provided over five thousand jobs to Nigerians." VISITOR TRYING ON A PAIR OF SLIPPERS AT THE EXPO (SOUNDBITE) (English) HAPPINESS EZE, CIVIL SERVANT, SAYING: "Anyway, I never saw these kind of slippers in the market, this is the first time of seeing this kind of slippers assuming if you see it, you see it is 1500, 2000 (naira) (approx 13 US dollars). This one is very cheap, 1000 (naira) (6 US dollars)." (SOUNDBITE) (English) JUSTIN ABUR, ABUJA RESIDENT, SAYING: "I just got some hand bands and they are very cheap, I got them for 200 naira (1 US dollar) each, it's something you don't see everyday in the market." VARIOUS OF CRAFTS ON DISPLAY
- Embargoed: 4th July 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Business,Economy
- Reuters ID: LVACEVN6QV806CIVS1ARXZ0WQXFE
- Story Text: Nigerian expo brings together professionals and investors to leverage on the arts and crafts industry as an area to create jobs and boost economic empowerment.
Nigerian craftsman Frank Arherdo has been carving out a living from selling sculptures for the last 15 years.
His workshop in the capital, Abuja doubles up as his exhibition space so time spent waiting for customers is spent creating a new craft piece.
When he does attract interested buyers, Arherdo says he often has to adjust the prices to secure a sale, meaning he doesn't always make the profits he expects.
"Sometimes business has been wavering you understand, we don't have fixed price just like that maybe sometimes twenty five maybe sometimes twenty thousand naira (127 US dollars) at the end of the month so as you can see we are just managing, we thank God for everything," he said.
African arts and crafts started out as ceremonial or religious symbols created centuries ago but today they are widely traded around the world - some carrying price tags of thousands of dollars in foreign markets.
Arherdo is urging the government to regulate and build Nigeria's local arts and crafts industry so it can be a viable employer for the youth and also help him grow his business.
"We need a lot of money for this business you understand? We need a lot of money so that if government can give us loan so that we can pay back so we could use it to train more people so that everything will be moving fine," he said.
Despite a decade of 7 percent economic growth, poverty in Nigeria has worsened, official figures show, leading critics to say its oil dependent economy merely enriched the few.
Unemployment stands at 24 percent of the population - over 20 million Nigerians out of work.
President Goodluck Jonathan promised to create several million jobs by 2015 through government initiatives.
Organisers of a recent expo in Abuja said arts and crafts was one area the government plans to create more opportunities for employment.
The African Arts and Crafts Expo, now in its 6th year drew artists and craftsmen and women from about 17 countries to showcase and market their products, share ideas and challenges.
"It is designed to look inward and help on those things that are around us with a view to turning them around to create wealth, to create jobs and also to create opportunities whereby our youths and women will be engaged in productive ventures, said Mwajim Malgwi Maidugu, the executive director of Nigeria's National Council for Arts and Culture.
"So in terms of quantum you will find out that what is here directly or indirectly would have provided over five thousand jobs to Nigerians," he added.
With the concentration of exhibitors in one place, the event was also an opportunity for Nigerians to discover the arts and crafts available in their country.
"Anyway, I never saw these kind of slippers in the market, this is the first time of seeing this kind of slippers assuming if you see it, you see it is 1500, 2000 (naira) (approx. 13 US dollars). This one is very cheap, 1000 (naira) (6 US dollars)," said Happiness Eze, a civil servant.
"I just got some hand bands and they are very cheap, I got them for 200 naira (1 US dollar) each, it's something you don't see everyday in the market," said Justin Abur, who visited the Abuja expo.
Industry players say poor infrastructure, lack of financing and working space are some of the main challenges hindering growth in the local arts and crafts sector. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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