13th September, 2024
*Group Unveils NATEF Abuja 2024, Africa’s Largest Exhibition and Trade Fair
Artisans and technicians from across Nigeria, under the Association of Nigerian Artisans and Technicians (ASNAT), have appealed for increased patronage of local products to boost the economy, particularly for small and medium-scale businesses at the grassroots level.
Speaking at a press conference held in Abuja, Comrade Adeshina Akinyemi, the National Coordinator of ASNAT, outlined the artisans’ demands during the unveiling of the Nigerian Artisans and Technicians Exhibition and Fair (NATEF, Abuja 2024). The event, slated to run from Monday, September 30, to Wednesday, October 2, 2024, will take place at the Velodrome of Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Akinyemi urged all state governors to sponsor at least 100 artisans and technicians from their respective states to participate in NATEF, Abuja 2024, to showcase their state’s heritage and cultural diversity through displays of skills, products, and talents.
He also called on the National Assembly, through Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Tajudeen Abass, to persuade lawmakers to sponsor at least 50 artisans from their senatorial districts and 30 from their federal constituencies to attend the exhibition.
“ASNAT is open to partnerships and sponsorships from individuals, corporate organizations, international agencies, and NGOs willing to collaborate with artisans and technicians during the exhibition,” Akinyemi added.
He emphasized that public and private sector support would stimulate economic growth and sustain local jobs across communities.
“The event, tagged ‘Nigerian Artisans and Technicians Exhibition and Fair (NATEF, Abuja 2024)’, is designed as a platform for promoting skills development, craftsmanship, national unity, and mutual acceptance,” Akinyemi said.
“NATEF will stimulate economic growth by promoting local production and processing activities, which will support the development of artisans and technicians in Nigeria,” he added.
Akinyemi highlighted the broader vision of turning NATEF into an annual tourism event that attracts people from all over the world to witness the skills of Nigerian artisans and technicians.
He added, “NATEF will create a valuable hub for international visitors to establish contacts with our local artisans, promoting cross-cultural understanding and business opportunities.”
Reflecting on the economic potential of the event, Akinyemi stated, “If all stakeholders commit to supporting local artisans and technicians by buying and using local products and services, it would be the greatest empowerment for Nigerian artisans and technicians.”
Akinyemi further praised Dr. Oluwatoyin Afiz Ogun, Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), for the ITF’s support of Nigerian artisans through the Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) program and other initiatives aimed at enhancing their skills and improving their trades.
Other speakers at the press conference included the National President of the Nigerian Association of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists (NASHCO), Mrs. Angela Akanle, who hailed NATEF as “the best thing that has ever happened to Nigerian artisans and technicians.”
She pledged to mobilize NASHCO members for the event, emphasizing the need for proper attention and recognition.
In addition, Comrade Shola Oyeshola, National Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Tailors (NUT), appealed to state governors to sponsor local artisans for the event. “This is the greatest opportunity we have to promote local content and products,” he said.
Ahmed Ibrahim, National President of the Nigerian Association of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Practitioners (NARAP), also urged artisans to prepare for NATEF, calling it “the only way we can showcase our skills and products.”
