By Olamide Yinusa
Ogun has again emerged as the overall best-performing State and exhibitor at the just concluded 15th edition International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo, in Abuja.
It would be recalled that the State bagged the first position with several awards won at the 14th edition of the Expo last year.
The closing and award ceremony of the 3-day Expo, held between 18th to 20th August, themed “Networking Nigerian Crafts to the World”, conferred the State awards as the overall best performing, Best Product Design in Pavillion, Textiles, Fabric and Fashion, Metal and Brass Works, the most enterprising exhibitor and special award for State Day.
The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe in his remarks said the Expo participation drawn from 36 States of the federation and countries across the world had 11 States and over 26 countries in attendance.
Runsewe said the expo avails various opportunities for trade and investment, promoting greater integration and synergy between players in the sector to boost economic and social development, as well as provide platforms for entrepreneurs to showcase their goods
and services.
The Director General stated further that INAC promotes peace, social integration, national unity and international cultural diplomacy through appropriate synergy with members of the diplomatic communities in Nigeria.
Speaking after receiving the award, Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr Olusegun Olaotan, stated that the State would always remain at the fore burner in setting the pace in culture with innovations being introduced by Prince Dapo Abiodun’s administration.
Olaotan disclosed that the innovative acumen of the governor in E-marketing and promotion of Adire fabric has helped the economic status and foreign investment opportunity as well as enabled small and medium-scale enterprises to grow their businesses in Ogun State.
The Permanent Secretary, expressed profound gratitude to Governor Abiodun for his support in the cultural sector of the State pledging that the Ministry would not rest on its oars in the Cultural Sector in achieving the Building Our Future Together mantra.
Lagos State bagged the 2nd position, while Kastina, Bauchi States and the Federal Capital Territory took the third position.
DAILY DIGEST 