The Federal Government has expressed optimism that the forthcoming ‘EnjoyNigeria Expo’ will scale up the value chain delivery of the creative, entertainment, travel, trade and cultural industries of the Nigerian economy.
Director, Investment Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, Mrs Kemi Arodudu, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Head of the Media Subcommittee of ‘EnjoyNigeria Expo’, Tunde Hassan and made available to journalists.
She said the expo which will assist Small and Medium Enterprises to be positioned for increased job and wealth creation as well as gain access to global markets, will generate 100,000 new jobs in the creative, entertainment, cultural industries, travel and trade sectors of the economy between 2021 and 2023.
Mrs. Arodudu who is also the Chairperson of the ‘EnjoyNigeria Expo’ planning committee, said the Project further envisions making available a national database for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in rural areas while connecting such to big in-country markets in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world.
“This is in addition to empowering women and youths with entrepreneurial skills to facilitate innovations as well as connect them to the bigger markets to grow and sustain their businesses whilst showcasing and promoting their products and services” she said.
The Director also noted that an inter-ministerial steering committee has been set up, drawing membership from relevant MDAs and active non-governmental bodies and associations operating in the sectors, adding that so far, several sessions of the inter-ministerial steering team, have been held to draw and firm up arrangements for the ‘EnjoyNIGERIA expo’.
She said major components of the initiative include; an exhibition, trade and investment forum and a string of entertainment events and awards.
Mrs. Arodudu while explaining that the project is anchored on five major strands, woven around critical creative visual and performing arts contents including music, film, photography, painting, fashion, craft, stage drama and comedy are conceptualized as distinct stand alone brands, namely, Sounds of Nigeria, Images of Nigeria, Tastes of Nigeria, Colours of Nigeria and Experience of Nigeria.
The Chief Executive of W2Np, the private sector facilitator of the project, Isa Yusuf Sago, noted with delight, the enthusiasm displayed so far by critical stakeholders across all target sectors.
He said the event seeks to deepen the contributions of the creative entertainment, cultural and travel trade industries to the diversification of the Nigerian economy.
“Arrangement is in top gear to stage the first ever combined initiative to signpost the creative, entertainment, cultural and travel-trade industries in Nigeria”, he said.
The initiative tagged, ‘EnjoyNigeria Expo’ is a Public Private Partnership Project with the Federal Ministry of Industries, Trade and Investment and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture as lead establishment, working in concert with Welcome2Nigeria Project, as the private sector facilitator.
