Creative Industry

Skill Acquisition, Sure way to lift Nigerians Out of Poverty-Kangiwa

Published

5 years ago

August 4, 2021

The Director General of the National Institue for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa has expressed confidence in vocational skill acquisition of the Nigerian arts and crafts industry in the fight against unemployment and poverty in the country.

Nura Kangiwa who stated this while declaring open a Skill Acquisition and Empowerment of Women in Arts and Crafts training session organized by the North East Campus of the Institute in Bauchi, pointed out that the fight against poverty in Nigeria is everyones’ responsibility and NIHOTOUR as a skill and vocational training centre, will continue to play its part in impacting the Nigerian populace with knowledge based skills that offer them employment and financial earning opportunities in line with the Federal Government’s agenda to fight poverty in the country.

Represented by the Coordinator and Head of the North East Zonal Campus of the Institute, Mr. Samuel Tanko Ibrahim, the Director General called on participants of the skill acquisition training program to use the opportunity offered them to make a change in their lives for good, noting that such opportunities are rare to come by.

In his remarks at the occasion, Alhaji Ali Babayo, Permanent Secretary of Bauchi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism said with the current trend of global events, Nigerians should look inward to be economically and gainfully employed to fight personal and national financial downturn which the local Arts and Crafts industry readily provide.

Mr. Nelson Lucas, Coordinator of the Bauchi Zonal Office of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), noted that tourism is a multi faceted industry that offers ample opportunities for interested key players to get trained and be gainfully employed in various trades including arts and crafts, noting that the skill acquisition training program was timely and called on the trainees to make the best use of the knowledge they acquire at the end of the training session for a better livelihood.

In his goodwill message at the occasion, Malam Alamai Murtala, Head of Department of travel and Tourism of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi said knowledge based skill acquisition remains the surest way to excel in any given trade or profession, while he noted that participants at the skill acquisition training program should see themselves lucky, he called on them to make judicious use of the skills they will acquire for their socio-economic benefits.

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Creative Industry

CAFA Targets $500bn Fashion Economy At Canex Wknd 2026

Published

1 week ago

November 1, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) will present its roadmap to grow Africa’s fashion economy from an estimated $30 billion to $500 billion at CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos.

Marking its first anniversary on November 5, CAFA will unveil a joint stand with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly the National Arts Theatre, on November 5, 2026.

CAFA President, Aare (Prof.) Lai Labode, said the institution works with African governments to align sourcing, production, trade and intellectual property policies, ensuring African creativity generates greater value for African businesses and communities.

Nigeria became the first country to sign the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter on November 5, 2025, when the Honourable Minister Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa signed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Minister Musawa said: “Afroliganza seeks to build a structured, values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage, led by African institutions, and positioned for global impact.”

On employment potential, the minister emphasized that Investment in fashion will create millions of jobs, particularly for women and youth.

Registered in Rwanda, with an office in Kigali and a desk at the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, CAFA is also working with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs towards African Union adoption of the Charter. Rwanda is progressing towards becoming its second participating country and the first in East Africa.

Its first year saw fifty nations gather at the Egbaliganza-Lisabi Festival in Abeokuta and a signed MoU with Türkiye’s ASRIAD.

CAFA’s programmes promote processing African raw materials into finished apparel locally. ‘Own What We Create’ addresses intellectual property protection, while the CAFA Certified Seal and CAFA Heritage Mark support standards and authenticity. African Global Fashion Houses are currently being established across international markets.

The African Global Fashion Games will debut in Nigeria in 2028, bringing designers together under national colours. Held every three years, the Games will alternate between African and international hosts, combining competition with investor meetings, deal signings and policy discussions. Its Instant Craft event gives competing nations identical materials and a fixed clock, placing skill at the centre of the contest.

CAFA is inviting creatives, fashion designers, artisans, diplomats, economists, investors and policymakers to its CANEX stand. Visitors can explore the roadmap, ask questions and identify opportunities to contribute through design, manufacturing, investment, research, trade and international partnerships. The stand will be open daily from November 5 to 8.

CAFA calls on the African Union to adopt the Charter, and governments to sign the Games Register and form national teams.

“Fashion has always told the world who Africa is. Now Africa will decide what fashion pays,” Aare Prof. Lai Labode said.

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