When the Lagos International Trade Fair takes place this year, it will be against a backdrop of the Lagos Creative Industry Fair, tagged ‘Eko Akete’ at Freedom Park. This novelty is in recognition of the creative sector’s increasing importance in the nation’s economy.
With the theme, ‘Enhancing Value Addition in the Non-Oil Economy’, the fair, organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), will hold for the first time ever simultaneously in three different venues in Lagos Island from November 6 to 15.
This edition of the fair promises to surpass the expectations of all stakeholders, said the Chair, Trade Promotion Board of the LCCI, Michael Olawale-Cole, at the unveiling of the fair’s prospectus at Commerce House, Victoria Island, Lagos penultimate Tuesday.
He explained that the theme of the 28-year-old trade fair, the biggest and best organised in West and Central Africa, was deliberately chosen to draw attention to the need for repositioning the Nigerian economy and correct its dependence on oil.
In addition, the Chamber wishes to address the issue of value addition to Nigeria’s non-oil export, with a view to ensuring that the nation earns more from commodities and items emanating from Nigeria.
Talking about the three venues, Olawale-Cole stated that the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) will hold the general interest business-to-customer fair and exhibition from November 6 to 15, while the corporate and business-to-business exhibition will be at the Muson Centre from November 9 to 13 where the investment conference holds on November 10.
With three venues, all within walking distance, creating a huge business hub on Lagos Island within the 10-day fair period has become a reality. We have therefore opened the doors of the Lagos International Trade Fair to attract exhibitors from virtually all sectors of the Nigerian economy and beyond, Olawale-Cole said.
Also speaking, the President and Chair of Council, LCCI, Aderemi Bello, said that Nigeria has to stop its reliance on oil.
If our country is to achieve economic independence, industrialisation and chase poverty away, there is an urgent need to diversify our sources of income. Nigeria must exploit other God-given resources at her disposal to ensure her economic prosperity.
The creative fair, which will feature visual, performing and the literary arts, is being organised by the LCCI, the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), Arterial Network and Freedom Park.
Speaking on the creative fair, programme chair of CORA, Jahman Anikulapo, credited veteran actress, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, who was at the event, for encouraging CORA to interact with the business sector. Explaining that about the same time the fair holds, CORA also organises the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) at Freedom Park, he promised that there is no aspect of the creative sector that would not feature prominently at Eko Akete.
