The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to support artisans and technicians in order to foster economic growth and development across all sectors of the economy.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Otunba Niyi Adebayo gave the promise at the first edition of the Nigerian Artisans and Technicians Conference (NATCO) at the National Theater in Lagos, recently, with the theme: “Artisans, Technology and Empowerment; The Future of The Nigerian Economy”.
The minister, who was ably represented by a senior ministry official, Mr Adewale Bakare maintained that no nation can develop without credible governance that will facilitate private sector participation, adding that the federal government is already improving the needed infrastructure that will bring about economic growth.
The minister said that its agencies are committed to creating an enabling environment to stimulate domestic investments and attract foreign direct investments in all sectors of the economy and also make Nigeria a destination in Africa and the world at large.
Convener of Nigeria Artisans and Technicians Conference, Mr. Dayo, said Our main aim is to let the government recognize the artisans. “Artisans in Nigeria need federal government’s presence by way of supporting them to grow because they hold and constitute over 60% of the economy.
“The power behind the crowd you are seeing here today is because we are into doing things of this nature, we have done it before and we are doing it again which will continue like that.”
He said that, “in the normal sense, artisans are not supposed to be waiting for empowerment but should be the one empowering people as it is done in other countries.”
Also speaking at the event, the Lagos Branch Chairman, MotorMechs and Technicians Association (MOMTAN), Alhaji Morufu Arolowo, said that NATCO conference will determine the future of Nigerian artisans and Technicians.
In a remark speech, Lagos State Chairman of Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Asiwaju Jacob Omonide Fayeun, said that the association has achieved recognition with the successful hosting of the maiden NATCO conference. Fayeun said “We have achieved recognition and I believe the president and members of his team has seen what happened today.”
NATCO brought about 13, 000 artisans and Technicians all over Nigeria together with view of discussing some issues bothering them.
