OGUN State emerged the overall winner at the 16th International Arts and Craft Expo (INAC) held in Abuja.
Chief Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), organiser of the expo, made the announcement at the closing ceremony, while commending the efforts of participants who came from 16 states.
He said everyone could be considered the winner of the expo but the outstanding performance of Ogun delegates could not go unnoticed.
Reacting, Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs Oluwatosin Oloko, said it was a well-deserved award.
She said more energy would be channelled towards performing better in subsequent editions of the expo and other national cultural events.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Masudur Rahman, said, “We have seen the electrifying performances from Ogun with colourful attires all through. They deserve it. I say congratulations to them.”
Also, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Li Xuda, said, “I am excited to see how the expo has been over the past days with the display of beautiful culture across nations and states. We need to work together to create a better future.”
Rivers and Taraba States got the second position, Katsina and Kwara clinched the third position, Kaduna and Ebonyi States came fourth while Borno State emerged fifth.
Also, India and Taraba won the best pavilion award while Indonesia and Kwara emerged winners of the best pavilion in merchandising.
For the best in leather works, Yobe, Katsina and Anambra won while Bauchi, Adamawa and Philippines got the best in Calabash design and decoration.
The best in pottery and ceramic design award went to China, Bulgaria and Kaduna State, while Lagos, Ebonyi and Korea took the lead as the best in wood works.
Syria, Kano and Niger won the best in metal and brass works while the best in e-marketing went to Cuba, Columbia and Lebanon.
For the new innovation award, converting waste to wealth, Plateau, Venezuela and Iraq emerged winners.
Bangladesh, Iran and Burkina-Faso won the best in new innovation award in packaging.
The best exhibitor in networking strategy went to Ethiopia, Botswana, Trinidad and Tobago.
The 16th INAC special award went to Africo Ventures, Le Look and Nike Art Gallery.
While the INAC Special Day Awards went to Mexico and Malaysia, the INAC special appearance award was received by Kogi and Egypt.
The State Awards went to Rivers, Ogun, Taraba and Kwara, while the most enterprising at 16th INAC was received by Indonesia, Burkina-Faso and Ogun.
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