By Cliffsimeaon Akalonu
Over 20,000 artisans and technicians are expected at this year’s Nigerian Artisans and Technicians Conference holding at the National Theatre, Iganmu, on Nov. 26, the Managing Director Global Sight Services Ltd. (GSSL), Mr Dayo Bello said on Tuesday.
The event is also projected to attract 50,000 visitors from within and outside the country.
The Nigerian Artisans and Technicians Conference (NATCO), is a yearly event which aims at bringing all technicians and artisans in the automotive industry and manufacturers of local contents in the automotive sector together.
NATCO is organised by GSSL, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment and the Small Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
Bello said the event was to help bridge the gap of funding for artisans and technicians as well as serve the link to information where they could source original components or parts thereby protecting them from exposure to undesirable elements who flood the market with fake and adulterated products.
He said there is a huge gap between the Artisans/Technicians and manufacturers on one hand as well as between them and the government on the other. The government has so much to do for the Artisans and the manufacturers also need the artisans to push their market. “All these gave birth to National Artisans & Technicians Conference (NATCO) and Exhibition,” he said.
According to him, there is no law regulating the activities of the artisans and technicians, and this has led to unhealthy practices which are affecting the operators. NATCO will touch this area as well because the government needs to do something in this area, which will help create standards that would be at par with the international best practices.
Bello said NATCO event and Exhibition will bring massive patronage to Made in Nigeria products by bringing both the manufacturers and the consumers together. It will also help in capacity building, which will boost market especially in auto and other made in Nigeria products.