2015 Lagos International Trade Fair diversifies into other sectors *Holds Lagos Creative Industry Fair ‘Eko Akete’ at Freedom Park

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has expanded its horizon this year by planning to turn  the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair which will hold from Friday, November 6, to Sunday, November 15, 2015 into a retinue of  business festivities.

The Fair, organised by the LCCI, which will hold simultaneously, in three different venues in central Lagos, according to its organizers, promises to surpass expectations of all stakeholders.

Apart from the normal fair which holds at Tafawa Balewa Square, and hosts the general interest business-to-customer fair and exhibition from Friday, November 6^th to Sunday, November 15, 2015, the MUSON Centre, will host the corporate and business-to-business exhibition from Monday 9^th to Friday, November 13^th and the investment Conference, which holds on Tuesday, November 10^th 2015.

For the first time, the ever busy Freedom Park will host the Lagos Creative Industry Fair, tagged “Eko Akete”, from Friday, November 6^th to Sunday, November 15^th 2015.

With the theme: “Enhancing Value addition in the Non-Oil Economy”, Newswatch Times gathered that, with this theme, the LCCI as a public advocacy body has consistently harped on the need for government to diversify the income base of the Nigerian economy by paying necessary attention to other non-oil sectors like agriculture, solid mineral, domestic production and industrialization.

Speaking at the public presentation of the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair prospectus held in Lagos recently, the President and Chairman of Council of LCCI, Alhaji Aderemi Ismaila Bello, due to the daunting economic challenges Nigeria is presently facing due to the fall in the global price of crude oil, it is imperative for Nigeria to diversify.
According to him, the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair will provide a platform to, not only identify these alternatives to oil, but the Fair will also give exposure to the opportunities, especially in the non-oil sector of the economy for indigenous and foreign investors who are ready to tap the inherent huge benefits.

"Our investment forum, which is planned to hold at the Muson Centre during the fair, on the theme of the fair, will also provide additional resources for discerning business people, as the forum will serve as a master class and intellectual power house for all that is needed in exploiting the non-oil investment opportunities in Nigeria," he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Trade Fair Promotion Board, Chief (Dr.) Michael Olawale-Cole, CON, said consistently for 28 years, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has successfully hosted the annual business event, which has grown to become the biggest and best organized Fair in West and Central Africa.

“With this theme, 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 commodities and items emanating from Nigeria,” he said.

Appreciating the organizers of the LITF, the Programme Chair, Committee for Relevant Arts’ (CORA) and an iRep director, Jahman Anikulapo, noted that they were glad that the LCCI has come out to identify with the creative industry. “This is a campaign that we have carried for a long time that it is not possible for a nation like Nigeria not giving adequate respect to the creative sector. So we are very glad that the LCCI has come up with this. The convergence in the prospectus is what we like we like to play on. We assure you that Freedom Park is an oasis of peace and we invite everyone to join us at the oasis of peace, where you are going to experience the best of Nigerian creative industry. And there are no aspects of the Nigerian creative industry you will not encounter when you come to that place. From this year, you will be convinced that you will be glad to take another venue to join because you are going to see so much that you have not seen in the past,” Anikulapo added.