Ogun has 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 of the expo on Saturday.
Runsewe commended the efforts of participants who came from the 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, Mrs Oluwatosin Oloko, Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 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.
Amb. Masudur Rahman, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria said: “We have seen the electrifying performances from Ogun with colourful attires all through, they deserve it. I say congratulations to them”
Also, Li Xuda, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria 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.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rivers and Taraba got 2nd position, Katsina and Kwara clinched the 3rd position, Kaduna and Ebonyi got 4th position while Borno emerged 5th.
Also, India and Taraba won the best pavilion award while Indonesia and Kwara emerged winners of the best pavilion in merchandising.
And 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 and 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.
The most enterprising at 16th INAC was received by Indonesia, Burkina-Faso and Ogun.
NAN reports that the expo which began on Sept. 7 has been concluded as 29 countries and 16 states participated.
