Deputy Comptroller Otunla fielding questions from journalists after his speech at the event.
Story by Dili Utomi.
The International Colloquium of the 5th Edition of the Festival of Art for Economic Development took place at the Mercy land hotel, Idiroko, Thursday and it presented the opportunity for further use of art as an economic platform.
The Festival had the Customs Area Controller of the Ogun 1 Command in attendance as well as a deputy mayor, Bolade Ireola from Benin Republic, traditional rulers of different Border communities from both Nigeria and Benin Republic, officers from different paramilitary agencies from both countries, trainees as well as the general public.
Dr. Bonny Abisogun Botoku fielding questions from journalists.
The Festival brought together participants who have been trained on both sides of the international divide to use art and craft for the improvement of their economic status. Thus the theme for this year’s edition is ‘Rebranding Borderline Communities through Creative Empowerment and Entrepreneurship’.
The Customs Area Controller of the Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko, Deputy Comptroller O O Afeni used the opportunity to speak about the importance of the Festival. He urged every resident within the area to take complete advantage of the opportunity inherent in the programmes of the Festival.
One of the trainees, Chiamaka Nwangene.
Deputy Comptroller Otunla said in his opening speech that “This Colloquium reflects our shared understanding that sustainable border management extends beyond enforcement to include cross-border cooperation, economic empowerment, and entrepreneurship development within our border communities”.
The CAC noted that this year’s theme aligns with the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment towards the support of legitimate trade, encouraging value addition, and promoting small-scale enterprises as drivers of economic growth and border stability.
One of the trainees, Roseline Olaitan Omokayode.
His words “Through the empowerment programmes and entrepreneurship initiatives embedded in this Festival, we see practical pathways to reducing illicit activities, strengthening lawful commerce, and fostering inclusive economic opportunities for our people”.
The facilitator is the permanent secretary of the Nigeria–Benin Inter-Border Forum, Dr. Bonny Abisogun Botoku who in his welcome address stated “This Festival is more than an event. It is a movement. It is a statement of belief—that border communities are not problems to be managed, but potentials to be unlocked”.
It is Dr. Botoku’s great belief that Borders are not just lines on maps. They are meeting points of culture, gateways of trade and spaces of shared history.
Samples of the garri produced by a trainee.
He noted that the Nigeria–Benin border is not a dividing line—it is a shared civilization. He informed the audience that “What we are doing through this Festival is to change the story:
from suspicion to trust,
from survival to enterprise,
from isolation to integration”.
The purpose of this Festival according to Dr. Botoku is being achieved “Through the Borderline Creative Empowerment Programme, trainees—especially women and youth—have been equipped with practical skills in:
catering and hospitality, adire and textile production, cassava transformation, including gari and value-added products, event management and creative entrepreneurship”
He added that these are not symbolic trainings. They are pathways to dignity, income, and self-reliance. And this is why their graduation and product exhibitions form a proud highlight of this Festival.
There was an exhibition of the products made by the trainees and at the end, a number of participants spoke with the press. Certificates which were signed by the CAC were also given to the those who were trained.
Deputy Comptroller Otunla “This Festival has been quite impactful, the experience has seen the succeeding version getting better than the preceding one. Government understands that fighting crime is not only about using guns, but by empowering people. As the first line of defence for the country, we need to continue to train people on how to use creative means for economic development and I think that this Festival is doing very well in that area”.
Paintings produced by trainees.
Dr. Bonny Abisogun Botoku ” This FAED is a platform for building good neighbourliness, cross border cooperation, peaceful coexistence as well as economic development using art as the tool. This edition is unique in that we incorporated empowerment into it and this has been quite fruitful”.
Chiamaka Nwangene, one of the trainees said “I have acquired so much knowledge I am using it to help myself economically as I am still a student. I, like many others was trained in adire (tie and dye) making and it is a very useful skill”.
Roseline Olaitan Omokayode ” Being a widow and given the opportunity to learn the skills in tie and dye and also bakery is a good one as these skills will certainly help in easing my financial burdens”.
A trainee being awarded a certificate.
Some of the people who came to witness the event left the venue with samples of the products made. It is hoped also that there can be a kind of arrangement where financial aid can be extended to these trainees to put the acquired skills into engaging in mass production of their items.
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