By Faridat Salifu
The Chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and former Governor of Katsina State, His Excellency Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, has officially unveiled the logo for the 2024 edition of the Abuja Interior and Furniture Expo (AIFE).
The ceremony, held recently at Vento Furniture in Jabi Lake, Abuja, brought together key figures from Nigeria’s furniture and innovation sectors, signaling a significant push towards the growth of the country’s interior design and furniture industry.
Promoter of the exhibition, young entrepreneur Arch. Faisal Rafindadi, highlighted that the upcoming event, to be held at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, will serve as a platform for furniture producers, marketers, and consumers to engage with innovative products.
Rafindadi emphasized the potential of the Expo to provide consumers with a variety of high-quality furniture options that cater to both home and office needs within budget-friendly parameters.
In his keynote speech, Hon. Masari underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between government bodies and the private sector to elevate Nigeria’s furniture industry.
He pointed to the challenges posed by the country’s growing population and stressed the role of initiatives like AIFE in fostering entrepreneurship, skills development, and innovation within the sector.
“Abuja Interior and Furniture Expo is more than just an exhibition,” Hon. Masari remarked. “It is a platform that showcases creativity, innovation, and excellence, spotlighting Nigeria’s ability to deliver world-class craftsmanship.” He noted that the Expo would offer local designers, artisans, and manufacturers the opportunity to display their work on a global stage, attracting both investment and business opportunities.
Hon. Masari, who first supported a similar initiative during his tenure as Katsina governor, expressed pride in witnessing the expansion of the Expo into a national event. He hailed it as a significant contributor to economic growth and a creator of employment opportunities for Nigeria’s youth, expressing confidence in its future success.
In his address, Alh Abbas Hassan, AIFE’s Director, touched on the increasing demand for quality interior spaces and furniture, driven by Nigeria’s growing middle class and urbanization.
He stressed the importance of such platforms in meeting the needs of a modernizing economy.
Representing Vento Furniture, Managing Director Hasan Yigit expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with AIFE, noting that the Expo will play a crucial role in transforming Nigeria’s design landscape. “Events like this are pivotal in bringing visionary interiors to life and in connecting industry leaders with creative minds.”
Arc. Faisal Ja’afar, AIFE’s project coordinator, concluded by noting that the Expo is setting a benchmark for the Nigerian furniture industry, aiming to position locally made furniture as competitive with international products.
The unveiling of the AIFE logo marks the beginning of what organizers hope will be a lasting contribution to the development of Nigeria’s furniture and interior design sectors, with the 2024 Expo already generating excitement among industry stakeholders.