8th N/Delta Trade Fair: Why Patronage Was Poor – Organisers

Organisers of the 8th Niger Delta International Trade Fair which ended at the weekend in Port Harcourt blamed the poor patronage of the fair on the fact that it was new to the Rivers business environment.

Executive Director of the Fair, Peter Ofuka who stated this in an exclusive interview at the Isaac Boro Park Fair ground explained that this informed the decision of the organisers to extend the duration of the fair from two weeks to three, as requested by exhibitors and the public.

Ofuka also identified the timing of the fair as another factor, noting that patronage would have been impressive if the fair had been held during the Christmas season.

The Fair Director who commended exhibitors and participants at the fair for their patronage assured that his organisation will build on the experience garnered from the fair to make the 2013 edition a huge success.

Ofuka denied that there was disagreement between the Fair organisers and the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) explaining that all the conditions stipulated by PHCCIMA for the holding of the Fair were met by the organisers.

However, PHCCIMA President, Vincent Furo had, a few days to the end of the fair, called for its termination by government and security agencies.

Addressing newsmen last Tuesday at the Hotel Presidential, venue of an economic empowerment programme jointly organised by PHCCIMA and Sam Ohuabunwa Foundation For Economic Empowerment, Furo, an engineer described the fair as substandard and a shame.

The three-week long fair featured trado-medical and herbal medicine practitioners predominantly.

Donald Mike-Jaja