Ibraheem Mus’ab, Kano
The maiden edition of the Arewa Festival, organised to mark the 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Week, is scheduled to take place on November 22nd and 23rd across all 19 northern states of Nigeria.
This was disclosed by the convener and organiser of the festival, Hajiya Shuhda Muhammed during a press briefing in Kano, according to her the event is open to women entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), vendors, artisans, food exhibitors, creatives, cultural groups, content creators, and members of the general public interested in trade, culture, and networking.
She said the event is a strict culture adherence were local food fair will be held, and other activities that promotes and preserve cultural activities of the people of Arewa and beyond.
She explained that the festival will feature trade and product exhibitions, an African food and cultural exchange fair, a fashion and craft showcase, panel discussions with local and international experts, networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, as well as entertainment and cultural performances.
Hajiya Shuhda noted that for centuries, Africa has been a hub of trade and commerce, with northern Nigeria at the forefront. She stressed that despite preserving a rich cultural heritage, the region continues to be unfairly perceived as incapable of thriving in the global economy.
She stated that a critical question remains: why does poverty persist in northern Nigeria despite its long-standing legacy of entrepreneurship and trade? According to her, the time has come to revive the ancestral spirit of commerce and empower the people to reclaim their rightful place in the economic landscape.
“Let us awaken our collective potential and prove that our traditions and trade can coexist.
“There is a lot of untold history about the depth of entrepreneurship and trade in Northern Nigeria, but unfortunately, these stories are not widely known,” she said.
She further revealed that the acronym AREWA stands for Africa Rebuilding Economy With Agriculture, and the initiative targets growth in trade, entrepreneurship, education, the creative industry, and hospitality.
She further revealed that the maiden edition is something that will be maintained as an annual event to keep promoting the rich culture, trade and values to the global community for a strong socioeconomic ties for a better and sustainable development.
