Kingston…The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) in collaboration with the Nigerian Embassy and Devon House Development Corporation recently opened “An Exhibition of Carvings” at the Devon House Mansion as part of the Nigerian Technical Assistance Program.

The Government of Jamaica and the Nigerian Government, through a bi-lateral agreement created the Nigerian Technical Assistance Program in an effort to increase the competitiveness of local wood carvers and wood carving entities in Jamaica. This collaboration, supported through the Culture Health Arts Sports Education (CHASE) Fund, has sought to address some of the many challenges presently facing local carvers.

Speaking at the launch, Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, The Most Hon. P.J. Patterson spoke to one such challenge stating, “Although the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts offers training in woodcarving and sculpting, many of our woodcarvers are informally trained.”

Against this background, two Nigerian Master Craftsmen, Ikhamate Michael Ogiebo and Ogiamein Roland Udinyiwe arrived in Jamaica in February to conduct wood carving workshops island-wide and technical assistance interventions. The inventions specifically targeted the woodcarving sub-sectors, which include students, teachers and professionals. These groups have been taught to use new techniques to improve their productivity.

The assistance from these Master Carvers has not only resulted in an increase in skill levels of Jamaican carvers, but has also exposed them to the approach to wood carving of another culture.

Mr. Patterson lauded the CHASE Fund for having provided the support for the project and the JBDC’s continued effort in stimulating the development of small businesses in Jamaica.

Through the Jamaica Business Development Corporation, a number of workshops and training were facilitated in several regions across the island. The workshops included presentations on:

• Marketing
• Pricing
• Product Development
• Presentation/Packaging

The carvers were also taught the African/Nigerian method of carving thus being exposed to the rich Nigerian art culture.

A total of eight (8) workshops were conducted with more than 110 participants benefiting from the programme. The positive response to the training could not be ignored and as such a Phase II of this program is being proposed. Discussions are already underway for the implementation of the second phase.