By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
In a landmark development for artisans in Edo State, the Artisans Development and Networking Organization (ARDENET ORG), under the leadership of its president, Comrade Engr. Ugiagbe Osamuyime Xtrel, and the Association of Nigerian Artisans and Technicians (ASNAT), Edo State chapter, led by president Mr. Mike Aiwansedo and represented by vice president Mr. Sunny Akingbalaha, have officially announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The move is part of efforts aimed at transforming and strengthening the artisan sector in Edo State.
A statement issued at the end of ceremony and made available to journalists reveals that the MOU was co-signed by Dr. Marshall Odede, a board member in ARDENET ORG, and Comrade Inegbedion F. Irabor, the BoT (1) in ASNAT.
It emphasises that the collaboration is to be implemented through coordinated institutional development, policy engagement, skills advancement, and sustainable economic empowerment initiatives.
The statement explains that the collaboration represents a major milestone toward building a more structured, inclusive, and economically productive artisan ecosystem capable of contributing significantly to sustainable livelihoods, youth empowerment, and internally generated revenue (IGR) growth within Edo State.
RATIONALE FOR THE COLLABORATION
The statement further reveals that the partnership between ARDENET ORG and ASNAT was established in recognition of the critical role artisans play within the informal economy and the urgent need to address long-standing challenges affecting the sector, including the following:
1. Fragmented leadership and weak institutional coordination.
2. Limited policy representation and government integration.
3. Inadequate access to structured training and certification systems
4. Poor digital registration and data management frameworks.
5. Limited economic inclusion and market opportunities.
6. Weak revenue and formalization systems within the artisan economy.
Both organizations recognize that sustainable transformation of the artisan sector requires a unified, transparent, and policy-driven approach that combines technical expertise, grassroots mobilization, institutional accountability, and strategic partnerships.
The collaboration therefore seeks to bridge these gaps through coordinated action and long-term institutional reforms.
OBJECTIVES OF THE COLLABORATION
The collaboration aims to achieve the following strategic objectives:
1. Strengthen institutional coordination and leadership structures within the artisan sector.
2. Promote inclusive policy dialogue and government engagement for improved artisan sector representation.
3. Develop sustainable systems for artisan registration, certification, and digital data management.
4. Enhance skills development, innovation, and entrepreneurship opportunities for artisans.
5. Improve economic empowerment and livelihood opportunities across artisan communities.
6. Support increased internally generated revenue (IGR) through structured artisan formalization systems.
7. Promote gender inclusion and participation of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) within the skill and artisan economy.
8. Build long-term partnerships with government institutions, development partners, private sector organizations, and civil society stakeholders.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLANS
The collaboration will adopt a multi-stakeholder engagement model designed to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, accountability, and sustainable implementation.
Key stakeholder engagement strategies will include the following:
1. Government Engagement
⚡ Continuous engagement with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs)
⚡ Policy dialogue sessions and technical consultations.
⚡ Collaboration with Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) and relevant ministries.
2. Development Partner Engagement.
⚡ Donor consultations and partnership meetings.
⚡ Submission of concept notes and strategic funding proposals.
⚡ Joint implementation and reporting mechanisms.
3. Community & Artisan Engagement
⚡ Grassroots consultations through ASNAT state and LGA structures.
⚡ Inclusive participation
Women, youth, and PWD artisans shall be included.
⚡ Town hall meetings and sector-based stakeholder forums include:
4. Private Sector Engagement
⚡ Corporate partnership development
⚡ Skills and entrepreneurship support collaborations
⚡ Sponsorship and investment engagement initiatives
5. Media & Public Communication
⚡ Press briefings/statement and media partnerships
⚡ Public awareness campaigns
⚡ Transparency and accountability communication systems.
CONCLUSION
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding marks the beginning of a transformative partnership committed to building a stronger, more organized, and economically viable artisan sector in Edo State.
ARDENET.ORG and ASNAT reaffirmed their shared commitment to transparency, collaboration, sustainable development, as well as inclusive economic empowerment as they work together with stakeholders toward achieving long-term socio-economic impact.
The document was signed by both the presidents and board representatives on 13th May, 2026.
