Indigenous fashion can bridge widening unemployment gap in Nigeria – Adaora Soludo
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Adaora Soludo, the daughter of Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo says the widening unemployment gap in Nigeria can be bridged if the citizens and government can explore the opportunities in indigenous fabrics.
Adaora stated this on Wednesday while addressing newsmen at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, in Awka South Local Government Area of the state, in preparation to her “Anambra Fashion Expo 2022,” to be held on Friday.
She said government creation of an ecosystem where indigenous fashion can thrive and made available for export will not only boost the country’s economy but provide jobs for the teeming youths who are wallowing in employment and poverty.
According to her, “Fashion has been one of mankind’s modes of expression from time immemorial. Through fashion, our people have been able to communicate without saying a word. Expressing their rich heritage, their diversity, their ingenuity with every strand in the fabric serving as a genetic code passing down the expressions of the great and proud people that came before us.”
She said while culture was dynamic and would evolve over time, cultural identities were resilient and must find expression in-between times.
“The Akwete fabric is the only surviving piece of indigenous textile cultivated, woven, sewn and worn by ndị Igbo of Southeast, Nigeria.
“Fashion is not just a basic need for humans, it is also a means of subsistence for many.”
She said Aorah which is her business name, over the years, sort to provide cultural contexts to fashion whether they are Western, African, Nigerian or Igbo, nothing that the craft of fashion can be best appreciated from autochtonous perspective.
She lauded Anambra state government for promoting locally-made products in Nigeria one of which is the Akwete fabric.
“The Akwete fabric is the only surviving piece of indigenous textile cultivated, woven, sewn and worn by ndị Igbo of Southeast, Nigeria.
“Akwete, like every other fabric, is colourful and confers a unique feeling of royalty on its wearers. It can be dimensioned in line with the designer’s choice, fit for quick urban wears, and for all classes of social events.”
“This resilient piece of colourful clothing faces the threat of extinction by a number of social and economic factors.
She said her maiden Fashion Expo 2022 will celebrate the resilience of the Akwete women who have over the years ensured that the akwete fabric found a space on the country’s fashion map.
Also speaking, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, Head of AORAH Operations and Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on New Media said the Fashion Expo will be a one day event, divided into three segments.
“The first is the exhibition which would be like a trade fare for everything fashion, and it would run from 8am to 6pm
“The next is the Masterclass. It would commence at exactly 9am to 12pm. And the final segment would be the fashion runway show, which would commence at exactly 3pm to 6pm,” Opara stated.
The event is sponsored by Fidelity Bank Plc, and takes place at the International Convention Centre, Awka, Anambra State.
