The European Union (EU) has indicated interest to help Nigeria revive its moribund textile industry to boost Nigeria’s products in the fashion sector and add value to the Nigerian economy while improving the creativity of the teeming youths in the sector.
The Head of EU Delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Samuela Isopi raised the hope of possible rehabilitation of Nigerian textile industry through EU support during a press conference ahead of the 1st Afro-Euro Fashion Runway Show which took place in Abuja on Friday.
Isopi said the EU is ready to work with the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ensure the success of the private sector, especially in the area of fashion.
She stated “I hope the new administration will help partner with the private sector to help create an environment where we can really help the sector in general.
“Textile is one of those because it really creates a lot of jobs. So this is our first objective.
“My role and that of our member states is to create the platform and then it is up to the Nigeria private sector and of course private companies from Europe.”
The words of Ambassador Isopi are encouraging that the EU could increase its investment in Nigerian textile industry and help the country produce its varied brands of fabrics that were famous in the 1980s before the sector went into coma due to inefficiency and corruption. Therefore Nigeria awaits a huge investment from the EU in this sector as the bloc is one of Nigeria’s biggest trading partners in the world.
The productivity and the much needed jobs in the textile industry can only be guaranteed with massive investment by the EU but the Nigerian government has the task to create the enabling environment.
Afro-Euro runway Fashion show is a cultural relation but it has a business potential that can benefit both sides if properly harnessed. Nigeria therefore needs the productive capacity to be self-sufficient on fashion products that can compete with the rest of the world instead of the current over-dependence on imported textile and fashion products.
It was instructive that the Fashion show was an extraordinary initiative because it brought together so many talents as young Nigerians distinguished themselves during the show.
The Afro-Euro fashion show with the theme: “Fusion of Culture through Fashion” produced seven finalists who show-cased their designs at the event. Four candidates later emerged to cart away the prizes available.
Fashion is about skills and innovation and it connects people and strengthens relations especially Europe and Nigeria. Nigeria has the wealth of young people who are skilled, talented and innovative to develop the sector and must take advantage of 2023 which is considered as the European year of skills.
Isopi was also joined by a renowned fashion designer, Paolo Sisiano; Enioluwa Adeoluwa, the EU Brand Ambassador and an Influencer, and CEO of the Abuja Fashion Academy Mrs. Nine Kwande as judges during the process of selecting the winners.
The Afro-Euro fashion runway show had 124 designers who sent in their designs and after the preliminary stage, seven finalists were selected and qualified to participate in the Runway show, at the end of which four emerged winners.
The winners were: Aleshinloye, a.k.a Kadiju (1st); Samira Mohammed a.k.a Sultana (2nd); Oluchi George a.k.a Malite (3rd); and Happiness Miwori a.k.a Jasmineafrik (4th).
The winner, Aleshinloye in her reaction said it was a rare opportunity and amazing for her as a young designer to be recognised at the Afro-Euro Runway show.
“And we’ve only been launched and operational for less than two years.
“I think it’s the hardwork we invested in our brand that made us to be recognised in Nigeria on such a platform. It’s amazing, she said.
The winner of the fashion show will participate in the Madrid Fashion week in September, while the first runner-up will participate in the Dakar Fashion week in December.
