The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ronke Ademiluyi

  • RONKE ADEMILUYI: Beauty not our priority

    Ronke Ademiluyi is the initiator of African Fashion Week London, and global ambassador for Moremi Ajasaro initiatives.
    In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she opens up on the focus of Queen Moremi, the musical, running a cultural pageant to inspire young girls into leadership roles, mentoring from women achievers, new directions for African Fashion Week London, and moving to other parts of the world.

    WHAT is taking your attention at the moment?

    As at this moment, it is Queen Moremi Ajasoro, the musical. This is a stage play that we developed in collaboration with Bolanle Austen Peters and His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife

    We developed the story of Moremi into a play to make it more attractive. To encourage them to take up more leadership roles and be good citizens.

    Was it the project that was launched last year?

    Yes, we launched it last year in December and we had about 27 shows and a sold out audience at about 10,000 people who came to watch. So, we are bringing it back again at Easter.

    What was the experience last year?

    The experience was amazing and all the shows were sold out and fully packed. People wanted more and that is why we are bringing it back. We achieved more than we wanted, far beyond that expectation. This Easter we are bringing it back, we have improved on it and it is going to be better from 15th April to 5th May. This is all about supporting great leadership and we are trying to use the story of Moremi to encourage women to take up more leadership roles in politics, private and public sphere. Whatever they want to go into and to use Moremi as a benchmark.

    Why are you interested in women aspiring for leadership roles?

    I am the global ambassador for Queen Moremi Ajasoro Initiatives and we have loads of projects under the initiative. It was initially driven by his Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife. My role is to execute and the Ooni is a great supporter of youths and women. We think that the story of Moremi cuts across, she was a great leader. Great leaders would always put the love of their people before themselves and that was what she was able to do. What makes the story more unique was that she was also a woman. So, we are encouraging young women to take up leadership roles. Don’t think that because you are a woman, things have to be handed to you. You have to go out and earn them.

    What are the other projects that you are handling?

    We also have the Moremi cultural pageants which we do annually as well. It started in 2016 before the musical. Here, young girls go online and apply from age 18 to 25 years and we screen them. After screening, we take them to a boot camp where we teach them a lot of things about our culture, the way to behave as a woman and we have a grand finale where a winner emerges. The winner gets a car and a cash prize as well as become a young culture ambassador. We have it like a reality show.

    What do you look out for in the girls?

    Leadership skills, boldness and courage. They are in camp for about two weeks and there is a lot going on like bickering, back biting and fighting in the process. Can you imagine having about 40 young women together in one place? So, we tend to look out for the ones who can manage, who are good leaders, who set examples as opposed to the ones who are always fighting each other.

    Over the years, the skinny or slim girl is usually the most sought after. What do you look out for?

    For us, it is not really about how they look. It is not important. Yes, they have to look okay but look is not

    something we scale for them. It is more about intelligence. The 2016/2017 winner was a dentist; she just graduated as a dentist. The 2017/2018 winner graduated as an automobile engineer with a first class .While the 2018 winner is a 20-year-old and she is in her fourth year studying English at the Obafemi Awolowo University. So, it is more of brains; we need to have more of that. It is good to have beauty and brains. There is no point having beauty without brains.

    Are you satisfied with the outcome so far?

    We are satisfied and last year we had her Excellency, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun, who hosted the grand finale of the pageant in Ogun State. The girls saw her as a role model and she spoke to them. They saw her as a mother and a role model and the experience was really inspiring.

    We would like more women, elderly women, to get involved and be able to mentor these young women. Usually, they don’t have a lot of women that they can aspire to be like and we have a lot of these elderly women out there. Women who have done so much, but the young women don’t know about them. We are therefore trying to use the Moremi platform to bring them together like a mentoring platform.

    In one of the years, precisely in 2017, we had the International Women’s Society led by Ego Boyo. They came to Ife and they had a mentoring session with the girls. We would like to have more of that.

    What is this year’s event going to be like?

    The musical is this Easter while the pageant starts in July. The application form is on and we would like more women to get involved to be able to use this platform to reach out to younger women to support them in terms of advice and talking to them. I remember when we were growing up. We had things in school then like Girls Guide, Brownies and stuffs like that. I don’t think that exist anymore or it is not so popular. So, we actually need women to inspire young women and that is what we want to use the platform for. All our achievers can tell their stories and this will definitely inspire the young ones.

    Queen Moremi sounds like a Southwest thing. Is it basically for girls in the Southwest or are you taking it to other parts of the country?

    From the pageants, it is southwest or at least one of the parents of the participants must be from the Southwest because they must be able to understand our culture and the language. Some of the questions that we do ask them is in Yoruba and it will be unfair if we bring someone who is Igbo or Hausa and throw questions to them in Yoruba and they cannot answer.

    A lot of Yoruba children can’t speak the language fluently. Are there other things you can do to encourage them to do this?

    We published the book Moremi in both Yoruba and English, which we launched in 2017 at the Obafemi Awolowo University. What kabiyesi wants is for the book to be distributed as part of the curriculum in schools in Nigeria. So, they can use it to learn Yoruba. But I think parents need to be educated that it is important to allow your children to speak your native language. It doesn’t stop them from speaking English. If you look at the Chinese, Indians, you will find that they speak their language at home but their kids still speak impeccable English because when they go to school, that is what they learn.

    What did you discover doing the pageant and the musicals?

    I have learnt how to manage people, especially young people. Even the fashion week, I work with young people as well. About 70 per cent of the people who work with us during the fashion week are young people. From the models, we have a platform for young designers, make-up artistes and fashion stylists. So, I have learnt how to manage young people about how to deal with them and how to be patient. I believe that working with them needs a lot of patience.

    Let’s talk about the fashion week. When are you having the next edition?

    This year, it will hold between 9th and 10th of August in London. This is our ninth year in London and it is the biggest platform that showcases African fashion in UK and Europe. We started in 2011. The first outing was at Gibson Hall and next year would be our 10th year. We are six years in Nigeria this December and we are starting in Dubai and Atlanta this year. So, we are moving out to other countries as well.

    How would you assess your performance with the fashion week over the years? What has changed?

    We are the pioneer African Fashion Week and all the African Fashion Week that were established in other regions came after us. So, we must have been doing something good for other people to want to do what we are doing. Africa fashion has gone global. I call it a fashion revolution that is here to stay. Initially, when we started in 2011, people thought it was just something that would come and go. But, because our designers are so innovative and creative they bring different things out every year and even the big brands globally are always looking into Africa now. They are inspired by African fashion. If you also look at celebrities from Rihanna to Janet Jackson, the housewives of Atlanta, they are all incorporating African fashion into what they wear. So, it is a fashion statement that has come to stay.

  • Diversification will boost economy – Lai Mohammed

    Diversification will boost economy – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji  Lai Mohammed, has said the nation has gradually commenced the diversification of its economy from oil to creative industry to boost internally generated revenue ( IGR ) and meet international standard.

    Mohammed, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Grace Gekpe, stated this during the grand finale of Queen Moremi Ajasoro (QMA) beauty pageant at Oriental Hotel in Lagos.

    The event ended in the early hours of Monday.

    The minister said the government was focusing its attention on developing the creative sector as an alternative means of boosting the nation’s economy.

    “The ministry has discovered that the creative industry is an alternative to oil and that is why we are doing a lot to support the sector,” he said

    According to him, the creative industry is an area that opens up employment opportunities for talented youths, thereby, reducing unemployment and possible youthful crimes.

    Mohammed commended Princess Ronke Ademiluyi, the Heritage Ambassador to QMA, for her efforts in promoting culture, and advised other groups to encourage the youths to develop more interest in promoting their cultures.

    “Promoters of our culture and tradition such as Princess Ademiluyi should be encouraged because she is complementing the efforts of the government to ensure that our culture does not go into extinction.

    “Such a cultural pageant as the QMA will also empower young girls not only to learn their traditional language and history, but also make them to be creative and productive,” he said.

    The minister also encouraged more groups in the entertainment industry to key into programmes that would promote Made-in-Nigerian fabrics, foods, dances and local languages which would make the country the world’s tourist attraction.

    The 2017 QMA pageant produced 22 year-old, Oluwatosin Shola-Shittu, an indigene of Ikere Ekiti , Ekiti State as the new queen.

    Shola-Shittu emerged the winner out of no fewer than 500 young girls who registered for the second edition of QMA cultural beauty pageant.

    Shola-Shittu received a cash prize of N5 million, which she was expected to use for investment as part of the empowerment programme of youths initiated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the patron of the pageant.

    The new queen was crowned by the outgoing queen, Blessing Animasahun.

    NAN

  • Queen Moremi Ajasoro pageant will reawaken cultural values in youths – Ooni

    Queen Moremi Ajasoro pageant will reawaken cultural values in youths – Ooni

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has said that the introduction of the Queen Moremi Ajasoro ( QMA ) beauty pageant is to  reawaken  cultural values and responsibilities among  Nigerian youths, especially, girls.

    The traditional ruler who spoke through the ambassador of QMA, Princess Ronke Ademiluyi, ahead of the  the forthcoming Queen Moremi Pageant contest slated for Dec. 3.

    According to him, our youths are gradually abandoning the cherished African  cultures and traditions and are replacing them with foreign cultures that are not in any way superior to ours.

    “The youths of today know little or nothing about our cultural legends.”

    Ogunwusi noted that values such  as selflessness, courage, patriotism and discipline, which the legendary Queen Moirémi Ajasoro exhibited in her lifetime, should be the  models  for contemporary and future  Nigerian youths.

    “The idea behind organising this contest is to recreate the legacies  of the revered Queen Moremi Ajasoro, impart them in our  young ladies of today to  prepare them for  future responsibilities as wives, mothers,community  and nation builders” he said.

    Ogunwusi said that he had set aside N5 million as registration fees to encourage the first 1,000 would-be participants for this year’s contest who might not have the financial means to obtain the forms.

    “I am, therefore, encouraging more young girls to embrace this exceptional opportunity of free registration,” he said.

    Ogunwusi also said that the contest was  opened  to young girls  from ages 18 years to 25 years.

    He said for eligibility, one or both parents of any  contestant must be of Yoruba lineage, from Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Kwara and Kogi states.

    Also, Princess Ademiluyi,told NAN that , the new queen on emergence  would become the cultural ambassador to the Ooni of Ife, and would always accompany him as part of his entourage on foreign trips.

    “The 2017 winner will receive a star prize of  N5 million  to set up her own business, a saloon car, wardrobe allowance and other mouth-watering gifts.

    “In addition, she will have access to business advice from experts to ensure  the success of such business ,” Ademiluyi said.

    She added that all applicants who registered for QMA contest  would benefit from the empowerment forum that would take place during the auditions on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31,2017.

    “The cultural contest is a way of promoting our heroic legacies of Moremi Ajasoro which will continue to endure in the chronicles of both Yoruba and world histories,” she said.

    The current queen; Blessing Animasahun, a 600 – level Dental-Surgery student of the University of Ibadan, was crowned by the Ooni of Ife in 2016 in Ile-Ife.

    NAN

  • Africa Fashion Week London to feature over 100 African designers, exhibitors

    Africa Fashion Week London to feature over 100 African designers, exhibitors

    Over 100 African fashion designers and exhibitors will feature at the 7th edition of Africa Fashion Week between Aug.11, 2017 and Aug.12, 2017 at the Grand hall of the Freemasons in London.

    Ronke Ademiluyi, founder, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria/London (AFWNL), disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

    She said that the event would be an exhibition of the African fashion whose creations had become unique designs and brands.

    She said that the designers and exhibitors would be coming from Ghana, Togo, Kenya, South Africa, Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, Senegal, Uganda, and Cameroon.

    “Some Nigerian designers that will, also, be participating include Signature Secret, Neopele, Lady Biba, Step Up, Sheila Black Style, House of Bo and Joela Bags.

    “The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), will lead a delegation of Nigeria’s best emerging designers that will also be accompanied by the Council’s  catwalk show,’’ she said.

    Ademiluyi also told NAN that no fewer than 10,000 guests were expected to grace the two-day show at the Freemasons Hall in London to be entertained by 60 catwalk shows with daily exhibitions.

    “This year’s show will hold in two days; with five shows, that will have 60 designers on the catwalk, along 40 exhibitors,’’ she said

    Ademiluyi said that the African show would be part of activities to promote African fashion before the international community.

    “Africa Fashion Week London, a sister event to the just concluded Africa Fashion Week Nigeria, is a celebration of African designs, talents and diverse ethnic fashions in the United Kingdom (UK).

    “It is going to be a celebration of African designs, talents and the diverse ethnic influences that contribute to the development of fashion industry in the UK.

    “Samson Soboye, an established London-based fashion stylist and a creative director behind the brand `Afro chic’ who has worked as a freelance stylist for publications will be our head stylist for AFWL 2017 ,” she said.

    She said that since the debut of the programme in 2011, it had been identifying and promoting new and emerging designers inspired by the rich culture of Africa and contemporary designs.

    The princess said that AFWL had become Europe’s largest event for African and African inspired fashion.

    Ademiluyi said that the show was conceived at promoting new and emerging designers that were inspired by the rich African culture incorporated into contemporary designs.

    She said that AFWL had become the platform through which designers boost their creativity in African fashion at international markets, as well as the nation’s tourism industry.

    Ademiluyi, founder of Africa Fashion Week London/Nigeria, said that Africans should appreciate what they had and make efforts to promote them to the rest of the world.

    NAN reports that the 2017 Africa Fashion Week, Nigeria organised in conjunction with the Lagos State Government, in April and June, showcased the nation’s iconic pride with the theme: “ Celebrating the vibrant Pulse of Africa’’.

  • Govt can solve unemployment by investing more in textile/fashion industry – Awolowo

    Govt can solve unemployment by investing more in textile/fashion industry – Awolowo

    Mr Segun Awolowo, the Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), says government must invest more in the fashion/textile industry to solve the rate of  unemployment in the country.

    Awolowo said that the industry was a viable sector to invest in because the country is blessed with a vast land to cultivate cotton; the major raw material required by the fashion industry.

    He said these as the grand finale of the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) 2017 held at the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.

    According to him, the country’s goal is to position the manufacturing industry as a viable sector for boosting the non-oil export sector so as to increase its economic growth.

    The NEPC boss said the government would be achieving this by investing in the textile industry that would serve as the spring board for the resuscitation of the fashion industry.

    Awolowo commended Ronke Ademiluyi, the founder of AFWN for initiating the fashion show that tends to promote African fabrics and designs.

    He advised the exhibitors and designers to improve on their present standards so that their products would be able to compete with their peers internationally.

    “ The fashion industry presents a great opportunity in boosting our country’s export globally.

    “The government recognises these potential in our fashion designers and exhibitors but they need to improve on the values and contents of their products.

    “ Ademiluyi has demonstrated that Nigerians will sustain this initiative in response to the government’s projection going by her activities,” he said.

    Also, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, advised the government to empower the country’s youths so that they could become self-reliant, self-dependent and self-sustaining.

    Oba Ogunwusi, the patron of AFWN, represented by Chief  Adebanjo Adetinu said that the government could achieve this by identifying and supporting  the creativity potential among youths.

    The traditional ruler said this was projected in the Africa fashion week programmes where fashion designers and exhibitors displayed their talents to the admiration of the guests and visitors.

    Ogunwusi, the grand patron of AFWN, said the artistic creativity of both the models and designers would fill up the vacuum created by unemployment among youths.

    “Such an innovation by Ronke Ademiluyi is filling the vacuum created by unemployment among our youths.

    “She only needs more sponsors to boost the project,” he said.

    Another community leader from Ife, Chief  Babatunde Adetokunbo, advised other fashion promoters to emulate AFWN by  celebrating and boosting the nation’s culture and tradition through their creativity.

    “Our culture is worth celebrating; we should be proud of it.

    “What Ronke is doing is worth emulating, we should display and celebrate our culture, it is unique and I am proud of it,” he said.

  • Four African countries to participate in Lagos fashion show

    Four African countries to participate in Lagos fashion show

    Four African countries, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana and Zambia have confirmed their participation in the African Fashion carnival, scheduled for Lagos on June 3 and June 4.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the African Fashion Week, Ms. Ronke Ademiluyi, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

    She said that top models and designers from the four countries would be joining their Nigerian counterparts to showcase the best in contemporary African fashion.

    The carnival is billed for the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

    Ademiluyi, who has been promoting the show yearly since 2014 in Lagos and London, said that the designers would showcase their skills alongside 52 top Nigerian fashion makers.

    According to her, the event is meant to promote African cultural values, to make African fashion outputs competitive in the international arena.

    “Leading African designers, who have featured in fashion shows in Morocco, Senegal and London, will add colour to the show, using colourful African prints to create shapes and quality garments.

    “The catwalk will showcase African designers’ global cultural experiences and their rich heritage, which will be the highpoint of the two-day show.’’

    Ademiluyi cited the Senegalese designer, Eve, as a unisex `haute couture’ brand, who focuses on evening street wears and accessories.

    “The Cameroonian designer, Alexander II Akande, aims to redefine the public perception of African fashion, challenging established ideas with the use of African fabrics such as Ankara.

    “The designer from Zambia, Africawala, bridges western and African fashion, local arts and crafts, joining efforts with the Ghanaian designer, Nipo Skin, to display traditional fabrics in African styles.

    Ademiluyi said the decision to use the National Theatre was to bring the creativity of African fashion to the culture pantheon as represented by the National Theatre.

    “The National Theatre in Lagos is where Africa’s culture was showcased in all its grandeur 40 years ago.

    “That was the very place that Nigeria hosted World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC 77), if we do not appreciate what we have, nobody will blow our trumpet for us.”

    She said the Africa Fashion Week, which commenced in 2014 in Lagos and London had provided a platform for fashion and cultural enterprises to project the diversity of Africa’s rich heritage.

  • Aficianado wants African fabrics adopted as official outfits

    Aficianado wants African fabrics adopted as official outfits

    Ronke Ademiluyi, Founder, Africa Fashion Week, London and Nigeria, says that Nigerians and indeed Africans should adopt African prints (Ankara) as official attires since they are becoming household wears.

    Ademiluyi, who made the assertion while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos about the upcoming Africa Fashion Week Nigeria, said Nigerians should be proud of their own.

    She said that it was not enough wearing Ankara mostly on Fridays, adding: “It should be adopted officially for workers and even by schools.

    “We adopted the wax print over 150 years ago, but we have turned it into our own.

    “Our traditional symbols have been used on the fabrics to pass massages,’’ she said.

    According to her, particular prints are synonymous with passing different messages and most of our textile factories adopt patterns of prints that evolve around our African cultures.

    “If great men and public figures in international communities put on the Ankara proudly, then why can’t we promote what is our own?

    “If we don’t blow our trumpet, who will do it for us?’’

    She also noted that if given the right skills through training and opportunities, the business of fashion could lift a lot of people out of poverty.

    “Promoting our local fabrics is a step to achieving this,’’ she said.

    Ademiluyi described adopting local fabrics as official wears as promoting Africa’s colourful and rich heritage, bringing spunk and new energy to style and fashion across the continent.

    She said the African fashion had grown so big in London that it had become a promotional tool for the country and it currently had a high demand internationally.

    “African fashion industry is currently worth 31 billion dollars; so, we must collaborate to promote it within our country; we should be proud of our culture because it is rich.

    “In trying to infuse our culture with the western world, we must not forget the values it is worth.

    “People should not fail to see the beauty and richness of the Nigerian culture,’’ she said.

    She further advised groups and organisations to make local fabrics compulsory dress codes for their staff as a way of boosting sales and promoting designers.

    “We should transform our local fabrics to official wears just as the international community use suits as formal dress code,’’ she said.

    Ademiluyi said that the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN), scheduled to hold between June 3 and June 4, was committed to staying true to its African heritage.

    “We tend to achieve this in conjunction with governments by organising cultural promotion through fashion,’’ she said.

    NAN reports that the AFWN with the theme, “Celebrating the Vibrant Pulse of Africa’’, will hold at the National Theatre on June 3 and June 4.

    According to her, the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, where Africa’s culture was showcased in all its grandeur and splendour 40 years ago, represents the nation’s pride.

    The programme, she said, was dedicated to the promotion of Africa’s heritage with designers creating concepts from African prints and fabrics.

    “Long term growth of the fashion industry is grounded on developing initiatives to ensure that Nigeria remains the centre of fashion and a leader at the forefront of creativity.

    “The best of Africa’s emerging and established fashion talents will be showcased at this historic monument to reflect the dynamism of African fashion and a reflection of our roots,’’ she said.

    Africa Fashion Week is based both in Nigeria and London and it is the biggest platform for young and upcoming Nigerian and African designers to promote Nigerian made fabrics and designs.

  • African fashion market hits $31bn – Europe

    African fashion market hits $31bn – Europe

    The founder, Africa Fashion Week London/Nigeria Ronke Ademiluyi says that the annual turnover from African fashion in Europe is about $31 billion.

    Ademiluyi, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos said that African designers are very creative which made their work to stand out.

    Cue in audio

    “The African fashion industry has according to the Euro monitor is worth $31 billion, annually and it is still growing.

    “A lot of big brands like the Swedish IKIA are doing a flagship collection of African furniture and require many African designers to work with them.

    “So for me, I think it’s a new revolution of African fashion it’s not going anywhere, it’s here to stay, our colours are vibrant and bold and everybody loves them so it’s a worldwide revolution.

    “The first year we had 53 designers from across Africa and 4, 500 visitors, and it’s been growing every year, it’s the biggest platform in the UK and Europe that promotes African fashion.

    “Every year we have about 20, 000 visitors who attend we have designers from various African countries, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, from all over the world.

    “They come and they experience the latest fashion out of Africa.’’

    Cue out audio

    She said that the recently concluded 2017 Africa Fashion Week, Nigeria “The Iconic Catwalk Show”, was a boost for Nigerian prints, fashion display and iconic sites to the world.

    NAN reports that the 2017 fashion week had in attendance over 10 fashion designers from Nigeria, Cameroon and Zimbabwe who presented models that showcased their creativeness in catwalks.

    Some of the designers included Vonnie Couture, Yikodeen (footwear), Valery Royal (Cameroon), Nyaradzai (Zimbabwe) and Telvin Nwafor.

    The highlight was the cultural show by Lixi Cardow, a fashion designer who displayed designs made from ABC fabrics (local Ankara) in various styles.

  • Nigerian Fashion set the pace in Africa – Ademiluyi

    Nigerian Fashion set the pace in Africa – Ademiluyi

    Ronke Ademiluyi, Founder of the Africa Fashion Week on Tuesday said that Nigerian fashion industry is a pacesetter in the African fashion community.

    Ademiluyi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that Nigerians designs were creative and laced with cultural finesse.

    NAN reports that Ademiluyi is a UK based Nigerian fashion expert and entrepreneur.

    According to Ademiluyi, “The fashion industry in Nigeria set the trend and everybody else follows. We are very bold; we are very vibrant our designers are very creative.

    “When we started Africa Fashion Week, the majority of our designers came from Nigeria.

    “Initially when we started, we started with 50 designers about 40 of them came from Nigeria.

    “The reason why we were able to accommodate them was because their designs were out of this world, very innovative, very creative.

    “The following year other designers from other countries copying what we have done. So, I think we set the trend when it comes to Africa fashion.

    “We try to impact the knowledge that we have gained from hosting fashion weeks over the years unto the designers.”

    In the same vein, Aiki Odiawa, Managing Director of a fashion brand, said that many African and Nigerian designers have benefitted immensely from the African Fashion Week.

    Odiawa said, “The designers have gained a lot. We have showcased over 800 up and coming African and Nigerian designers.

    “Without our platform, a lot of them would not have the awareness, the recognition they have now.

    “When we started in 2011 there wasn’t a platform that promoted African or Nigerian brands.

    “We are the pioneers of the African Fashion Industry. The African Fashion industry, according to the Euro Monitor is worth $31 Billion now.

    “A lot of big brands are now doing a flagship collection of African furniture and we’ve hired a lot of African designers to work with them so, it’s a new revolution of African fashion.”

    NAN reports that Africa Fashion Week Nigeria made its debut in 2014 with the aim of providing a platform to help promote Nigeria Brands through worldwide visibility.

     

  • ‘Fashion can boost Nigeria’s iconic cities’

    ‘Fashion can boost Nigeria’s iconic cities’

    The founder, Africa Fashion Week London/Nigeria, Ronke Ademiluyi, says that fashion can be used as a veritable platform to enhance the profile of the nations iconic cities.

    Ademiluyi made the assertion during a visit to the Lagos office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Tuesday.

    According to her, we realized that most of our historic monuments are going down and we need to sell it to the outside world to draw them into our country.

    “Nigeria has the potential to become one of the biggest tourism havens in Africa, if we do not promote what we have as our own heritage, no one will do it for us.

    “I mean 10 top countries, its going in billions and trillions, look at little Gambia, in fact, their economy is on tourism, nine months of the year, they are earning from tourism,’’ she said.

    Ademuliyi said that African Fashion Industry was worth about 31 billion dollars and still growing by the day.

    “There is recognition for the African fashion industry across the globe, and we are trying to encourage upcoming designers to have a platform that will boost our tourism industry,’’ she added.

    In the same vein, Aiki Odiawa, a partner in the Africa Fashion Week London/Nigeria, said there was a cyclical effect of the fashion industry on the economy

    “Nigerian designers are very vibrant and unique, they have what it takes to turn the fashion industry into economic gain by diverting fashion traffic into the country,’’ she said.

    She said that Africa fashion week started in London with over 50 designers of which 40 were from Nigeria.

    “The Nigerian fashion industry sets the pace in the fashion industry. When we set the ball rolling, everyone will follow.

    “In Brazil, they want to know everything about African culture and Nigeria has it; we have reached the historical “Point of No Return’’ that the government has just refurbished, let the foreign visitors go there.

    “At the end of the day, we are looking at a balance of payment in terms of Forex; we are talking about Forex not coming into the country.

    “But when these people come in they spend foreign currency, and we must grow the market ourselves and show them what we have.

    “I’m sure people in Lagos haven’t even been to Tinubu Square in recent times, it is an amazing place to go to now, the National Theatre is an edifice that is worth coming down to look at.

    “We all queue in front of Madam Tussaud in London, we queue in front of Eiffel Tower in Paris, it’s the same thing, and we are even better off because we’ve got stories to tell.

    “We’ve got tales to tell, those are all artificial pieces that were made there, but we have stories to tell about all the things we have.

    “For the country, we are talking about hospitality business, we are talking foreign exchange, we are talking inflow of air travel and road travel.

    “And even tourism within the country would be improved by the time people know that there are things for them to see, it will educate our children.

    She told NAN that the forthcoming 2017 Africa Fashion Week, Nigeria, tagged “The Iconic Catwalk Show’’ would take place at the National Theatre and Tinubu Square on April 1 and April 2 respectively.