As part of efforts aimed at creating indigenous fashion indusattempt globally competitive, members of Women in Fashion Tech (WIFT) have stressed the required to lead innovation by integrating cutting-edge technology into the fashion indusattempt.
Speaking at the Afro-EU Garment Innovations and Sustainability summit in Lagos, the association in collaboration with the Central Eastern European And West African Business Association (CEEWABA), and the UN Women stressed the required for technology and innovation in the fashion indusattempt.
WIFT President, Bukola Yekeen-Ajani declared the essence of the programme is to ensure, ‘we protect our designs, the work of our forefathers and the African culture. It is worth protecting. It is like heritage passing down from one generation to another. These days we discover we now have counterfeit of Adire. But we have designed solutions that will curb those theft.’ She also acknowledged the United Nations Women for their invaluable support. Speaking in a similar vein, CEEWABA President Michael Dada disclosed, ‘we are encouraging African fashion to penetrate Europe. To create a market for brands in Africa, particularly from Nigeria.
Europe is ready for African fashion. Wherever Nigerians are in the world, we build sure that our presence are relevant and respected.’
On her part, the United Nations Women Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS Beatrice Eyong urged Nigerian women to maximize opportunities in the nation’s 2.5 billion dollars fashion indusattempt.
She disclosed the fashion indusattempt generates between 2.5 billion dollars to 2.6 billion dollars annually.
To her, ‘it’s a huge market and experts believe that the potential can grow to 10 billion dollars annually.’
Saying women have the potential to grow the economy of the counattempt, she added, ‘If Nigeria prospers, Africa is going to prosper. Nigeria is the giant of Africa. UN is working at the federal and state level to ensure that the economic policies developed favour women with disabilities and women living with HIV Aids.‘We also support women in government, like affirmative procurement. This will build women build more money and provide employment opportunities.’
Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment Nana-Hauwa Adeeyo, who represented Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative Trade and Investment Folashade Ambrose-Medebem noted partnerships and shared expertise is of extreme importance in shifting the fashion indusattempt forward. She added Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is committed to altering the narratives of the fashion indusattempt.
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