The African Fashion week which kicked off yesterday with it’s first ever edition of the ‘Textile and Garment Manufacturing Conference’ at the Eko Hotels & Suites Lagos was a tremendous success.
Speaking at the conference were Dr Mustapha Akinwunmi (Hon. Commissioner For Finance Lagos State), The Hon. Minister for Trade and Industry, Aisha Abubakar, Mr Dapo Adelegan (President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce) Mr Akintunde Oyebode (Executive Secretary Lagos State Employment Trust Fund) amongst others.
Dr Mustapha Akinkunmi said that the Lagos state government is at the forefront in making sure that the fashion industry is well developed because it will help solve the problem of unemployment among other social-economic problems in the country.
“The textile and garment industry has a role to play in the growth and development of this country.
He advised Nigerians to take pride in patronizing Nigerian made products so that there would be increase in production thereby increasing the gross domestic product instead of buying inferior quality products from other countries.
“Our love for foreign clothing is killing our economy. Imported clothing is hindering the production of our local products. We should take pride in promoting and using our local fabrics like the asoke, adire, animal skin among others”
He encouraged industrial partners to assist the government in growing this industry.
The Hon.Minister for Trade and Industry, Aisha Abubakar said that the government is working on some initiatives that will help the fashion industry such as creating an enabling environment which will be driven by private sector, Award implementation of NEDEC which is aimed at creating 5million jobs.
She furthered that the Bank of Industry is currently funding solar energy for small and medium-size enterprise.
Mr Dapo Adelegan (President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce) who also spoke at the conference said that the fashion future in Africa is very bright. He stressed need for a fashion hub in Nigeria.
Other confirmed speakers at the conference are Mr. Hamma Ali Kwajaffa, Acting Director General, Nigeria Textile Garment and Tailoring Employers Association; Ms. Jennifer Anoyika, Director General, Nigerian-German Business Association; Ms. Doris Onwugamba Managing Director, Manufacturing Resource Centre; Dr. Peter Kondricz, First Secretary, Embassy of Hungary; Dr. Johannes Flosbach, Head of Performance Management, TGI Group, and Ms. Chioma Nwagbosa, Advisor on Public Partnerships for GIZ (German International Cooperation
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