First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Tuesday, July 2, inaugurated the selection process for the #OneNigeria/Unity Fabric competition, aimed at promoting national unity and celebrating the country’s diverse cultures.
Speaking at the selection meeting, held in her office at the State House, Abuja, First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu explained that the concept was inspired by her visit to Zimbabwe, where she discovered the National Fabric concept, which unifies the nation by infusing diverse cultures.
According to the First Lady, the competition, which was open to youths between the ages of 15 to 25 years, received 111 entries, which will be judged by a panel of fashion industry experts, including Princess Zainab Abbah Folawiyo and Banke Kuku.
She said the winning design and the winner will be announced in September this year, with a prize of N20 million to support the winner’s education or business venture.
The selected fabric will be produced locally and launched on October 1, 2024.
“In December 2023, when I visited Zimbabwe for the Launch of #WeAreEqual unifying campaign of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), I came across the concept of a National Fabric that they have, and I believe this concept is a unifying one, where we can infuse our diverse cultures and break down tribal barriers to identify as a people of one Nation.
“So, I decided that it would be a good idea to have a similar experience.
Upon my arrival, at one of the meetings of the Governing Council of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), I mooted the idea, and we all agreed to it. We therefore called for entries for the #OneNigeria/Unity Fabric Competition in February 2024 for our youth between the ages of 15 and 25. Entries closed on the 30th of June, 2024.
“We cannot choose a design without bringing on board those who are notable in the fashion industry. Today, we have two (2) judges from the fashion industry, representing 2 distinct generations of fashion and style to assist us in the selection process.
“Princess Zainab Abbah Folawiyo has been at the forefront of the fashion industry for over 60 years. Her fashion label, LABANELLA is a much sought-after design across the continent and beyond. BANKE KUKU, on the other hand, is an international textile and fashion designer whose pieces are stocked in famous retail outlets across Europe, America, and the Middle East.
“These experts will join and assist our Renewed Hope Initiative Governing Council members and some friends of RHI who are joining us today to select the winning design that will be adopted as our Unity Fabric.
“The winner of the #OneNigeria/Unity Fabric Competition will be announced in September 2024 together with the chosen design. The winner would be presented with a prize money of Twenty Million Naira (N20,000,000) to be channelled into his or her education or business venture.
“Fabric from this design will be produced by our local manufacturers and will be launched for use on the 1st of October, 2024. Altogether, we have One Hundred and Eleven Entries that we will be selecting from. For all those who sent in entries, I say well done”, the First Lady said.
The First Lady expressed her appreciation to the judges, guests, and participants, emphasizing that the initiative aims to break down tribal barriers and promote national identity.
Also speaking to newsmen, the two esteemed fashion industry experts serving as judges for the #OneNigeria/Unity Fabric competition, Folawiyo and Kuku, shared the criteria they will be evaluated to select the winning design.
When asked what she would be looking for in the designs, Folawiyo stated, “I will be looking for creativity and what the designers did, then I will decide.”
Kuku, an international textile and fashion designer with a global presence, elaborated on her criteria. “I will be looking for creativity, excitement, a design that sort of brings together Nigerians, something that represents each tribe. I am also looking for potential, and someone who has a passion and a drive for textile designs,” she said.
Kuku emphasised the importance of the design’s ability to unite Nigerians and represent the country’s diversity. “I am also looking for potential as well, maybe a design that can have such an amazing journey, you know it starts off this way, and through the production process it grows into something better,” she added.
