The CEO of Avatar Communication, Adetutu Jasanya, AKA Avatar, a multiple award winner, has called on the government to fund the Nigerian fashion industry.
Jasanya, an indigene of Ogun State is a model, a beauty pageant organiser and an entrepreneur. She has an 8 years old son who is also a model, entertainer and a dancer.
Avatar Communication which was established in 2009 and registered in 2014, is into modeling, fashion, make up and trains people how to cat walk and also organise pageants. Jasanya said: “I got the name from Nigerian make over show, where I was painted to look like Avatar and naturally, I have the Avatar face.”
The company on annual basis do empowerment programme for youths, around Bariga and other areas of Lagos State. They have empowered about 300 youths, some of who are now their own bosses. The Accounting graduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State disclosed that she ventured into the fashion industry when she could not secure employment after her youth service and no job.
“So because I was a model, if I go for a fashion show, I see the way they do make up for people and I am like I can do it. So I went for the training and after that, I started doing make up. I have done make up for different companies, brands and a stage play by Mrs Ifoma Fafunwa. I have done make up for many beauty pageants, such as Miss Olokun, organised by Aare Gani Adams,” she said.
According to her, one of the challenges facing the orgnisation is sometimes when companies cancel work already booked, which they have to accept due to lack of job in the industry.
“The fashion industry is doing well in developed countries because they invest money in the industry but in Nigeria, we lack funds, we need the Federal Government to support the industry. because there is nobody that does not benefit from fashion,” Jasanya said.
She said she has modelled for City People Magazine but started as an usher, she has modelled for Daviva Calendar. She has walked on the run way for Nigerian Models Achievers Award fashion show and with African Fashion Week Nigeria among others.
She was in Ghana in April 2019 where she did a run way internationally and at the International Fashion Week in Dubai. Recently, she did Glamour Award Fashion Show in Lagos.
Jasanya said Covid-19 has negatively affected the business because they could not move closer to some designers, models, or do photo shoot. People did not call them for work because they were scare of the pandemic, there were no pageants and fashion shows. They were doing virtual and zoom calls and travelling was banned. She and her team were supposed to go for African Fashion Week, London in June last year but it was canceled.
She disclosed that she loves travelling and has been to Dubai and many African countries, “travelling is like a tour, to expose yourself and as a model, you will learn and connect with friends in the industry.”
On her plans for 2021, she said: “I have many plans for this year. Right now, we have a fashion show in London and Uganda, a visit to an orphanage. Other projects include: going to schools to create awareness on preventful measures of Covid-19 and presentation of writing materials and other gifts to them.”
She has many awards in her kitty such as: the Role Model Award, by Owning Concert; the Arc of Beauty Academic Award; the Nigeria Media Night Award as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018 and the Nigerian Woman Achievers’ Award among other awards and her son has the award of the little Mr Green and White Nigeria in 2018.
“My advice for the youths is never lose focus, be stable on your plan, be determined, persistence and put everything in God’s hands,” she urged.
