The founder of Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL), the Queen of His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ife, Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi; and Yaba College of Technology’s Fashion Design Department are set to promote Nigeria and Africa fashion culture globally in the forthcoming African Fashion show in London and Brazil.
This was disclosed at a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the College and AFWL on Fashion Design and Textile Design including the African Fashion Week Initiatives in Nigeria, London and Brazil.
The Director, Linkages, Partnership & International Relations of the College, Dr. Masud Ajala disclosed at the signing event, that Queen Ogunwusi’s interest is on how to contribute to the national development of the country through Fashion by creating opportunities for students of the college to partake in internship program in Africa fashion hub and to showcase them in the African Fashion Week in London and Brazil.
He added that the queen having on the spot assessment of the college Fashion Design Department’s prowess saw that her vision aligned with YabaTech’s vision.
Dr. Ajala stated that Olori Ogunwusi was out rightly convinced that the College wanted her students to be job ready for the industry and future, development of fashion as a profession.
In her speech, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of African Fashion Week in Nigeria, London and co-founder, Africa Fashion Week in Brazil, Olori Aderonke Ogunwusi noted that the partnership between the college and African Fashion Week Initiative will promote African fashion, creativity and cultural expression.
She disclosed that her fashion hub had previously showcased Yabatech students in global stage, by sponsoring the College students that participated in Africa Fashion Week in Nigeria in 2015 with the aim of gaining industry experience, and her vision is to cultivate a competency partnership that benefits the two parties.
According to her, “the partnership will include showcasing of Fashion Design students of the institution in African Fashion Week in Nigeria, London and Brazil; mentoring programmes with Africa Fashion Week, Fashion Workshops, Internships, Job Placement opportunities at Adire Textile Industry in Ile-Ife, Fashion Business Incubator, and Industry Tour.
“There is no doubt that this partnership will offer numerous benefits to the students of the College, and it is not limited to Industry Exposure, but Networking Opportunities.
“Together we will promote Nigeria and Africa Fashion globally; empower entrepreneurs, create jobs and foster cross-cultural understanding”.
Speaking further, Her Imperial Majesty the commitment of her body to nurture African Fashion talents, promotes growth, innovation and creativity.
She implored the parties to continue to build the partnership through shaping the future of African Fashion as the 10th Year Anniversary of African Fashion Nigeria holds between December 6 and 8, 2024 at Oriental Hotel, with creativity and amazing designs coming from Yabatech students to be the glitz and glamour of the event.
The Chairman of the College Governing Council, Prof. Funsho Afolabi, who was present at the signing of the MoU ceremony, applauded the wife of the imperial majesty of Ife for the good initiative and affirmed that the college is a fertile ground, and it is a welcome development for Olori to sow into the fertile land of the citadel of technical knowledge in Nigeria.
He assured her that whatever she sows in the College will surely germinate bountifully.
In his response, the Rector of the institution, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul applauded the gestures and partnership between the college and Olori Aderonke Ogunwusi.
He was highly delighted for the good gesture and stated that the collaboration is a dream come true of wanting Yabatech students to become global stars.
Dr. Abdul explained that the College is eagerly waiting for the takeoff of the forthcoming African Fashion Week in Nigeria, London and Brazil where the college ambassadors will be showcased and bringing back the good memory of the 2015 outstanding success.
The Rector said that it is a thing of joy that the ‘ERECT’ agenda of the College has started to accomplished her set goals and with the backing of the governing council, the institution will go all out to ensure that the students maximally benefit from various partnerships as it takes a visionary leader such as Olori Ogunwusi to partake in such a huge collaboration, while assuring her that the collaboration will yield the anticipated results.
