#ONE NIGERIA/UNITY FABRIC: WINNING ENTRY SELECTION BEGINS AS REMI TINUBU SAYS COMPETITION WILL PROMOTE UNITY, CREAATIVITY

The selection process for the winning entry of the #ONE NIGERIA/ Unity Fabric has commenced.

This was disclosed by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu at the commencement of the process which was held at the State House, Abuja.

L-R Wife of the Deputy Senate President Hajia Laila Barau, Wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mrs Fatima Tajudeen Abass, one of the Judges,Princess Abbah Folawiyo, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, another of the Judges, Banke Kuku, Wife of the Chief of Staff, Mrs Salamatu Gbajabiamila and ⁠First Lady, Imo State, Barr. Chioma Uzodinma displaying the catalogue of the over 110 entries for the # ONE NIGERIA/ Unity Fabric at the meeting to commence the selection process for the winning entry held at the Conference room, Office of the First Lady, State House, Abuja on Tuesday 2nd July

She noted that the quality of the entries show the creative prowess of the Nigerian youth.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu explained that the multiplier effect of the competion and having the National Fabric will have on the nation’s economy are enormous.

“By the time the winning design is selected, it will be produced locally. That will mean more jobs for the local textile manufacturers.

“You will be surprised. What may look ordinary to you are the things that make the likes of, Hermès, Louis Vuitton great”.

L-R Fashion Designer and One of the Judges, Princess Abba Folawiyo, First Lady of the federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Textile Designer and another Judge, Banke Kuku displaying the catalogue of the over 110 entries for the # ONE NIGERIA/ Unity Fabric at the meeting to commence the selection process for the winning entry held at the Conference room, Office of the First Lady, State House, Abuja on Tuesday 2nd July

“You see we are NGO to start with and I think what we have done, which is bringing business to our local economy is good and manufacturers are going to be from Nigeria. We did that during the campaign so we believe that there will be job creation, money put into the system,”

The First Lady shared her experience with the “Governor for a Day” programme during President Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos State, where she encouraged participants to strive for the best rather than settling for second place.

“It is not that everybody cannot become, when you look at the days my husband was a governor, we were doing Governor for one day I never encouraged deputy governor or anything. Although they later injected it into the system”.

“But you see with the best we can tell you success stories. They pushed even people who came third at the competition now making first class in school and also first class in law school and first class in other disciplines,” .

“So, there will be people who will be first, second, third in the design competition, but there will be only one winner. Even the every home a garden competition we are going for the best, so everyone should try”.

Also speaking at the meeting, two fashion industry experts serving as judges for the #OneNigeria/Unity Fabric competition, Hajia Abba Folawiyo and Banke Kuku, stated what they will be looking out for.

“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”.

Banke Kuku emphasised the importance of the design’s ability to unite Nigerians and represent the country’s diversity.

“The colour is one thing, the color can always be changed. That’s why we have the panel of judges and other people coming into the competition to give advice. The color can be changed, but it’s really about the core design, you can always adopt the color and the uniqueness of the design”.

“I think it’s amazing. It opens people up to understanding that there’s a future and there’s a career in creativity. It kind of brings seriousness to the creative industry because a lot of people are very strict on themselves to do certain types of jobs, but there’s such a huge career in creativity, there’s so much to be done in Nigeria in terms of … so the market is huge and I’m looking forward to have influence over a younger generation because I know I have had a lot of support in my career so it’s my time to help somebody else.”

The #ONE NIGERIA/Unity Fabric which commenced in February and ended on the 30th of June has prize money of N20m.