By Linus Aleke
European Union (EU), Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has expressed readiness to deepen cultural and economic ties with Nigeria, using fashion as a launching pad.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb. Samuela Isopi, expressed this readiness, while addressing a press conference, on the maiden edition of the Afro-Euro Runway, a fashion competition organised by the European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, in collaboration with some EU Member States in Nigeria and the Fashion Academy, Abuja.
The show, Amb. Isopi, said, is aims at harnessing the vast potentials of Nigeria’s vibrant fashion industry to drive skills development, youth employment and economic prosperity.
The Ambassador said, the show would celebrate the EU’s partnership with Nigeria, which is increasingly focussing attention on the youth, innovation and skills.
She said the competition offers an excellent platform for fashion designers to display their collections, promote their brands, network with industry professionals, add value to their brands, connect with fashion enthusiasts across the world, and access regional and international markets.
The EU diplomat joined the CEO, Fashion Academy, Abuja, Ms.Nina Kwande, seasoned Italian-Nigeria fashion designer, Mr. Paolo Sisiano, celebrity influencer and EU brand Ambassador, Mr. Enioluwa Adeoluwa, to announce the maiden fashion show.
She said participating in the show would be a game changer form the selected designers, with multiplier impact on the Nigeria’s growing industry.
She said the competition resonates with the European Union’s theme for 2023, which has been designated EU as European year of skills.
The Ambassador said the EU has identified fashion design while talking about skills because it links cultural heritage and tradition with skills and innovation.
EU Member States and European fashion institutions, she said, are already collaborating with their counterparts in Nigeria’s fashion industry, and said huge opportunities still exist for more partnership.
“Fashion is a great Ambassador of European values such as culture, creativity innovation and craftsmanship. This is true also for Nigeria. I am impressed by the creativity, innovation and energy of Nigerian fashion. So, fashion tells who we are and more importantly, it connects people and cultures. The Afro-Euro Runway Competition embodies this spirit of dialogue and collaboration between European creative industries and fashion and Nigerian creative sectors,” she stated.
Seven contestants, who met the pre-selection criteria out of a pool 124 designers who applied for the competition, will showcase their brands at the events.
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The overall winner of the competition will have the opportunity to participate in the famous Madrid Mercedes Benz Fashion Week; the first runner-up will participate in the Dakar (Senegal) Fashion Week, while the second and third runners up will receive fashion-designing equipment.
All contestants will be sponsored to attend a business management training.
She concluded that the European Union has been working to give more space to the youth in its partnership with Nigeria.
