Abia State Governor Alex Otti has announced that in the next few weeks, his government will roll out an integrated campaign to promote made-in-Aba products, especially Aba fashion and lifestyle accessories.
Otti equally directed that every resource required to get the ENASCO facility running at full capacity be deployed immediately.
The governor disclosed this while speaking at the Enyimba International Stadium on Wednesday, during the graduation ceremony of 4,000 trainees of Cohort 3 and 4 of the Fashion Future Programme, Showcasing Africa’s Creative Excellence, an initiative of Ethnocentrique and the Mastercard Foundation in collaboration with the Abia State Government.
The governor said the campaign would highlight the creative output of Abia’s local entrepreneurs.
He said, “This campaign will highlight the creative changes of our local entrepreneurs and the extensive economic benefits of their offering over foreign competition.
“I’ve also directed that funds be allocated to develop and equip the production hubs around the state, especially in Aba.
“You can also be sure that the fashion industry will be a prime beneficiary, because we are mindful of our comparative advantage in this regard.”
Otti expressed gratitude to the Chief Executive of Ethnocentrique Limited and the Mastercard Foundation and applauded the successful completion of the training.
“The successful graduation of our sons and daughters from the Fashion Future Programme, delivered by Ethnocentrique Limited with support from the Mastercard Foundation and the state government, is a landmark achievement.
“This initiative has proven to be a masterclass in talent incubation, business development and enterprise exposure. I am impressed with the structure, organisation and the hands-on delivery model.
“The most interesting thing for us is that the FFP represents a preferred empowerment outlook, which targets the holistic development of the human faculties, expanding the capacity of individuals to imagine, create and bring forth new ideas,” he stated.
While congratulating the 4,000 graduates, Otti said that the choice of Aba for the programme “speaks to the sincerity and commitment of the drivers of the initiative to make genuine impact, hone the skills of our young designers and set them up for dominance on the global fashion stage.
“It is indeed fulfilling that the project is looking beyond talent development to the entire value chain — from craft to the marketplace, boardroom to policy spaces, connecting dreamers, platforms and financiers,” he stated.
The governor charged state government team members overseeing the programme to remain attentive to the development of beneficiaries, noting that their journey was only beginning and could be rough at some point.
He further said he would soon meet with the management of Ethnocentrique Limited and the Mastercard Foundation to explore expanding the programme from 4,000 to about 8,000 beneficiaries, and thanked Ejibe for the initiative.
“This is one of the ways to engage our youth. This is one of the ways to ensure that unemployment is reduced, poverty level is reduced, the gross domestic product is increased and, in the long run, the internally generated revenue of the government is increased.
“Thank you for igniting belief back in the minds of our young people, for giving them the platform to carry their dreams forward.
“May we also use this opportunity to convey our gratitude to the National Board for Technical Education for providing the technical guidance for the FFP through its skills qualification framework,” he said.
The Country Director of the Mastercard Foundation, Rosy Fynn, saluted the governor for his commitment to economic development and empowerment, and appreciated the partnership between the foundation and Ethnocentrique.
Earlier, the Chief Executive of Ethnocentrique Limited, Irunna Ejibe, said this year’s programme, tagged “Ahia 360,” was designed not only to teach young people how to produce locally made products, but to discover talents that would ensure their products are exported and that Aba and Abia State are recognised globally.
Ejibe thanked the governor for providing the enabling environment and appreciated the Mastercard Foundation for its support. She described the graduands as the economy of Aba — not merely beneficiaries.
She noted that people living with disabilities, including those who are deaf and non-verbal, benefited from the training and are now empowered to become economically independent.
The programme attracted many dignitaries and featured parades and a showcase of clothing made by the beneficiaries.