Bayelsa State to host African Fashion Reception in July

ABUJA (Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation Report) – The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke has indicated that Bayelsa State will host the 2014 African Fashion Reception in Yenaoga from July 3 – 5, 2014.
 
The Minister announced this at a press conference recently in Abuja, stating that the event would showcase the cultural diversity expressed through artistic fashion. The event which has the theme: “Africa is the New Inspiration of Global Fashion” will be declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan.   The African Fashion Reception will create free trade and partnership among practitioners in the African continent. It will also attract global attention to Africa’s rich and diversified dress culture and serve as catalyst for the socio-economic growth of the continent’s textile industry,” the Minister revealed.
 
Edem Duke further explained that the African Fashion Reception will expand the potential power of fashion as a tool for fighting poverty in Africa by creating wealth through the empowerment of women and youths in the various fashion vocations through training and capacity building schemes; thereby supporting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) mission of halving global poverty by year 2020.
 
‘Other immeasurable benefits, he revealed was that the World Fashion Organisation has promised to establish a first World Fashion University and also build a first Africa world – class garment manufacturing plant in Nigeria.’
 
In her contribution, the African patron of the World Fashion Organisation, Merit Gordon Obua (Dr) said that the African Fashion Reception will be graced by forty notable designers from Africa and 120 international fashion and textile designers across the world. She also explained that participants would include buyers from the global community; indicating that it will bring about the spirit of self-reliance amongst Nigerian youths. “The initiative, she added will create millions of jobs across the continent for tailors, creative directors, textile designers, models, fashion photographers and writers.’
 
The Director General of the Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency, Ebize Ndiomu in her remarks noted that Bayelsa State is excited and ready to host the world as an opportunity to showcase to the global world.