Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has unveiled the OneNigeria/UnityFabric and shared out 200,000 pieces.
She described the initiative as a symbol of national unity.
The fabric was designed by 25-year-old Miss Mofinyinfoluwa Bamidele a graduate of the University of Ibadan, and has been shared out to Lagos, Kano, and Abuja, and additional pieces to other stakeholders.
Bamidele, who went home with a prize of ₦25 million, emerged the winner of a fabric designs competition, organised by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), chaired by First Lady.
In her keynote address at the unveiling of the #OneNigeria/UnityFabric and announcement of the winner of the competition held on Monday at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, Tinubu explained that the concept of a national fabric was inspired by her visit to Zimbabwe in December 2023, where she saw a similar initiative.
She said the OneNigeria/UnityFabric competition was launched in February 2024, calling on youths aged 15-25 to create a design that would represent Nigeria’s unity.
A panel of judges, including renowned fashion icon Princess Zainab Abba Folawiyo, international textile fashion designer Miss Banke Kuku and other friends of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), selected the best design from 111 entries.
Also speaking at the event, the National Vice Chairman of the RHI and wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, said the fabric initiative is aimed at promoting unity and creativity in Nigeria.
She expressed pride in the realization of the vision of the competition, which encourages Nigerians to think nationally before considering tribal or ethnic loyalties.
She said the initiative includes the production and distribution of 200,000 pieces of a national unity fabric, with significant allocations to Lagos, Kano, and Abuja, and additional pieces to other stakeholders.
