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By Abubakar Umar
The Chief Executive Officer of FAK Fashion Designer, Dr Fatima Omotayo Aliu, has appealed to the Federal and State Governments as well as financial institutions to provide financial support and accessible loans to fashion businesses across Nigeria.
Dr Aliu made the appeal at a media briefing in Ilorin, Kwara State, where she also announced the reopening of the company’s fashion business centre after months of closure.
She said such financial support would enable fashion entrepreneurs to acquire modern machines, equipment and other materials needed to improve service quality and compete favourably in the evolving fashion industry.
Dr Aliu disclosed that FAK Fashion Designer had recently imported Direct Drive sewing machines as part of efforts to enhance its operations and improve service delivery.
On the reopening of the company, she explained that FAK Fashion Designer was closed in 2023 to enable the management to restrategise and adopt more modern methods of operation.
She said the period was used to acquire modern equipment and train staff in contemporary sewing techniques and other aspects of fashion production.
“The closure did not affect the business negatively. Rather, it gave us the opportunity to expand in terms of modern machines, technical know-how and customer satisfaction,” she said.
Dr Aliu said the company was returning with improved services, latest designs and greater attention to customer satisfaction.
She acknowledged the support received from the Kwara State Government, particularly through the wife of the state governor, Professor (Amb.) Olufolake AbdulRazaq.
She recalled that FAK Fashion Designer was among ten fashion businesses in Kwara State selected and sponsored in 2019 by the governor’s wife to represent the state at the Africa Fashion Show.
Dr Aliu said the company had developed a five-year plan aimed at making FAK Fashion Designer one of the leading fashion businesses in the world.
She disclosed that proposals had already been submitted to relevant authorities for the commencement of a training programme for schoolchildren across the sixteen Local Government Areas of Kwara State.
According to her, fashion is a lucrative venture that can be combined with other careers, including government employment, especially at a time when available government jobs are insufficient to accommodate the growing population of young people.
She added that FAK Fashion Designer had partnered with politicians, the Industrial Training Fund, government agencies and private individuals to train youths in fashion design.
Editing: Abdullah Ahmed
