‘Growth in fashion industry will reduce unemployment’

Mr Tony Okoroji, Chairman,
Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has
said that the fashion industry if properly
developed, will attract more youths, thereby
reducing the high rate of unemployment.
Okoroji said on Wednesday in Abuja that the
Nigerian fashion was largely practiced on
small scale which stalled its growth and
discouraged youth participation.
“Fashion in Nigeria is practiced on a small
scale because individuals invest the little
money they have to make clothes and sell.
“The industry needs funding to enable
better productivity which will also attract
local and international investments,’’ he said.
According to the chairman, the industry is
being faced by issues of statistics and
building appropriate models.
He said that there was also the need to also
address issues of intellectual property.
Okoroji said the high level of creativity and
talents in the Nigerian fashion industry
made it a partaker in the world of fashion.
He noted that a lot of changes had occurred
in the industry in recent times as local
fabrics were being used to create and
imitate foreign wears.
According to Okoroji, fashion in Nigeria has
gone a notch higher as these fabrics are not
only used to make clothes but also bags,
jewelries and shoes.
This he said had given the industry an
advantage over other foreign fashion
industries.
Okoroji urged operators in the industry to
invest more funds in the sector to enable it
grow and achieve feasible development.
(NAN)