Indigenous designers walk to NASS, provides clothes for Internally Displace Children

Indigenous designers walk to NASS, provides clothes for Internally Displace Children

 

Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) on Tuesday marched to the National Assembly to create awareness on the association’s plans to clothe about 5,000 Internally Displaced Children and ‘Almajiris’ in the country. FADAN then moved to the Gwoza and Bama Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp at Durumi in Abuja and provided clothing to all the children in the camp. The ‘awareness walk’ took the group from ‘Unity Fountain’ in Abuja to the Federal Secretariat and National Assembly (NASS). The group was denied access into the NASS premises by some plain-clothed security personnel. However, they were allowed to stay by the gate to continue the awareness creation. 3, 000 capacity temporary school in Bama town, Bama Local Government Area of Borno built by the Nigerian Army The group then moved to the Gwoza and Bama IDP’s camp at Durumi and distributed clothing to all the children in the camp. Mrs Funmi Ajila-Ladipo, the National President of FADAN revealed that the reason behind the generosity was to “give back.’’ “We found out that there are so many people out there that do not have clothes to wear; we want people to be covered. “We want to reach out to those who don’t have, knowing that we are sitting on a gun powder in Nigeria. “When the children/youths are tired and have nothing to eat, they are going to come on the street and get us; so we need to show some love. “I think the total of what we are doing is showing love; when government see all these, they also would be able to help in that regard’’ Ajila-Ladipo said. The FADAN president explained that the gesture was going to be a continuous exercise, adding that it took one month for the designers across the country to make the 5,000 clothes. Ajila-Ladipo stated that the clothes were made by members from different states of the federation. She also announced the association’s plans to train youths in the camp on different vocational skills. “Apart from giving them clothes, we are going to organise a skill acquisition programme for them. “This will be a programme whereby they can learn skills on how to cut cloth, sow and do different things in the garment industry. “On Oct. 8, we have our gala night; that is the grand finale where we are going to put some of the IDP’s children on the run way. “We are going to do that to show the world that there is a brighter future and greater tomorrow in Nigeria; Nigeria is going to be great,’’ Ajila-Ladipo said. Meanwhile, Mrs Le’atu Ayuba, the Women Leader in the camp expressed joy at the gesture by the indigenous designers. Ayuba said that FADAN was in the camp on Oct. 1 to celebrate with the IDPs. “They promise to provide clothes for all the children in the camp. “Today, they have fulfilled their promise; they brought so many clothes for all the children in the camp. “I am so happy; may God give her long life and prosperity in Jesus name, Amen. “I want other Nigerians to emulate what FADAN has done here today; it may not be clothes, we need people to come comfort us with words that would make us happy. “I am very happy at this thing that they did to our children today,’’ the women leader said. Mrs Dorathy Bulus, a mother of three in the camp said that she was very happy at the gesture and commended FADAN. She said it was not easy for them in the camp, adding that they were living at the mercy of Non-Government Organisations and kind-hearted Nigerians. “Proving our children with clothing is a welcome development; we appreciate FADAN and pray that God would bless them. “However, we still need more of this type of assistance to our children including learning skills that will make them to be self-reliant,’’ Bulus said.