By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Meet Africa Fashion Festival (MAFEST) organised by Mena Communications Limited has received the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Environment.
The four-day international event will have an annual Eco-Friendly workshop as one of the programmes, which has pricked the interest of the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Abbas Lawal.
This part of the festival will provide an avenue for budding fashion designers, especially women and youth, to be exposed to the modern trends of using waste materials to design fashion wear in commercial quantities.
The idea is in support of initiatives by the Federal Ministry of Environment towards ensuring the achievement of the circular economy policy of the Federal Government.
In a letter of endorsement addressed to the President of MAFEST, Mr Charles Ozoemena, the Minister commended the initiators of the programme because it aligns with the circular economy and Nigeria’s Climate Change Act of 2021.
In the letter dated March 26, 2024, and signed by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) for the Ministry, Mr Stanley Jonah, the Minister pledged the Ministry’s full backing, describing the international event as novel and worthy of its collaboration.
“It is exciting that the festival aims at celebrating the continent’s diverse cultures and traditions using a circular economy approach. We believe that this aligns with the Ministry’s efforts at reducing carbon emissions and mitigation of toxic waste in the country.
“We are certain that our collaboration will not only increase the visibility of the Meet Africa Fashion Festival but also have a positive impact on the broader goals of promoting a healthy environment and economic empowerment which is one of our Ministry’s objectives,” Mr Lawal stated.
The Meet Africa Fashion Festival is an iconic international brand designed to be a convergence of key stakeholders in Africa’s fashion ecosystem and garment industry.
Targeted at influencing African governments and financial institutions to invest in Africa’s fashion and garment industry; considering its vastness as the second largest creator of jobs and wealth after Agriculture; MAFEST seeks to showcase on this global stage Africa’s unparalleled array of creative prowess that celebrates the sartorial marvels of Africa.
Other partners of the event include Vanguard Media Group Limited, Modela Couture, Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDO Europe), Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Africa (NIDO Africa), PRTimes Africa and the Nigerian Fashion Magazine.
Business Post reports that the event and the dates are expected to be announced in June 2024.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Business Post Contributor