Erelu Bisi Fayemi and her love for traditional wears !!!

Erelu Bisi Fayemi is the quintessential first lady of Ekiti state. She is an intellectual and an outstanding advocate for women  across Africa and beyond. She is not only a passionate advocate for women, but also a a brilliant academician whose specialisation is leadership development for women.

Erelu Bisi Fayemi does not only rank top amongst the first ladies when it comes to fashion but also one of the best dressed ladies in Nigeria.

She is a lover of African fabrics and attires. She loves to wear kaftans and boubous, skirt and blouse, iro and buba   all done beautifully in Ankara, adire, lace and aso Oke. She is a modest dresser. You can't catch her in any revealing clothes.

The ravishing first lady is a lover of aso oke. She is either putting on aso Oke or using it as a head wrap; matching her outfit, and at other times having a piece of aso Oke across her shoulder.

Her love for african fabric, particular aso oke  was made manifest again recently as she advised the Federal government to ban imported aso oke fabric and revive the nation’s textile industry to boost sustainable economic growth.

Fayemi made the call during the 2019 Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) on Saturday in Lagos.

“I will not be a hypocrite to say that we should ban all fabrics because I do wear imported fabrics every now and then. But when it comes to Aso-oke that I know that our women in our local communities toil at to do; and do not have the capacity to produce to scale, instead of investing in that capacity, we are acquiring a situation that others are coming to rip off our intellectual property. So, I join others to call for a ban on imported Aso-oke from China,” Fayemi said.

According to her, Africa fashion is all about identity, self-love, dignity, attitude and ownership to preserve its culture, heritage and connection to the international community.

Fayemi called for more collaboration between the operators in the fashion industry, the private sector, development partners and the government toward boosting the growth of the fashion and textile industry.

Erelu Bisi Fayemi was born in Liverpool, England on June 11, 1963. She has a BA (1984) and MA (1988) in History from the University of Ife, Nigeria (now Obafemi Awolowo University). She also received an MA in Gender and Society (1992) from Middlesex University, UK. She has experience as a Feminist Thinker and Writer, Social Entrepreneur, Policy Advocate, Trainer, Social Change Philanthropy Practitioner, Communications Specialist and Social Sector expert.

As First Lady of Ekiti state Erelu Bisi Fayemi has empowered a lot of women in the 16 local government areas of the state through various skill   acquisition, training, as well as provision of funds and materials needed for business start-ups.

Her designers? Ituen Bassey, Ayoola Violet Braids, Joke Okeowo and Renee Acquah, who is resident in Ghana. Her favourite colours remain purple, blue, and coffee brown. Accessories she loves? “I love pearls, silver and gold,” she says.