By MAUREEN DICK
WOMEN entrepreneurs in the fashion industry in Rivers State are favoured to receive grant to boost their businesses in the forthcoming Port Harcourt Fashion Experience Festival starting on October 26, 2024.
This is as the State Government has endorsed the festival aimed at reestablishing Port Harcourt as the fashion business hub in the South-South and beyond.
Communications Director for the event, Oby Fakae, said: “It has been found that most struggling businesses belong to women. Women suffer because most of them don’t know how to navigate the forest of actions needed in entrepreneurship.
“So, at the Women Entrepreneurship (WE) Summit on the festival, there will be opportunity for booths and grant to be distributed to encourage women doing businesses in Rivers. They will get free booths to exhibit what Port Harcourt has to offer with over 500 business women expected.
“It’s about making women fashion thrive. So, we won’t only give them grants, but counsel and follow-up. We want to curtail capital flight, helping them to navigate the business route in these difficult times.”
Fakae emphasised that aside the WE Summit, the Port Harcourt Fashion Experience Festival would also feature Exhibition open for all, Runway show and the closing Festival Party to parade top entertainers, especially from South-South and South East.
Founding Director, Boma Ogidigben, said, “Fashion industry has been relegated to the backyard for years in Port Harcourt. The fashion festival last held in 2013. We want to reawaken it. All this while, we have been going to other cities and countries. Port Harcourt has truly lagged behind.”
Osuiefien Tayo, Exhibition/Private Runway Director, said, “We decided to make slots or booths free. This is designed to be a one-stop-shop for the fashion industry in the Niger Delta. The major attraction is discounted pricing system. It is close to yuletide, offering families opportunity to shop cheap for Christmas.
“It will be a great opportunity to get new business partners and contacts that six months or one year of striving may never give. We are creating a fashion space in the Niger Delta.”
Boma added that, “Runway won’t be for all comers. Exhibitors are chosen and it’s their private matter. They invite their own guests. It is for the best as they will mentor others as we make Port Harcourt a fashion hub.”
Aside the Rivers State Government endorsement with provision of prestigious Obi Wali International Conference Centre as venue, other partners and sponsors include Platform Platinum, Elshcon Limited, Lamic Autos and Save A Life group, Victor Briggs and Super Fm.
Anthony Edem, Branding Manager, said, “There is no fashion festival without an after-party. This completes the fashion experience, celebrates success and adds flavour. Celebrities will be there. It will have a theme, and there will be dress code.”
With over 10,000 buyers, sellers and other stakeholders participating, the organisers urged partners, investors, business owners, lovers of fashion, and all to come, converge and network as “one weekend could yield the result of one year work.”