Sola POPOOLA
Winners have emerged in the creativity and Arts talents competition organised by StellaRita Awelle Humanitarian Foundation christened “Zarita Fashion and Arts Fusion 2024 ”
The colourful show anchored by ace comedian SeyiLaw took place at Shell Hall, MUSON centre last Sunday in Lagos.
In her opening remarks ,the convener, Ambassador StellaRita Awelle Asogwa said the platform was created to showcasing African creativity and Arts, and for many talented Nigerian youths to flourish .
According to her the event was an avenue for the youths to tell the public what they have been doing at their private and individual spaces.
She said ” I want them to understand that their plans are at the mercy of the future and the present .If you can see the light ; it can become a reality .
“The Nigerian Fashion and Arts industry is an untapped market which is rich and has high dividend and return on investment when marketed and strategically positioned globally. This is what I’m looking forward to a time when the Nigerian fashion and art market is ranked amongst the best of the best in the world.
At the show ,young stylists and creative artists from across the geopolitical zones in Nigeria displayed raw talents to the admiration of the audience.Young talented artists said discarded materials are not entirely wasted ,only that they were not discovered for further better and creative use. Some of them used waste and other discarded fabrics, old newspapers, empty plastic to create masterpieces and wearable. materials such hand bags ,gowns and shoes.
According to them, the inspiration was to show the transit nature of the items and to bring new life to items that might have been forgotten or considered useless .
For example ,Solomon Chidinma Miracle, an Ebonyi State born graduate of Fine and Applied Arts from the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Aleke Ikwo, as a visual artist interested in sustainability, she passionately focuses on transforming discarded materials into beautiful masterpieces
Chidinma, who won the Coca Cola Waste-to-Art Challenge at the Zarita Fashion and Arts Fusion show .
Similarly, Dehinbo Busayo Adebisi is the brain behind Molade Designs. The Ogun state born is a Penultimate student of the University of Lagos, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Insurance. She came 2nd runner up at the Zarita Fashion and Arts fusion 2024.
Daniel Douglas Owoicho hails from Benue State. He is a graduate of Social Studies from the university of Ibadan. As a passionate dancer, he loves to make magic with his feet. He is the winner of the just concluded Zarita Fashion and Arts Fusion 2024 held in Lagos
Another genius , Abraham Adewole Ayomide , a multidisciplinary visual artist from Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria holds a National Diploma (ND) in Art and Design at The Polytechnic of Ibadan in 2024.where he honed his skills in blending abstract and realistic figures.
For this, exceptional artistic ingenuity, he came First Runner at the just concluded Zarita Fashion and Arts fusion 2024
The event attracted dignitaries among who are : Mr Tobi Lawal ,MD Ibile Holdings Ltd, Hamman Kwarajafia ,Ditector General, Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association while FunmiSax Nigerian Female Saxophone also entertained the audience with beautiful tunes .
Amb.Dr.hc. StellaRita Awelle , holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and an MBA,is a businesswoman with a diverse portfolio spanning beauty, fashion, and food industries. She runs Marcoriano Chinese Restaurant, and Zarita Kouture & Academy in Abuja. She is also a philanthropist committed to empowering women and youths through the StellaRita Awelle Humanitarian Foundation. She is the Convener of the just concluded Zarita Fashion and Arts Fusion which showcased and empowered talented fashion and art creatives.