Nigeria’s First Lady, Remi Tinubu Unveils National Unity Fabric

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has unveiled the One Nigeria/Unity Fabric, which she described as a powerful symbol of the nation’s unity and cultural diversity.

The fabric, designed by 25-year-old Miss Mofinyinfoluwa Bamidele, a graduate of the University of Ibadan, was revealed on Monday, during a ceremony at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.

Bamidele, who emerged victorious from a competitive pool of 111 entries, was awarded ₦25 million as the grand prize.

The fabric design competition was organized by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), chaired by the First Lady herself.

A panel of distinguished judges, including fashion icon Princess Zainab Abba Folawiyo and international textile designer Miss Banke Kuku, selected Bamidele’s creation as the winning design.

The competition, which was launched in February 2024, invited young Nigerians aged 15-25 to submit designs that embodied national unity.

In her address at the event, the First Lady shared that the inspiration for the One Nigeria/Unity Fabric came during her visit to Zimbabwe in December 2023, where she observed a similar initiative.

“I believe this concept is unifying, where we can infuse our cultural diversity and break down tribal barriers to identify as a people of one nation. So I decided it would be a good idea to have a similar experience,” Senator Tinubu remarked.