25th July 2026, NewsOrient, Opinion, Column, Governance And Development, News
By Emeka Nwosu, PhD.

History was made in Abia State on Tuesday with the official visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to the city of Akwete to identify with their women who are globally renowned for their craftsmanship in the weaving of the famous native fabric, known as Akwete.

The community is located in the Ukwa East Local Government Area of the State, which shares a border with the neighbouring Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

The fabric which is of very high quality and hand-woven, derived its name from the city of Akwete where the highly sought-after clothing is produced.

The Akwete cloth is a priceless heritage of the people which has endured with the ages, preceding the colonial times.

It is a great testament to the resilience of the women of Akwete in particular and Ukwa in general that this heritage has survived the onslaughts of colonization and westernization.

The fabric remains one of the enduring gifts of the Ukwa people, and indeed, the Igbo ethnic nationality in Nigeria, to civilization.

The material is durable and competes favourably with similar materials from the western world.

It is not surprising that the First Lady, who noted that she had heard and read so much about the Akwete industry, decided to formally visit the Akwete Women Cooperative Society with a view to encouraging them.

The decision of the First Lady is a welcomed initiative which deserves commendation.

The visit is more than a symbolic gesture, given the commitment of Senator Oluremi Tinubu to support and strengthen the women in their craft.

The significance of the visit, indeed, lies in the intentionality of the President`s wife to promote the Akwete fabric and industry to the world.

The First Lady, during the visit, expressed her desire to partner with the Abia State Government to modernize the Akwete weaving industry and support the women to thrive and excel.

To that extent, she made a pledge of Two Billion Naira (N2 Billion) to the women cooperative and noted that if her husband secures a second term in office, she would make Akwete her preferred choice of dress.

Governor Alex Otti, on the occasion, stated that since his assumption of office in 2023, he has remained committed to reviving and modernizing the Akwete weaving industry, adding that his administration has developed a proposal for a modern production hub for the Akwete Weavers Cooperative Society.

According to him, the facility which spans over 14,800 square meters, will support the entire value chain, from entrepreneurship and skills development, to production, finishing, and market access.

The governor disclosed that the design has been forwarded to the First Lady.

He expressed hope that the First Lady would partner with the State to bring the project to life.

The governor and his wife, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, have done well by facilitating the First Lady`s visit.

There is no doubt that the presence of the President`s wife in Akwete has brought national and international attention to the city.

This would open a lot of doors to the poor women who have been struggling over the years to sustain the Akwete heritage.

The Abia State Government should build on the momentum of the visit by encouraging Abians in the Diaspora to support the women cooperative society and help them with grants and micro credits to expand their trades and create economic opportunities for younger women.

It would be highly appreciated if the governor can take advantage of the current attention on Akwete by addressing the infrastructural decay in the place, particularly in the area of road rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The gains of a revitalized Akwete industry would not be fully maximized if the decrepit state of the roads in the area is not effectively addressed.

It is instructive that the First Lady had to be flown in a helicopter to Akwete.

The performing governor of Abia can etch his name in history by addressing the concerns of the Akwete people with regard to their roads.

If this is done, it would go a long way in boosting the fortunes of the Akwete industry and economic life generally in the area.

May Abia continue to prevail!

Dr. Nwosu, a Public Policy Analyst, writes from Umuahia.
Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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