First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has vowed to start wearing Akwete wrapper if her husband, President Bola Tinubu, secures a second term in 2027.
She spoke during her maiden visit to the Akwete Weaving Cooperative Village in Abia State on Tuesday, where she also announced a ₦2bn donation for the revitalisation of the local weaving industry.
She said, “If God brings my husband in a second time, I’ll be wearing a buba and wrapper made from Akwete. I am going to be wearing that because it is very soft breathable cotton.
“I saw young people in their family doing exact thing. So it is a craft transferred from generation.”
Mrs Tinubu commended the women of the cooperative for their passion and resilience in preserving the craft across generations, urging Nigerians to embrace Igbo traditional attire made from the fabric as a way of supporting local weavers.
She said she had approached the visit informally, opting to spend time with the women rather than follow a scripted programme.
The First Lady explained that she came without a prepared speech because the trip was meant as a personal engagement rather than a formal event.
She also thanked the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, describing him as a good man.
She recalled reaching out to his wife in the past specifically to enquire about the weaving tradition. She thanked God that the visit had finally materialised despite the delay.
“I just wanted to meet with these women, which I will tell the story. But we went on, and my husband said something. He said I was getting frustrated. I said, Otti is a good man.
“He’s a very good man. I see that, and I want to thank you. And I remember when I was calling you, looking for your wife, concerning Akwete. So, but I thank God we are here. All those history. We are here,” she said.
She urged Nigerians to patronise locally made textiles as a way of preserving indigenous craftsmanship and boosting the livelihoods of rural weavers.
