SOLUDO: MY DECISION TO WEAR ‘AKWETE’ CLOTHES HAS SHOT UP ITS DEMAND
By David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
Anambra State Governor-elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said that his decision to be wearing Akwete dresses has shot up the demand for the locally made fabric.
He also added that as a policy to promote local brands, he will serve only locally made beer and palmwine at the Government House, and at government functions.
Soludo’s media assistant, Mr Joe Anatune, stated this in a piece he sent to THISDAY in Awka on Monday.
Anatune said the media team of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor sent one of its reporters to Akwete in Abia State, where the fabric was made, and it was discovered that the demand for the material is now high since Soludo announced that he will be wearing the locally made material.
Anatune said: “Akwete today is being popularised as a metaphor by Anambra State governor-elect, Cee Cee Soludo, for the purchase and consumption of made in Anambra products and services.
“Already, the women of Akwete are smiling to the bank due to the association of their products with an iconic figure who many look up to as a role model. Our reporter, Chimeziri Franklin, visited the Akwete community recently and said the women can’t thank Soludo enough for igniting a spike in demand for their product.”
Anatune quoted the reporter as saying: “They have heard of what Cee Cee Soludo is doing for Akwete weavers which no state actor has done for them earlier.”
Anatune also said beyond Akwete dresses, Soludo will also market other local brands, including local shoes, Innoson vehicles and only drinks made in Anambra will be served at government functions, including palmwine.
“Beyond Akwete, Soludo will model other brands and commodities produced in Anambra in all industries and categories. He has not hidden his decision to use Innoson vehicle as his official car or enforce that the only drinks that will be taken in Government House or at government functions will be beers produced in Anambra or the organic palm wine from Awa/Awgbu axis.
“The list is long as he will not wear any shoes that are not made in Anambra. Soludo is aware that most of these products may not be the best in their classes globally but is of the well considered opinion that our patronage will help upscale their quality standards and make them competitive beyond our shores.
“Let’s face it, product development and diffusion is tough and gritty. All over the world, state actors take deliberate actions in nurturing and supporting global brands which no doubt have become veritable tools for economic diplomacy.
“We know a good salesman many poles away. Soludo is one. He sees solutions where others see bottlenecks. His total commitment to made-in-Anambra products will hugely improve the input-output matrix of Anambra’s agro value chain and ultimately make the state the most attractive place to live happily, learn happily, work happily, invest happily and enjoy happily in Nigeria,” Anatune said
