The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, announced a donation of two billion naira for the establishment of a modern weaving research centre and for the internationalization of the renowned Akwete fabric from Ukwa East LGA of Abia State.
Senator Tinubu made the announcement during a civic engagement with the Akwete Weaving Society Women at Township School, Akwete, Ukwa East LGA. She interacted with women weavers and witnessed live demonstrations of the traditional hand-weaving process. She commended the women for their skill, resilience, and dedication to preserving a heritage passed down through generations.
The First Lady said she was moved to visit Akwete after watching a documentary on NTA about the fabric. She initially thought it was from Ghana before learning that Akwete originates from Abia State.
“I am here to announce to all Nigerians that Ndigbo should take Akwete to the nation. We all wear tie and dye from Yoruba land. We wear Aso Oke. Why should we not also wear Akwete? It is a beautiful fabric,” she said.
“On my own, I told the governor I am donating N2 billion to this project. I do not know how you intend to use it. The funds are easy for me to release, and I believe they will be in good hands,” the First Lady added.
Senator Tinubu urged the Akwete weavers to preserve the authenticity of the craft while adapting it for modern uses. She noted that Akwete fabric, with its unique texture and cultural significance, deserves wider national and international recognition and can be transformed into a wide range of products beyond traditional wrappers.
In his address, Governor Alex Otti welcomed the wife of the President and said his administration had been working to revitalize the Akwete weaving industry since 2023 by removing longstanding barriers to its growth.
The Governor cautioned that without innovation and technology, the indigenous textile industry risks losing market share to machine-produced imitations already being manufactured in countries like India and China.
“This visit means a great deal to us. Since 2023, we have been engaging with the Akwete community because we believe, just like you, that Akwete has enormous potentials
The first step was to break barriers — barriers of tradition, barriers of ‘it must be done the way it has always been done,’ and barriers of restricting it to only a few families.
If we do not embrace change, society will leave us behind. Today, we have Akwete-style fabrics in India and China. They may not be original and may not last as long as the hand-woven ones, but if we do not adopt technology quickly, they will take over the market,” Governor Otti stated.
He disclosed that the state government had already developed a comprehensive plan for the industry and proposed a partnership with the First Lady to deliver a world-class production hub for the women.
Governor Otti also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for implementing difficult but necessary economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira. He noted that the reforms have made more resources available to federal, state, and local governments for infrastructure development, and appealed to Nigerians to be patient as the benefits of the subsidy removal, now channeled to production, begin to manifest.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Wife of the Governor, Lady Priscilla Otti, described the First Lady’s visit as a historic milestone. She commended Senator Tinubu’s leadership of the Renewed Hope Initiative, noting its impact in women’s empowerment, support for small businesses, care for the elderly, assistance to persons with disabilities, food security, and other social investment programs.
Lady Otti highlighted the cultural significance of Akwete fabric as one of the oldest and most distinguished textile traditions of the Igbo people. She said the First Lady’s decision to spotlight Akwete reflects her commitment to creating sustainable economic opportunities for Nigerian women. She pledged the state government’s continued partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative to strengthen enterprises, preserve the weaving heritage, and improve the livelihoods of Akwete women.
In goodwill messages, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia Central Senatorial District, and former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uche Ogah, said empowering women is critical to national development. They praised President Bola Tinubu and Governor Alex Otti for purposeful leadership, noting that Abians are witnessing unprecedented development under the Otti administration.
Also speaking, the member representing Ukwa East and West Federal Constituency, Hon. Chris Nkwonta, described the occasion as a defining moment in the history of Akwete and Abia State. He said the presidential visit has brought national attention to the centuries-old handwoven fabric and renewed hope for its preservation and commercial expansion.
Hon. Nkwonta also applauded Governor Otti for his administration’s remarkable infrastructural transformation across the state, and declared that in spite of his membership of the APC, he would vote for Governor Otti in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
He pledged to work with the First Lady of Abia State, Lady Priscilla Otti, and other stakeholders to establish a befitting Akwete Weaving and Research Centre that will serve generations to come.
The highpoint of the occasion was the conferment of the chieftaincy title of “Ugonwanyi One” on the wife of the President by the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council.
Ferdinand Ekeoma
July 21, 2026
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