VC AE-FUNAI COMMISSIONS AKWETE CENTRE
Targets industrial production.

Vice-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu- Alike, Professor Chinedum Uzoma Nwajiuba, on Monday, 4th November, 2019, commissioned AE-FUNAI Akwete Weaving Centre – a unit of Centre for Entrepreneurship and Employability. The move was another landmark achievement recorded by the vibrant Vice-Chancellor, in his commitment to promoting our cultural heritage and native dressing in the young University.


VC, Prof. Nwajiuba addressing staff at the Centre before the commissioning.


VC, Prof. Nwajiuba, admiring Akwete designs.

Speaking during the commissioning, VC affirmed that, just as the world is still waiting for a Nigerian Scientist to win Nobel Prize for discovering most appropriate drug for total cure of malaria, our country is waiting for Nigerian innovators that will produce and fabricate indigenous materials that can bring development, sustenance and better the livelihood of Nigerians.


Co-ordinator of AE-FUNAI Akwete Centre, Chiaka Nnodi explaining Akwete Designs to VC.

He further reiterated that a country without an enlightened critical patriotic thinkers is like a country lacking elites, hence AE-FUNAI as an institution that is striving to attain world class university goal, has taken Akwete as one of the tools of building the nation and promoting Igbo culture. VC acknowledged Miss Chinyere Rosemary George, a Technical staff at Akwete Weaving Centre for her skills in Akwete weaving and for introducing different designs to the Akwete production.

Speaking further, he said, Akwete is ours, we can do it on our own, we can bring machines, bring the materials, weave them together in quantities and it will turn to industrial production. He therefore promised to erect another building spacious enough to accommodate mass production of Akwete and other Igbo clothing.

VC feels one of the Akwete materials.

Augustine Nwagbara, a Professor of English who is serving his sabbatical in the University was present at the event, affirmed that Igbo culture is badly threatened. He heartily applauded the Vice- Chancellor for his great idea of setting aside first Monday of every month as native dress code day, when every staff of the University is required to come to work on core traditional attire, as way of dignifying native attire and promoting Nigeria culture. He cited Ghana, where such culture is observed and regarded in high esteem. Prof. Nwagbara therefore suggested that AEFUNAI should produce Akwete fabric uniform as official ceremonial cloth and gifts to University special guests, to make the whole idea more unique, for effective branding of the University.


VC in group photograph with staff after the commissioning

Assistant Dean, Students’ Affairs and Co-ordinator of AE-FUNAI Akwete Centre, Mrs Chiaka Nnodi expressed her delight and profound gratitude to Vice-Chancellor and University Management for creating Akwete Centre and for the plan to grow Akwete weaving here, to industrial level. He promised to do all she could to keep the flag which VC has raised, by commissioning the centre, flying high.