As we anticipate the 9th edition of the biggest fashion show in Ekiti-State, “Ekiti Fashion Exhibition”, take a look at the profile of the organizer.
Oluwabusayo Owajoba is the CEO of De-Elegant Expertise Palais, a fashion house based in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Elegant, as she is popularly called, hails from Emure-Ekiti, Ekiti State. She bagged a BSc in Accounting at the prestigious Ekiti State University. In 2017, she launched the first-ever fashion event “Ekiti Fashion Exhibition” in Ado-Ekiti under her fashion brand “De Elegant Expertise Palais,” which featured over 200 fashion designers who showcased and promoted their designs. This event attracted big brands like ABUAD, Coca-Cola, Lush Hair, etc.
The second edition of the show, which featured an awards presentation, was held in 2018. It attracted numerous talented designers, models, and fashion entrepreneurs within and outside the state. The event has since grown into an iconic platform for fashion entrepreneurs to showcase their designs, wears, and accessories in Ekiti during its exhibition and runway.
It has become an annual event and has had eight editions so far. Oluwabusayo Owajoba was appointed a member of the Technical Committee of EKIFEST 2019. She was also appointed a member of the Mobilizing Committee for Ekiti Entrepreneurship Week 2019. Since 2020, she has served as a fashion consultant and fashion designer to the Ekiti State Ministry of Arts and Culture for the NAFEST Fashion Competition — a prestigious annual event held across the federation.
Through her unwavering creativity and exceptional sense of style, Ekiti State has consistently excelled in the fashion category, earning national recognition. Among the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti State took 1st position in 2021, 1st position in 2022, 2nd position in 2023, and reclaimed 1st position in 2024.
Her outstanding contributions have not only elevated Ekiti’s profile in the National Fashion scene but have also affirmed the state’s leadership in cultural excellence through fashion. In 2021, she was appointed Assistant Project Supervisor of FADAN (Fashion Designer Association of Nigeria). In 2023, she was appointed a member of the Business Advisory Board of Enactus, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti State (BOUESTI).
Apart from being passionate about showcasing the genius of fashion entrepreneurs in Nigeria to the world, Oluwabusayo Owajoba is also committed to giving back to her society and acknowledging excellence. Hence, she officially launched in 2021 the Young Fashionpreneur Contest (YFC), which has hosted more than 100 young fashionpreneurs.
Since then, the contest has been a platform where young entrepreneurs compete through the quality of their products and were fully empowered as a form of encouragement. During the first, second, and third editions of YFC, sets of sewing machines, cash prizes, and a fully paid fashion store were given to the winners of the fashion contest, among other rewards.
AWARDS RECEIVED
– Fashion Designer of the Year, Aare Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide 2020
– Fashion Designer of the Year, Ekiti Future Awards 2022
– Certificate of Appreciation for Voluntary and Meritorious Services as an ASSESSOR at Ekiti Enterprise Challenge 2024
– Award of Recognition for immediate support to the progress of the Directorate of Educational Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (DETIE), Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE)
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