ABA FASHION WEEK: THE STORY OF THE JOURNEY

By Sam Hart
On the 12th of October, 2020, I got a call from my soul brother, Aaron Iyke telling me that he had 2 young men in his office who came with an idea but he believes I am better suited to handle it. He asked me to grant them audience and if I see merit in their plan, I should push it. I told him to ask them to come as I was in the office.

Thus, Ugomdi Ogbonna and Igara Samuel came to my office and showed me a proposal they had for an Aba Fashion Week. I reviewed the proposal and attached budget and told them to leave it with me let me rework it in a way that it would fly. I repurposed the proposal and went to meet with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu the next day and luckily, Iyke Aaron had already discussed it with him. The Governor approved the proposal and told me that he trusted me to deliver a grand event.

I drove to Aba with Chinyere Akataobi, Head of Corporate Affairs at the Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency and immediately met with Ugomdi and Samuel. I showed them the proposal I did and the Governor’s approval. Thus Aba Fashion Week was officially a go.

We drew up a Synopsis of the event, allocated tasks and set up a WhatsApp Group for the planning.

We agreed from the get go to be open with each other and eschew every private agenda in the actualisation of this objective. We each individually and collectively believed in the project and we started putting things in place to make it happen.

Akata was our Committee Secretary and Administrator of the WhatsApp Group. He recorded meeting minutes, noted task allocations and reminded everyone of their pending tasks. He also recorded expenditure and disbursements to ensure accountability. He coordinated airport pick-ups and drop-offs of our guests.

Ugomdi handled sourcing of Showcasing Designers, Models and coordination of the 2 to ensure synchrony and harmony. He was also fully in charge of all aspects of the Street Fashion as he was very passionate about that particularly. He also sourced the artists and performers for the duration of the events.

Samuel handled Contacts and Mobilisation. Bouncers, Ushers and Printing/Graphics for the event. He was also the resident coordinator of tasks.

I handled stage setup and Audiovisual design. I took charge of the Masterclass Component of the event and sourcing of Speakers. I was also to ensure that the Governor attended the event. I also had the responsibility of keeping everything tight and ensuring that all plans flowed seamlessly.

We held series of meetings afterwards to set things in motion. Everyone reached out to those that would help them succeed at their tasks and every team member had quasi independence to interpret their assignments as they deemed fit subject to regularly updating the group on progress.

We got to the point where we needed to start making payments for services and no money had come in yet. To show our total commitment to the project and it’s success, we collectively put down about N10M of our own personal monies to start making deposits for the event. Do not envy people until you know what they did to succeed. If we had not put down money when we did, we would not have delivered the show we delivered.

I travelled shortly afterwards and even while abroad, we were meeting via WhatsApp everyday. Upon return, I relocated to Aba with Akata and we started meeting daily to execute this project.

We met with Dr. Cosmos Ndukwe and secured the use of Luxury City Entertainment Villa and its facilities.

Carpenters moved into site and started constructing the Trade Fair Booths.

Then came the week of the event. Things started slowly. We were supposed to kick off the Trade Exhibitions by Monday but the Carpenters had not finished constructing the booths. We eventually started on Tuesday.

Wednesday was Ugomdi’s day. A showman had his canvas set out and he was ready to paint a masterpiece. He turned Brass Junction to his Runway and pulled off a spectacular show. I was engrossed with working with the stage designers to construct the stage and almost missed it until Batimore Prince who graciously volunteered his time and energy to work with us prompted me and we headed out on Keke to Brass Junction (I had given my car out to ferry guests). What we saw at Brass Junction was mind-blowing and I took pictures and sent them out which generated a lot of buzz. The Street Fashion Show was a succes and people started taking us serious.

Then the next day, Thursday was the Masterclass. My brother Emeka Michael had entered Aba with his crew and 2 trailer loads of equipments to begin the stage setup from Monday. We were working day and night. We completely transformed Sugarland such that the owner, MOG did not recognise his own venue again.

I had earlier secured the appearance of Mai Atafo and Noble Igwe for the Masterclass leveraging on my existing relationships with them. As God would have it, they both arrived as planned and we had a memorable Masterclass.

Immediately after the Masterclass, we commenced the redesigning of the Stage and building of the Runway against the next day. It was a logistics nightmare but we persevered.

Then came Friday the Grand Finale. It was magical. Everything went according to plan and even better in some cases. The designers delivered. The models delivered. The Stage and backdrop was divine. The artists and performers gave a virtuoso performance and even after we had officially declared the event closed, people did not want to go home. They were on stage taking pictures and dancing until the early hours of Saturday.

We return all the glory to God for the wisdom and grace to deliver a solid show.

We take responsibility for any lapses and apologise for any oversight.

Betking came in as Sponsors and gave us some money. We thank them.

Guinness indicated interest to sponsor and were talking with us until the point of committing funds when they said they had maxed out their sponsorship budget for the year.

Ditto Union Bank who also indicated interest but could not secure approval before the event.

We would like to thank the following people.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu for believing in us and supporting this dream moraly and financially.

Eze Nwalo Iyke Aaron for seeing the vision and setting it in motion.

Dr. Cosmos Ndukwe for being a father.

Emeka Michael for his exceptional work setting up the stage.

Mai Atafo, Noble Igwe, Chike, Exnel FirstSon, Desmond David, Odogwu Urch Baz and all our guest artists for adding colour to the event.

Marvelous, Klassical and Beautylinks Chima for being exceptional hosts.

All the Designers who worked tirelessly to produce designs for the Runway show.

All the Models who showed remarkable professionalism and dedication.

Eze E Jubilee and his team at Eje Studios

Ogbudimkpa Ikenna who became an executive chauffeur and helped drive our guests from the airport and back.
Vera Kalu who volunteered her time and energy.
Chukwuma Aguwa who relocated to Aba from Umuahia and volunteered his time and energy.
Hon. Commissioner for Information Chief John Okiyi Kalu who gave us moral support and promoted the event.
Hon. Commissioner for Industry Chief Mrs. Uwaoma Olewengwa who supported us
Special Adviser on Diaspira Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Ogbonna-Erondu who gave us moral support.
My brother John Uga Onyike who kept calling to know how we were fairing.
Ururuaja Onyebuchi Ememanka who gave us moral support.
Director of Protocol Ben Ononogbu and his team who ensured the Governor attended.
Hon. Commissioner for SME Development Onyema Wachuku who attended the Masterclass and also the Grand Finale.
Rt. Hon. Uko Nkole who kept encouraging us.
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu who kept encouraging us.
Engr. Nwafor Enyinnaya who encouraged us.
Sir Okey Ahiwe
Sir Raymond Aliga
Hon. Uche Ogbuagu
Chief Jerry Kalu
Chief Joseph Ogwo
Hon. Chimaobi Ebisike

My adorable wife Chika Sam who permitted me to relocate to Aba and who kept assuring me with prayers that all will go well.
Angel Sonia Nonyerem Ugomdi-Ogbonna who was a rock behind her husband and extended the love to the entire team.
Gift Soso Esochaghi who gave us moral support.

All our partner Radio Stations who promoted the event.

Newman Ubani who deployed his Abia Online Team to cover the event.

Staff of the Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency who covered for me in my long absence from the Office.

Hon. Commissioner for Finance Dr. Aham Uko and State Accountan-General Mr. Kelechi Imeoria who ensured that we received the funds approved by the Governor.

Uzo, Klara, Ezinne and all those who I am unable to mention who relocated to Aba to give this colour.

Hon. Nnaemeka Obiaraeri, Ubani Dannie, Ezinne Uzoije and all those who have written about the event to commend us.

The list of our gratitude is endless and I know I have omitted some important people. I apologise in advance.

All we can say is that this was possible by the special grace of God, the unwavering support of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and the exceptional commitment of the team.

See you at Aba Fashion Week 2021.