2022 Ijebu Fashion Festival Will Be Bigger And Better -Founder, Ayokunle Maraiyesa

Can we meet you; name, profession, etc

My name is Miss Maraiyesa Ayokunle Olorintobiloba.  The creative director of M.R Designs and Marayo clothings. I am also the convener of Ijebu fashion festival

Can you tell us about your family and academical background

I am from a Christian home. My dad is a retired teacher,  a redeemed pastor, a farmer and my mom is a trader. I came from an all female home. We are five girls and I am the third born.

I am a graduate of English Language from National Open University, bagged my M.A English Literature from Olabisi Onabanjo University and eyeing PhD English Literature from the same institution

What inspired the founding of Ijebu Fashion Festival?

I am an early starter and right from that early age there is a burning passion within me for art and fashion. What welcome my aspiration as a young lass is a sizzling silence because there are no platforms in Ijebu  that enable such.

Ijebu Fashion Festival is not my first project in Ijebu. Right from the moment I started working  I have launch small projects, and like IFF, they are platforms for exposure, empowerment and self development.

I believe in being and bringing to live the changes we want to see and that belief is what birthed IFF. The opportunities and platforms I do not have, I have created, not only for me but for others who are like minded.

When was IFF founded and who are the people that have made the dream a reality?

IFF idea was conceived in 2020 but the actualization came in 2021. At that time, I was into lot of community service and have volunteered as social worker for quite a number of N.G.O. As long as it is about change and human development, I want to be part of it. I never knew all these activities are just training ground for the task ahead.

IFF started through a conversation with otunba Ajibola Ogundipe . I met Otunba Ajibola Ogundipe through rotary, Otunba Ogundipe was the president of Rotary club of Ago Iwoye metropolitan 2019. Rotary club Ago Iwoye metropolitan sponsored me to RYLA ( ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD) 2019 and I won the MISS RYLA 2019 pageant and also came back home with a badge of honor.

We were talking about the weekly parties at Olutoyese park and he asked ” if there is no meaningful social engagement youths can champion aside random parties. I answered the question by sharing the rough vision of IFF, I emphasized it is a big project for later time but he encourage me to start now. He key into the project and never stop the encouragement and constant reminder until I finally had the courage to start some months later .

A lot of people later key into the vision but the maiden edition of IFF happened in 2021 because someone said THIS IS A VISION FOR NOW AND SUPPORTED THE VISSION SELFLESSLY.

What was the maiden edition of the IFF like?

It was a huge success. We have over 1000 participants in different activities.  The outcome of the event worth all the sacrifice and effort.

We did model training every weekend to instill courage and boldness in our runway models and on the day of the event they all gave their best, including the kid models. The youngest model at the event was a 2 years model.

Everybody that attended the event was impressed. One of the popular comments from people that I can’t forget is  ” we only see stuffs like that on television”.

What efforts go into making the IFF possible?

A lot of planning. IFF is a very complex event to plan and not having corporate sponsorship makes it more tedious. It embodies different event and activities like pageantry, fashion show, trade fair, masterclasses, award, Ijebu fashion magazine,  game and fun festival

Aside the huge task of having to deal with models, designers, vendor e.t.c, you are also saddled with the responsibility of money hunting, and that is the hardest part.

Who the event’s patrons, etc?

We only have Royal patron and board of trustees. Our Royal patron is the paramount ruler of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. Our chairman board of trustees is Alhaji safiriyu kazeem. Other members of the board includes Otunba Ajibola Ogundipe, Chief Mrs. Ibilola solaja. We aim to have representative from each local government in Ijebu as part of our vision in ensuring that all the Local Governments in Ijebu land are well represented on the Board of Trustee, but it is a gradual process. The Building takes time.

Can you give us a break down of the last year’s event?

The event was a two days event. Activities for the first day includes masterclasses, trade fair and gamefestival. For the grand finale, there was fashion show, pageantry, artistic performances.

What should we expect in this year’s edition of IFF?

Ijebu fashion festival is coming up November 18 & 19 and You all should anticipate a ground shaking event. This year edition will be bigger and better than that of last year in a numbers of way. Let me just mention 3

Unlike last year, there is prize for the best designer this year. The best designer wins an all expenses paid trip to south Africa.  So expect to see the best of best fashion collection on Ijebu fashion show walkway this year. There are international modelling agencies coming to scout some of our models, I am so happy about this and that is the beauty of have platforms like this. Also, this year we are having Ijebu fashion award and the launch of Ijebu fashion magazine. ijebu fashion Magazine is the first complete fashion magazine in the south west.

Who are the people making this year’s IFF possible, and who are the people we should be expecting to see at the event?

Lot of people ooooo, I don’t want to mention but I want to appreciate everyone who has been working selflessly for IFF, the youths  who are on several committees of IFF and elders for their wisdom and guidance.

Where do you see IFF in the near future?

I see IFF becoming one of the foremost fashion platform in Africa connecting local creatives to global market and opportunities.