By Don Peter Okoro
On the 2nd of January 2022, His Royal Highness Barr. Dr. Ofobuike Alphonsus Ezeoke (Igwe Eneke Of Amichi) celebrated his 7th Ofala Festival.
As is typical with the American Trained Monarch, he likes adding style and class to his things. And so, the Festival was an auspicious occasion to showcase the Beauty of African Wears. To do this was the SRTV BEST DESIGNER Of The Year 2020 Award Winner, GOCINT Fashion/ Event Management.
Gocint Fashion is a very popular brand in the country.They are also very popular in the Nollywood Industry for their innovative and creative styles. To add glamour, splendour and grandeur to this year’s Ofala,Models drawn from different parts of the country and beyond were on ground to showcase the clothes made by GOCINT Fashion.
Speaking to Pressmen who were on ground to cover the event, the CEO of Gocint Fashion/ Event Management, Princess Uche Obiora ( Nee Umeh Ezeoke), has this to say:” His Royal Highness, Igwe Barr. Dr. Oforbuike Ezeoke, who is my brother, is celebrating his 7th Ofala today and I decided to celebrate with him. And to do that I decided to organize a Fashion Show to enhance the Ofala in a different way..”. Reminded that the Fashion Show has really added more glamour to the ceremony, she agreed saying: “Yes every day is supposed to be a plus. So this year’s Ofala is a plus.” On how the Parade was done, she explained that it was supposed to be a Summer Fashion Show and they came out three times putting on Beach Wears, Evening/ Casual Wears and Dinner Wears. Asked to throw more light on her job, she replied: ” I’m a Fashion Designer and a Costumier in Nollywood of which I have actually worked with all the Superstars we have in Nollywood.
Asked to mentioned some of the Actors she has worked with in Nollywood, she mentioned: RMD, Genevieve, Omotola, Kenneth Okonkwo,Franca Brown, Ramsey Noah,Eucharia Anunobu,KOK, Desmond Elliot,. In her words: ” I have virtually worked with all the known Actors and Actresses in the Industry “.
Speaking more on Gocint Fashion,she said: ” Gocint Fashion and Event Management was established in 1991. That was the year I got married and it was my husband that intoduced me to that, because I was a Banker in First Bank and also playing Basketball for the Nigerian National Team under First Bank Club, but when I got married,my husband insisted that I do fashion and when I asked him why, he said, so,I can be able to stay at home and take care of family. And I understood with him and said okay. Now I thank God that I agreed with him and I’m so proud I did.” On how she veered into the Nollywood Industry, she explained: ” The Producers usually come to my Fashion House to ask me for Costumes. One day,in 1992, Kenneth Nnebue ( who produced Living in Bondage) wanted to produce a movie titled: “End Time Pastor Weaver” and he was looking for a good Costumier. Zik Zulu who is today a big time Producer now asked me to work with Kenneth, that I have good Costumes. When Kenneth came to my office and saw all that I have, he asked if I can do it? I said I can do it if I have someone that could assist me because I had never done it before, but there is no kind of costume that they needed that I couldn’t design. He said okay, he now gave me the job and paid me very well, more than anyone on that set. I did all the costumes of that movie and since then, every other Producer have been looking for me . That’s the job that brought me to the limelight in the Nollywood Industry ” Asked to encourage the young ones, she replied:” I want to tell the young ones that they should go in for whatever they have passion for and if they don’t have passion for it and it’s the only available opportunity they have, they should take it. To be successful is by being patient, being tolerant, being obedient and being humble.” She equally used the opportunity to give a shout out to all those who found time to attend the event and wished them journey mercies back to their respective destinations.
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