Vlisco unveils tycoon, humanitarian as 2018 brand ambassador for Nigeria

Beauty is beyond physical attributes of good shape, attractive face and other features. Beauty is character. It is being responsible and being able to present one self with modesty and decency.

This is why Vlisco brand, which stands for decency, in its bid for a society of beautiful women who dress decently, unveiled a tycoon and humanitarian-Dr. Yolanda George-as 2018 Vlisco Ambassador.Distinguished men and women, including a former first lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Bimbo Fashola, attended the launch of the new ambassador at Vlisco Boutique, Ikeja City Mall Lagos last Thursday.

While unveiling the new Ambassador, Business Strategy Manager, Vlisco Nigeria, Yvonne Chioke, highlighted her extensive humanitarian work, particularly with regards to the empowerment of women and the girl-child.

Her words: “We are proud to work with an Ambassador who shares the same values as Vlisco in empowering women across the country.“Her passion and dedication to the cause of giving a new lease of life to some of the most traumatised and marginalised people in our society is truly commendable. We look forward to supporting her in making a difference in the lives of more people.

“Throughout the year, she will be traveling across the country to engage with various women groups on mentorship and educating them on the plight of women, girls and boys who have been sexually abused, in order to create more awareness.

“Vlisco is a fabric with historic heritage of quality since 1846 and we have created unique textiles influencing the fashion landscape in West and Central Africa.” Yolanda, a dedicated and inspirational woman, who has made it her calling to get the helpless, homeless and less privileged people off the streets unto a life of purpose, expressed her gratitude to those who attended the event.She is a wife and mother, a Neurosurgeon with her primary residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as Clinical and Relational Psychologist. She is also an Academic, a multiple award winning international speaker, businesswoman, media personality, human rights activist and founder of Aunt Landa Bethel Foundation (ALBF).

Driven by her passion to change the world one person at a time, she established ALBF, where over 25,000 sexually abused teenagers have received counseling and have been empowered with vocational and life skills.

She moves commercial sex hawkers out of dangerous areas for rehabilitation and rescues sexually abused girls and boys. Yolanda also fights for the oppressed, gives shelter to the abandoned, feeds thousands and cover educational and surgical fees, among other initiatives.

At ALBF, she works with a team of passionate volunteers and together they have helped to redefine and add purpose to the lives of over one million registered and non-registered members with different needs in over 200 centers of the foundation. She is also a host of two radio shows on 92.3 Inspiration FM, ‘Being Real with Aunt Landa’ and ‘Sharing Life Issues Weekend Special’ with Aunt Landa.

As mentor to many, loves God dearly and this reflects as she helps the heartbroken and helpless with her special formula: A pinch of care, a dash of love and a whole lot of God.

In her acceptance speech, she said she felt highly honoured because she was naturally antisocial, hence the need for Mrs. Fashola, who is her personal friend had to help her out with the right coverage of people.

“The most important thing about this position is the fact that I was told that I would be able to inspire young women because Vlisco is a brand of quality for decency.

“Initially, I was worried that the African fabric is usually used to sow styles with bare chests and the girls do not look decent, but I was told that Vlisco and Wooden stands for decency, and this is the message we want you to carry with the fabric. “So, through the one-year ambassadorial journey, I hope to help change the ideology of beauty that some young women have replaced for sex tourism.

“We want them to know that being beautiful is being worthy and responsible enough to be called a lady without being mistaken for a streetwalker, because beauty is actually beautiful with decency,” she said.Responding, the outgoing Ambassador Mrs. Dotun Akande, said she was Vlisco ambassador for three years, and that handing over to Yolanda was momentum, hence the need to have faith in the Vlisco team, as they would support and work with her to achieve her vision.