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User:Queenter Mbori/AkinyiOdongo

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Akinyo Odongo O.G.W is a Kenyan fashion businesswoman and fashion designer. She is the Executive Board Chair of the Kenya Fashion Council[1].[2][3]

Akinyo Odongo is the CEO and Founder of Mefa Institute of Design[4][5] and Wana-Watindo Fashion School [6] for kids and teens aged between 6 to 17 years. Wana-Watindo was established in 2010[7] to help nurture the entrepreneurial journey of children through talent.

In parallel to this, Akinyi founded Fashion Agenda Africa[8] in 2013 to build, support and empower young and passionate fashion professionals.[9].

Mefa Institute[10] of Design was established in 2002 while Akinyi was still in college[11]. The institution has been shortlisted by the Export Promotion Council (EPC) to produce and market products for export[12].

On February 10, 2023, Akinyi was appointed by Kenya's Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports, and the Arts as a member of the Talanta Hela Council in the Creative Technical Committee. The committee chaired by Daniel Ndambuki (Churchill), is tasked with managing the National Creatives Awards, monetizing the creatives sector and implementing the National Creatives Economy Plan.[13] [14]

Akinyi is a certified Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) expert, with the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) [15] and the International Labour Organization [16]. She was involved in the development of learning tools for the textile and fashion industry in Kenya through the National National Industrial Training Authority (NITA)[17] [18].

As a fashion designer, she has worked with Kenya’s former First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta, and Hon Martha Karua[19].

Background

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Akinyo Odongo went to St. Francis Rang’ala Girls High School [20] in Siaya County, Kenya. While in school she excelled in extracurricular activities such as dancing, acting, singing, and painting at a time when artistic creativity was sidelined in the curriculum[21]. Despite the setbacks, Akinyi credits her mother and Arts teacher at St Francis Rang’ala Girls High School, Ms. Dorcas Okoyo for giving her hope[22].

Family

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Akinyi Odongo was born and raised in Rang'ala village in Siaya County, Kenya. Her mother Ms. Angeline Odongo [23]was a tailor and her father was a secondary school bursar[24]. The mother of two sons and a daughter is also married.[25]

Awards

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In 2014 Akinyo Odongo received the Ethical Leadership Network (ELNET)[26] Business Leader Ethics Award[27].

In July 2022, Akinyi she was awarded by former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta[28], Order of Grand Warrior (OGW)[29] [30] for her contribution to the Kenyan fashion industry, leading to the formation of the Kenya Fashion Council, and promoting rights and recognition of the creative industry[31].

She has also been a recipient of the American-based I Change Nations Award (ICN) as a result of influencing transformation and recognition of talents[32].

  1. ^ "Kenyan fashion designers feel the heat as "Mitumbas" rule industry". The Star. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  2. ^ "THE BOARD". Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  3. ^ "Akinyi Odongo: The fashionista using art to tell the African story". Nation. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  4. ^ "Akinyi Odongo: The fashionista using art to tell the African story". Nation. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  5. ^ "Home". MEFA Institute of Design. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  6. ^ "Home | Wanawatindo". Wana Watindo ENT. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  7. ^ "Akinyi Odongo: The fashionista using art to tell the African story". Nation. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  8. ^ "Home | My Website". Fashion Agenda Africa (FAA). Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  9. ^ September 03 2018, Monday (2020-12-17). "Brand Kenya's new partnership to boost fashion businesses locally". Business Daily. Retrieved 2023-02-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Akinyi Odongo: The fashionista using art to tell the African story". Nation. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  11. ^ Ogutu, Evelyne. "Evelyne Akinyi Odongo: I wanted to be a designer, not a tailor". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  12. ^ Ogutu, Evelyne. "Evelyne Akinyi Odongo: I wanted to be a designer, not a tailor". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  13. ^ GROUP, NTV KENYA-NATION MEDIA. "NTV Kenya: Itumbi, Churchill, Radull, and Azziad land government jobs in bid to revitalise the creative industry". NTV Kenya. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  14. ^ MAKONG, BRUHAN (2023-02-11). "Itumbi, Azziad, Churchill appointed to Talanta Hela Council » Capital News". Capital News. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  15. ^ KNQA_ICT (2019-11-29). "Kenya National Qualifications Authority". Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  16. ^ "Akinyi Odongo: The fashionista using art to tell the African story". Nation. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  17. ^ "The National Industrial Training Authority (NITA)". www.nita.go.ke. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  18. ^ "Akinyi Odongo: The fashionista using art to tell the African story". Nation. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  19. ^ Ogutu, Evelyne. "Evelyne Akinyi Odongo: I wanted to be a designer, not a tailor". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  20. ^ Ogutu, Evelyne. "Evelyne Akinyi Odongo: I wanted to be a designer, not a tailor". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  21. ^ "Akinyi Odongo: The fashionista using art to tell the African story". Nation. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  22. ^ "Akinyi Odongo: The fashionista using art to tell the African story". Nation. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  23. ^ "Akinyi Odongo: The fashionista using art to tell the African story". Nation. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  24. ^ Ogutu, Evelyne. "Evelyne Akinyi Odongo: I wanted to be a designer, not a tailor". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  25. ^ Ogutu, Evelyne. "Evelyne Akinyi Odongo: I wanted to be a designer, not a tailor". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  26. ^ "The Ethical Leadership Network (ELNET) – Lived-out Integrity!". Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  27. ^ Ogutu, Evelyne. "Evelyne Akinyi Odongo: I wanted to be a designer, not a tailor". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  28. ^ "Akinyi Odongo: The fashionista using art to tell the African story". Nation. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  29. ^ Ogutu, Evelyne. "Evelyne Akinyi Odongo: I wanted to be a designer, not a tailor". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  30. ^ "FULL LIST: Nzioka Waita, Kanze Dena, Mutahi Ngunyi among Kenyans awarded by President Kenyatta". Citizen Digital. 2022-07-13. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  31. ^ "Akinyi Odongo: The fashionista using art to tell the African story". Nation. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  32. ^ "Akinyi Odongo: The fashionista using art to tell the African story". Nation. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
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