Laila Abubakari: Striving to Create a Brighter Future and a More Educated World
“It was not until I started reading and learning more that I felt it was wrong for so many environments to be male dominated, even with the availability of qualified females. Now I make a conscious effort to support more females and try harder to be obviously better than male colleagues.” — Laila Abubakari
Laila Abubakari is a woman to watch. As the Assistant to the Education Minister of Ghana, Laila works hard every day to create a brighter future for education in her country. Laila’s vision and work is a testament to creating a peaceful, educated and progressive future for Ghana.
Representing Ghana in the 21st Century
Laila started her work at the Ministry of Education in Ghana straight from college, and has helped the Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh adapt the entire education system to fit 21st century standards and needs. This important work is helping to build a new and exciting Ghana, something that she is so proud to be a part of.
“I have the opportunity to schedule meetings (that lead to important decision making), suggest and review major decisions in the sector that ultimately feed into the fabric of the running of Ghana.”
A Woman’s Voice in a Man’s World
Laila works in an environment which is traditionally dominated by men. Instead of making her shy away, this has given her the drive to educate herself even more in industries dominated by men. It has led her to question why there seem to be so many equally qualified women, who might not be given the same opportunities to succeed in these vocations. Laila is resolved to support female colleagues, professionals and peers and to always push herself to outshine.
Working Towards a More Sustainable Life
“Unfortunately, I have not been very conscious about being more sustainable. However, I usually do not wash my clothes after every wear, I wear them a number of times before washing them. I have also stopped shopping for as many casual clothes as I used to because I wear more formal outfits throughout the year” — Laila Abubakari
Living sustainably is, in many ways, a new concept for most people. As the world lives through a pandemic, people are starting to become more aware of the importance of simple yet significant things such as; where their clothes come from, who made them, what they are made from etc.
Shopping consciously is the way forward, and this is something that Laila is beginning to understand, as she is continuously learning about the importance of living a sustainable life. Starting with conscious shopping is a great start.
Our newest ambassador has already begun to make small yet significant changes to make more sustainable fashion choices. Buying less fast-fashion clothing, and investing in fewer, wearable pieces that she can wear more often makes perfect sense. By buying less and wearing more, Laila is making ethical fashion choices that can create a big impact.
From Accra to New York with Love
Laila has spread her influence on a global scale, attending events and meetings from Accra, Ghana to New York. Maakola founder Aurora meets frequently with Laila in Accra, where the pair congregate at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. They also met in 2018 when Aurora spoke alongside the Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh at WISE New York.
Since then, in 2019 Laila and Aurora organized an event focused on renewable energy and harnessing the power of natural resources. This specifically focused on the sub-Saharan Africa region, as it can bypass conventional energy and maximize the use of solar power. This truly is a woman going from strength to strength.
Standing for Ethical Fashion: Featuring the Gaia Night Suit in a New Print Dedicated to Kofi Annan
At Maakola we are thrilled to make Laila one of our ambassadors, thanks to her progressive views, hard work and inspirational achievements. Laila can be seen here proudly showing off the Maakola Gaia Night Pants and Jacket, designed with the new Kofi Annan print, outside of the Ministry of Education in Ghana.
Maakola is an ethical fashion brand, so of course we have a vested interest in Laila’s effortless Laila is a big fan of Maakola and looks stunning in the Gaia Night trousers and jacket, as seen above. Her suit is made from our new Kofi Annan print. Made from Wax Hollandais fabric, and designed in striking colours, this print is our dedication to the great mind of Kofi Annan. As all our pieces are custom made clothing, Laila is always guaranteed to look and feel stunning and special when wearing Maakola. She is planning on wearing her Maakola pieces to work and work related events, and we will be so proud to be represented by this incredible young woman.
“I would say my personal style is mostly smart casual. Although I love to look professional, I want to be able to “breathe” in my clothes. I normally take inspiration for my look from various people, who mostly are not notable style icons. Many times on Instagram, specifically these accounts: @simplycyn, @ijeomakola, @aqousuah20”
Could You be the Next Maakola Ambassador?
Laila is our newest ambassador thanks to her unique vision of a positive and progressive future. She inspires us, and others, making changes in social inclusion, education and a peaceful and hopeful tomorrow. Maakola’s brand mission is to empower women through sustainable choices and ethical fashion. We are proud to be able to work with inspirational women who share our values and work hard to create a better world for us all. Laila is one such woman.
We are always looking to be inspired, so if you think you could be our next ambassador — or if you would like to nominate someone — get in touch with us here. We can’t wait to hear your story.
