Doctor Salihu Maiwada, Head of Department of Industrial Design, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria , has advised Nigerians to promote the traditional dress culture.

He said at a colloquium of National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in Enugu that the development would enhance the image of the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the theme of this year's NAFEST is "Culture and the Challenges of our Time: Promoting Nigerian Dress Culture".

Maiwada said the native attire served as a symbol of unity everywhere Nigerians resided in the world.

"Nigerians, regardless of their religious, ethnic or political inclinations, must try to wear their traditional attires," he added.

The don commended members of the National Assembly who, he observed, dressed as members of one family in traditional attires.

He urged other leaders to emulate them and show examples to the younger ones.

Maiwada said it was regrettable that the elite and the youth had been influenced by foreign dress culture, noting that they wore foreign dresses, regardless of the country's climatic condition.

He, however, criticised the Nigerian banking industry for asking all categories of staff, including expectant mothers, to wear suit and tie as a dress code.