‘YOMI AYELESO writes on the newly launched local fabric production project in Ekiti State, tagged Adire Ekiti hub, an initiative of the wife of the governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, to promote the rich cultural heritage and most importantly serve as a means of economic empowerment for youths and unemployed citizens in the state.
At a time when citizens in the country are battling with the biting economic situations, stakeholders, leaders and privileged individuals across board are being called upon to come up with ideas and initiatives towards ameliorating the sufferings of the people and energising the local economy.
In Ekiti, the state government, under the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, in the last few months has been implementing policies and programmes aimed at achieving shared prosperity for the people. Aside from this, the administration has also rolled out economic stimulus packages to address the yearnings of the people, including palliatives.
As a successful academia with hundreds of publications in both local and international journals, wife of the governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, has expressed commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of the people especially the aged, widows, children and the less-privileged since her husband assumed office. Last year, she launched a pet project named Widows and Orphans Hope (WAOH) to cater to the disadvantaged citizens, including school children.
In what many described as a rare show of passion and dedication to the economic development of the state through productivity, the governor’s wife gathered prominent Nigerians in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Monday, March 4, 2024 for the launching of the local fabric production, called Adire Ekiti Hub.
It must be stated that the building that houses the Adire Ekiti Hub was donated by the immediate past Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, in his expansive residence in the state capital as part of his support for youth empowerment and growth of the state’s economy.
Dignitaries at the launch included, the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji and other members of the state executive council; wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Oluronke Ogunwusi; representative of Nike Okundaye Art Foundation; a team from the pan-African tourism and cultural programme, Goge Africa; representatives of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, led by the Ejemua of Ado, Chief Sola Olarewaju and other art and culture enthusiasts.
Adire, a traditional indigo-dyed cloth produced by the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria, carries a rich history deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the Yoruba race. Dating back centuries, Adire has been an integral part of Yoruba identity, representing a unique form of artistic expression and cultural identity.
Economically, Adire holds significant potential. With the global rise in demand for African textiles and indigenous crafts, Adire presents a lucrative opportunity for both the government and young individuals to tap into. By promoting the production and export of Adire, the government can stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities and preserve a vital aspect of Ekiti cultural heritage.
At the Adire Ekiti Hub, for a start, 200 unemployed youths and widows from the Central senatorial district have already been exposed to a comprehensive training programme focused on the traditional craft of Adire dyeing and textile production for two weeks, after which other batch of 200 beneficiaries each from the two remaining senatorial districts will be accommodated in the project at no cost to them.
With the presence of experts and renowned individuals in the local fabric production at the centre, the beneficiaries will face intensive training on the intricacies of tie and dye at the training facility dedicated for the lofty project.
Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Peju Babafemi, who commended the governor’s wife for the Ekiti Adire Hub project, maintained that capacity development especially for women and youths remain one of the priority areas of the administration towards achieving the shared prosperity agenda.
Speaking during the launch, the visibly elated wife of the governor said the Adire Ekiti would benefit the state in the areas of provision of sustainable livelihoods, promotion of entrepreneurship, creation of opportunities for economic empowerment and preservation of cultural heritage in the ‘Land of Honour’ (Ekiti State).
The governor’s wife, who commended Senator Ojudu for his patriotic gesture of donating the edifice for the project, revealed that the hub represents a platform for creativity. She assured the beneficiaries that all the Adire that would be produced in the hub will be pushed out to both local and international markets.
According to her, she envisioned “a community of skilled artisans, vibrant entrepreneurs and a thriving Adire industry that contributes to the growth and prosperity of Ekiti State.”
She said, “The Adire Ekiti Hub represents a platform for creativity, skill development, and collaboration. It is a symbol of our commitment to nurturing talent, fostering innovation and building a brighter future for the people of Ekiti State.
Governor Oyebanji, who charged the beneficiaries to make use of the opportunities offered by the Adire Ekiti scheme which include self-sustenance, productivity and becoming job creators rather than job seekers emphasised that “provision of palliatives cannot solve Nigeria’s problems.”
He promised that his administration would support the beneficiaries to stand on their own and give them opportunities to access soft loans and market, while advising anyone among them who sees the scheme as another opportunity for free money to perish the thought as they will be strictly monitored to follow the terms of the scheme.
Revealing that the initiative and the investment was that of his wife and not the state government, the governor said, “Government cannot give everybody employment; it is good to be educated. Your education will prepare you to do better in whatever area of life you find yourself. So, don’t see this as a share of the national cake. The challenges we have with programmes like this will be put behind you to ensure that you overcome them.
“What is lacking in Ekiti over the years are platforms and the access to opportunities. I know our people are capable of doing a lot, but these two problems are not helping us. But with this opportunity now, our people will prosper.
“We are going to hand-hold you, to train you and not to leave you alone because that is the problem of many government interventions. We are going to monitor you to the level that you will become independent and become employers of labour. If we do 200 per senatorial district, that is 600 (across the state) and you can now know the multiplier effects. We must make our people productive. That is the only way we can achieve shared prosperity.
“A time is coming when all of you will not be able to meet up with the demands (for your product), that is what I want to see. By the time we are doing one year anniversary of this project, we will call you back to tell your success stories.”
Senator Ojudu, who praised the governor and his wife for their commitment to empowering ordinary citizens, emphasised that “the wealth of the nation lies in the skills of its people.”
The former presidential aide, speaking on how the governor’s wife came about the project, said: “Early this year, His Excellency, the governor of this state, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, appointed me as the chairman of the Olowe of Ise Art Foundation. On the night of the inauguration of the foundation, we went for a dinner at the Governor’s Lodge.
“It was during that dinner that Mama Nike Okundaye, a member of the foundation, a world-renowned artist, and proponent of our local Adire fabric, offered to help our first lady train Ekiti State women and youths on how to make Adire.
“Right after her speech, I offered to donate this facility and the adjoining warehouse for this purpose because I could immediately see the convergence of our passions to give and to help.
“Since that night, our first lady has picked up the gauntlet, and she and her staff have not rested ever since. I too have done a partial relocation to Ekiti since then to enable me to assist in sharpening the idea, supervise the renovation, and make sure this dream becomes a reality. It is a demonstration of what love, collaboration and sacrifice can achieve.”
Advising the beneficiaries to take advantage of the project to acquire the skills for personal development and growth, he argued that the project would serve as a catalyst to ending poverty in the state.
“Having a skill and making use of it is an incredible path to escaping poverty. Empowering a woman is the easiest way to assist her in training her children to make a great contribution to societal development. My mom, with very little but a huge sense of sacrifice, was able to raise six of us, who are doing very well today in our chosen endeavours. We too have taken the baton from her to raise children who are everywhere working hard to make the world a better place,” Ojudu said.
Olori Ogunwusi said Adire Ekiti is a platform for capacity development, skills acquisition, job creation and wealth creation in addition to being a major part of the cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.
She promised to offer her support and expertise as one of the promoters of indigenous and African fabric to make the initiative in the state a successful one for socioeconomic development.
Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Nike Art Foundation, Chief Nike Okundaye, described Adire Ekiti as “the next big thing that will happen in the creative economy” stressing her readiness to assist in ensuring growth of the hub to prominence and a springboard for empowerment in local craft.
Okundaye, who was represented by Mrs Nneka Moses of Goge Africa, urged the stakeholders to support governor Oyebanji, whom she described as a “visionary governor” and his wife, Dr Oyebanji, in “rewriting a new chapter in the Ekiti story for the world to see.”
While appreciating the governor for bringing her on board, Okundaye pledged the full support of her Foundation in ensuring that the beneficiaries get the best of training in preparation for their foray into the market and to also train others in the art of Adire making.
Speaking on the significance of the project to the state, commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said the governor’s wife has demonstrated her passion and commitment to improving the economic status of the beneficiaries and making successful entrepreneurs in local fabric production.
Read Also: Challenges confronting education system enormous – Minister, Mamman
Olatunbosun said, “The venture is to serve as a platform for youth development, fostering entrepreneurship and preserving Ekiti’s rich cultural heritage where 200 unemployed youth would, for starters, be trained and equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge free of charge to become proficient in Adire craftsmanship.
“Let me say that for young individuals, learning the art of Adire production can provide a sustainable source of income and with what we have seen the governor’s wife doing and the potential in the project, Ekiti young people can become skilled artisans and entrepreneurs, contributing to the growth of the Adire industry and the overall economy of our state.”
One of the beneficiaries, Funbi Olawumi, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune, hailed Dr Oyebanji and the government for what she described as a rare opportunity, promising to take full advantage of the project in becoming Adire entrepreneur and impacting the society positively.