By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, described the Adire Ekiti initiative of the First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, as a commendable economic initiative for youth empowerment in the state.

Senator Shettima made the remarks on Thursday during his visit to the Adire Ekiti Hub located along Iworoko Road in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, as part of his one-day official visit to the Land of Honour.

The Vice President, accompanied by Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Minister of Solid Minerals Mr. Dele Alake, Deputy Governor Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, and other eminent personalities, was received by Dr. Oyebanji and the facility’s donor, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.

Senator Shettima described the initiative of training unemployed people in tie and dye, known locally as Adire, as one of the best means aimed at empowering hundreds of Ekiti youth from the three Senatorial Districts of the state.

Vice President Shettima commended the First Lady for her initiative to provide economic empowerment to hundreds of Ekiti youths, giving them an opportunity to become job creators.

He described Dr. Oyebanji as “a worthy princess, an intelligent and brilliant woman committed to the development of Ekiti State, who complements her husband’s efforts in making life easier for the masses.”

The nation’s second citizen said Ekiti has never had it so good with Governor Biodun Oyebanji in office, being complemented by a wife passionate about the welfare of the state’s citizens.

Some of the facilities at the Adire Ekiti Hub visited by the Vice President included the pavilion occupied by trainees, the workshop where many of them work, and the gallery displaying beautiful Adire fabrics.

Impressed with what he saw, Vice President Shettima donated N5 million to the Adire Hub on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, much to the admiration of the trainees and other guests present.

He urged the entire people of the state to unite and support Governor Oyebanji for the sustainable development of the state and to change the narrative of Ekiti for the better.

Earlier in her remarks, Dr. Oyebanji gave an overview of how the Adire Ekiti initiative and the Hub started, informing the Vice President that the facility housing the center was donated by former National Assembly member Senator Ojudu.

Dr. Oyebanji explained that 200 youths from Ekiti Central Senatorial District had undergone training in the first phase, from which 30 were selected from the Masters Class to train another batch of 200 trainees from Ekiti South Senatorial District, who are currently undergoing training.

The First Lady added that fabrics from the Adire Ekiti Hub are in high demand locally and among people in the Diaspora, groups, trade unions, among others.

According to her, the Adire Ekiti Hub was her humble initiative to provide economic empowerment and self-fulfillment for youths and women, noting that the first batch of trainees were given start-up packs and financial support after concluding their training.

She solicited the support of the Federal Government for the project, primarily aimed at making the unemployed self-reliant and employers of labor.

The trainees, excited to receive the Vice President, hailed Governor Oyebanji and his wife for giving them an opportunity to be trained in a craft that would assist them in owning their own businesses.

The First Lady presented Adire fabrics of various colors to the Vice President after he inspected the gallery, admiring the products made by trainees at the Hub.