By Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo
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As part of efforts to create job opportunities and preserve culture, Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola has launched the mass production, promotion and marketing of Adire Osun.
This is even as the Governor made it compulsory for the public and civil servants to wear local fabric, as he declared every Thursday of the week ‘Adire Osun Day’.
The initiative is in furtherance of the administration’s efforts to preserve and promote Adire Osun as well as bolster the image of Osun as a culturally correct and indigenous product inclined State.
He said the International Fashion Week and the Launch of Adire Osun are no doubt giant strides towards diversifying the State’s economy and creating jobs for the teeming youths.
To achieve the initiative and take its plans to fruition, the State Government has partnered with Musty Great Development and Alexandria Jones Couture, U.S.A., to organise the International Fashion Week, for the promotion of Osun brand of Adire (Adire Eleko) for Global exhibition.
Oyetola said Adire is indigenous to Osun and that it is not for nothing that Osogbo, is referred to as ‘Ilu Aro’ (Home of dye).
Launching the in initiative, at the De-Destinguished Event Centre, Osogbo, Oyetola said the initiative was to reawaken the people’s consciousness towards sociocultural and artistic renaissance in the State.
Oyetola who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, reiterated the administration’s commitment to promote and project culture to the world in a way that will draw attention and attract humongous revenue to the state.
Governor Oyetola who declared Thursday as ‘Adire Osun Day’ announced that it has become compulsory henceforth, for all the Public and Civil Servants to wear Adire same day as part of efforts to quicken the actualisation of the set objectives of the initiative as Osun remains the leading light in African culture and tradition in the country.
He also urged the residents to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the initiative to draw economic opportunities and benefits to themselves for huge economic development.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Adebisi Obawale, said the initiative was aimed at unlocking the untapped potential in the areas of culture, fashion and tourism.
According to him, the purpose is to build marketing channels through Adire products which would be produced, promoted and marketed globally.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Publisher Alaroye Newspaper Publications, Mr. Musa Adedayo; Culture Icon, Mrs. Nike Okundaye; Chief Jimoh Buraimon and Chief Muraina Oyelami, all urged residents of the State to brace up to their responsibilities by promoting their cultural heritage to the outside world.