The Osun State Government in southwest Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to sustainable economic growth through continuous support for the Adire industry.
The governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, disclosed this on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 2025 edition of the Adire Osun Agbaye Fiesta, which is being held in Osogbo from 11th to 14th September 2025.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, said the Adire industry is a unique sector with the potential to drive growth and create employment through its value chain.
According to him, Osun State is the source of Adire production in Nigeria, and encouraging its production would help transform the state into a hub of design, production and vending of the fabric in the world.
The governor, who promised to spare no effort in rekindling the love of the people to make, buy, and wear the indigenous fabric, tasked the youths with tapping into its production and marketing.
He urged the people to stop thinking of Adire as a mere fabric but as a heritage that defines the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of the people who design and produce it.
He said, “Today, we gather not only to celebrate a fabric but also to honour a heritage that reflects the creativity and artistic nature of our people.
“Adire is more than a type of cloth. It encapsulates the ingenuity of a people, expressed through the art and science of unique cloth making.”
“The whole Adire garment industry is not just about satisfying the core human need of clothing; it deals more with the economics of production, growth, development and financial rewards, particularly in terms of job creation and poverty reduction.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the special adviser to the governor on cultural affairs, Ayodeji Olamilekan, noted that the socio-cultural impact of the Adire revolution in the state is heartwarming.
He explained that the main purpose of the Adire Osun Agbaye Fiesta was to showcase the cultural heritage of our forefathers in adapting locally sourced raw materials to creative cloth making.
While decrying the huge funds spent on importing foreign, ready-to-wear fabrics into the country, Ayodeji advocated a return to locally manufactured clothes such as Adire to promote local industries.
He added, “One of the fabrics our forefathers used to wear back in the day was the locally manufactured Adire. The creativity of the design was local, the materials used were sourced locally, and the production itself was entirely indigenous.
“With the Adire Osun Agbaye Fiesta, we are making our people see reason to go back to their roots. We are encouraging them to think local, buy local, and wear the locally manufactured Adire fabrics, not only to promote their culture but also to help the local garment industry grow.”
Also speaking was Mrs Solabomi Akinsola, one of the organisers, who spoke on the sidelines of the event and appreciated the efforts of the state government in initiating policies that support the Adire sector.
She urged the government to follow through with its policy of encouraging artisans, particularly those working in the Adire garment industry, so that the state and the people could benefit from the entire value chain.
The Adire Osun Agbaye Fiesta is a four-day event featuring a culture fest, symposia, and tourism rides, as well as a gala and award night to cap it up.