The Ogun government has advised youths in the state to venture into production of Adire Fabrics to be self-reliant and create employment.
Dr. Toyin Taiwo, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, gave the advice at the opening of the Adire Festival in Abeokuta on Friday.
The commissioner said that the idea of waiting or looking for white collar jobs should be discouraged, stressing that venturing into production of Adire fabrics would reduce rate of unemployment in the society.
Taiwo further said that it was important for the youths to be determined, steadfast and passionate about the production, sales and marketing of Adire fabrics to be successful entrepreneurs..
He called for synergy between the modern Adire makers and the traditional producers to come up with designs that would be acceptable in the international market
“I appeal to all our vibrant youths, enough is enough for saying you are looking for White collar jobs, please look inward, be creative, take advantage of this opportunity that our forefathers have given to us.
“I implore the youths to make use of the modern tool –, socio media, technology and civilization in all its entirety — to propagate this Adire identity.
”The modern designers should see Adire as a veritable practice that already has a name and continue to rebrand and repackage it in every ways possible to make it a brand and best economic signature,” he said.
Taiwo said that the state was an industrial hub and investors were welcome to partner with the government.
In her opening speech, the Coordinator of the festival, Miss Tolulope Olayiwola, said that the essence of the festival was to bring together stakeholders involved in Adire to see how they could collaborate more in promoting the fabric.
She noted that the stakeholders included the dye makers, pattern makers, fashion designers among others.
Olayiwola explained that it was also important to have more participation of youths in Adire and to change the narrative of Adire from just fabrics into creative things.
“It is important to increase the awareness of Adire, continue to promote our culture before it goes into extinction,” she said. (NAN)
