… Stakeholders Honour Olori Ogunwusi, Apatira, Others
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has charged producers of Adire Indigenous textiles in the south west to sustain the quality and standard of their products for them to avoid counterfeit and also compete with international standard.
Oba Adeyeye made the charge at the maiden edition of the Adire Indigenous textiles Exhibition in Ile Ife, Osun state.
The programme was part of the 2023 edition of Olojo Festival, with over 60 exhibitors from across the southwest and four other African countries in attendance.
Speaking at the event, the foremost Yoruba monarch said Ile-Ife was the source and cradle of Yoruba race, adding that civilization of Yoruba race started in Ile Oduduwa.
“It was in Ile Ife that the different vocational skills began.We traced the indigenous Adire hand- made skills,and tie and dye to Ife before it later spread to Osogbo, Abeokuta and Lagos which is the home of other immigrants Adire textile workers from neighbouring West African countries.
“The event is a major milestone.It is an opportunity for the indigenous textile producers to showcase their products and I hope the Adire producers will step up their production techniques, fight against fake producers in order for them to sustain the quality of the products and also compete with international standard”.
Oba Ogunwusi also urged all the producers to protect their products from those that are bent on producing textiles with low standard.
Speaking, the Project Coordinator of the event, Ambassador Ibrahim Lawal, who is also the Chairman
Adire sector of the Lagos state chapter of the National Union of Textile Garment Tailoring Workers of Nigeria,(NUTGTW) said the two- day event was major milestone for the Itire-Ikate Tradesmen Artisans Association because it provided
the needed opportunities for the indigenous Adire producers to network and sell their products.
He expressed appreciation to the Ooni of Ife,Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, for not only finding time to be part of the event, but also encourage the exhibitors by buying their products.
“This year’s event was successful because we brought new initiative into the cultural programme.It was the first time that Indigenous textile producers will come from all the six states in the south west, including the north and four other African countries to network, showcase and sell their products.
“All the exhibitors had wonderful moments with the Ooni of Ife, who played the fatherly role.Kabiesi bought Adire materials that was worth over 10 million naira from all the 60 exhibitors, thereby, boosting their sales during the cultural fiesta.
The highlights of the event, he said was the presentation of special awards to Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi and the Itire Ikate Local Council Development Area, Hon. Hammed Apatira.
“We gave special awards to prominent people that have contributed in one way or the other to the success of this event.
Olori Aderonke Ogunwusi was the initiator of this programme. She provided the platform and created the enabling environment for the success of this programme.Also the Itire-Ikate LCDA boss, Hon. Apatira supported us with all the necessary logistics and even came from Lagos to witness the event.
“He has always been a major sponsor of our programme in Lagos and the best we can do as an association is to honour him and other like-minded people like the Vice chairman of the Adire sector,
Comrades Yahuza Abdullahi,Sheyi
Ayinde,and the Treasurer of Adire sector of the National Union of Textile Garments Tailoring Workers of Nigeria,Comrade Waheed Abdulazeez among others.This was done in order to encourage all of them to do more.
Ambassador Lawal, however urged all members of the Southwest Adire Indigenous textiles producers to key into the new initiative of creating quality products that can be exhibited at a global event.
“With the support of the Ooni of Ife and other stakeholders and with the success of this event,it is my belief that we will soon have better opportunity to showcase our products at the global stage”, he stated.
