Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed all public officials, appointed and elected workers in the state to start wearing Adire every Wednesday to boost the industry and enhance cultural strengths of the state.
Adire is a Yoruba textile, that is a type of dyed cloth made in south west Nigeria by Yoruba women, using a variety of resist-dyeing techniques.
The governor in a circular issued by the head of service, Mr Ayanleye Aina, noted that the directive affected all categories of public servants across ministries, departments and agencies of government including tertiary institutions, local governments, local development council and area office.
“Consequently, every Wednesday is adopted as “Adire Osun Day” with all accounting officers and heads of agencies expected to comply with the directive.
“Additionally, all political appointees are also expected to comply with the directive from the State Executive Council to special advisers, and other categories of appointees,” the circular posited.
A release by the spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, stated that Adeleke had presented the subject at the last state Executive Council meeting with a unanimous approval and adoption.
The governor said “Adire” actually has its source from Osun State, noting that the new decision will reassert the traditional claim of Osun to the adire genre.
“Our administration is working on the creation of SME industrial clusters. The Adire and other craft sub-sectors will be supported to grow and flourish.
“By this decision, we are determined to rebuild the Adire industry that is under threat from foreign mass producers. We are poised to breathe life into our culture with Osun as the cradle of the Yoruba nation”, the Governor stated.
