Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has asked the Federal Government to adopt Adire as Nigeria's National Attire for major events in the country.
The governor speaking during the official launch of Ogun Adire Digital Market Place at June 12 Cultural Center in Kuto, Abeokuta on Thursday, said that the fabric should be seen as cultural symbol and part of strategic moves in the nation's foreign missions, to further promote the country’s rich culture to the outside world.
According to him ," plans have reached advanced stage to make Adire an important aspect of everyday life, as all top government functionaries in the State now wear Adire on Fridays
He revealed that plans were underway to make Adire part of School uniform, saying it would empower more people and further stimulate the state's economy.
Abiodun also canvassed for Adire as clothing material for Team Nigeria ceremonial dress in international sporting activities while seeking for the partnership of the Federal Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to project Adire as national heritage.
"I want to call on all stakeholders in the Information, Culture and Tourism sectors to partner with us in promoting this national heritage",he stated.
"I want to particularly call on our Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, to help promote the Adire at the National level. For instance, members of the Federal Executive Council and other top government functionaries can adopt Adire for National events", Abiodun said.
The governor equally stressed the need for Nigeria's foreign mission to project Adire as national cultural symbol and heritage
His words "Our Foreign Missions could also adopt the Adire fabric, as a cultural symbol that will further project our rich culture to the outside world. Same thing could also be done by our Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, by making the ceremonial dress of our athletes from local fabrics such as our Adire."
This according to Abiodun, "will go a long way in promoting the local contents and give expression to President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s ‘produce what we use’ and ‘grow what we eat’ policies", he noted".
Abiodun explained that the event was to provide a global platform for the marketing and distribution of Adire fabric and its value-chain to the global markets, serving as a melting-pot for all participants, to provide opportunities for a wider coverage of the market, for people to reach out to vendors and transact businesses by logging into the Adire Digital Mall
The governor called on investors to take advantage of the new Adire Ogun Digital Market Place, by partnering and intensifying their collaboration with the State in the development of arts, culture and tourism.
Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun described the Adire Ogun Digital Market Place as a consolidation of centuries’ creativity and enterprise, which would be of benefit to more women when exposed to national and international market.
She called on producers to always think about the environment, by disposing used chemicals properly.
The State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Oluwatosin Taiwo, opined that tourism, apart from creating jobs, could also generate revenue which would assist the socio-economic development of the State.
He said the State was blessed with world class tourism potentials that would generate foreign exchange, adding that the history of Abeokuta would not be completed without Adire.
The Commissioner observed that despite the influx of foreign fabrics, Adire was still making huge impact on the State and country.
Speaking, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, who described adire as a foreign exchange earner, also harped on proper handling of chemicals used in producing it, as it was dangerous and harmful to health.
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