Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has ordered that all state employees wear Adire, a traditional Nigerian fabric, to work every Wednesday in order to promote the state’s culture.
The directive applies to all categories of public officials across ministries, departments, agencies, tertiary institutions, local governments, local development councils, and area offices, according to Mr Ayanleye Aina, Head of Service, who delivered the information in a memo on Thursday.
“Consequently, every Wednesday is adopted as Adire Osun day with all accounting officers and heads of agencies expected to comply with the directive,” the memo read in part.
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According to the memo, the idea of wearing Adire was proposed by Gov Adeleke during the last State Executive meeting, where it gained unanimous approval. The governor emphasised that Adire has its origins in Osun and that this new move will strengthen Osun’s traditional claim to Adire attire.
The memo also mentioned a meeting between Gov. Adeleke and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, during which the two leaders decided to hold an annual Adire Day celebration.
According to the memo, this programme is part of Gov. Adeleke’s larger aim to support the Adire industry and other artisan sub-sectors in the state through the creation of mini-industrial clusters.
“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,” the memo read in part.
Gov. Adeleke further promised to rebuild the Adire industry, which is under attack from foreign mass producers.
“We are poised to breathe life into our culture with Osun as the cradle of the Yoruba nation,” he said.
