By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe has commended the Osun State Gov. Gboyega Oyetola for reawakening cultural fashion by promoting Adire Eleko wear to mark the state cultural fashion day.
Runsewe said that Gov. Oyetola deserves a national accolade for promoting the indigenous fabric of the state.
From August 27, Governor Oyetola has made it compulsory for all public and civil servants to wear the osun state variant of local Adire fabric, known as “Adire Eleko” to work as a way to revive the dying Cultural fashion of the people, noted for their artistic and Cultural tourism endowments.
Otunba Segun Runsewe who is also the President, Africa region of the World Craft Council, WCC), said that the declaration of August 27 as Adire Osun Day, by governor Gboyega Oyetola, resonates with the vision and aspirations of the Federal Government to grow and focus on indigenous Cultural tourism engagements, adding that the time has come for Nigerians to embrace our indigenous and traditional ” (wear, eat and speak” ) ways of life.
The Cultural Adire fabric revolution started with Ogun state and infiltrated into Osun state but governor Oyetola has taken it further to an international phase by making it a citizens project which is commendable, deserving our support and encouragement, Otunba Runsewe explained.
The NCAC boss has urged other state governors in the country to pay more attention to the Cultural tourism and indigenous economy, in order to create jobs for young persons, particularly women in the rural areas.
Osun state, noted for its iconic Cultural Festival, Osun Oshogbo, is home to Adire variant, “Adire Eleko” endemic to the state, also noted Culturally as” Ilu Aro”( Home of Dye).
Meanwhile Governor Oyetola represented by the Secretary to the state government Wole Oyebamiji on Saturday at the Osun fashion week, held in Oshogbo restarted the commitment of the government to diversify and prioritize the culture tourism endowments for youths employment.
“We shall partner with Musty Great Development and Alexanderia Jones Couture, based in the United States ‘Of America to market the osun Adire fabric to the world.” the SSG, reiterated.
