By Abass Badirudeen
Adire Ekiti has been a blessing
to the people of Ekiti State from the very first day of its establishment. The
initiative has given hope to many people who are willing and able to acquire
new skills, develop their creativity, and learn something different from the
conventional trades that are commonly practiced in our communities, such as
tailoring, barbing, carpentry, bricklaying, mechanics, catering, shoemaking,
printing and photography, among others.
The establishment of Adire Ekiti
has changed the narrative and challenged the long-standing belief that Adire
production could only be successfully carried out in Ogun State, particularly
Abeokuta. Today, Ekiti State has demonstrated that good things can consistently
emerge from our own “Nazareth.” Since
its inception, Adire Ekiti Hub has created numerous opportunities for the
people of the State. More than a thousand people have been trained free of
charge, while many beneficiaries have also gained access to employment,
business opportunities and markets. Beyond these direct benefits, the
initiative has helped promote the image of Ekiti State as a state capable of
producing quality indigenous products. One of the most remarkable aspects of
the initiative is that the trainees have now become trainers. This is a clear
demonstration of sustainability and the multiplier effect of skills
acquisition.
Adire production involves
creativity, patience, technical knowledge and dedication. Trainees are exposed
to various aspects of textile production, including fabric preparation, dyeing,
pattern creation, design development and finishing. The initiative does not
merely teach people how to make fabrics; it teaches them how to turn creativity
into a sustainable means of livelihood.
The management of the Hub has
also identified outstanding trainees and provided them with advanced training
at the Master Class level. This approach ensures that beneficiaries do not
remain perpetual trainees but can progress into instructors, entrepreneurs and
professionals. Some of those who demonstrated exceptional commitment and were
willing to remain at the Hub were given employment opportunities, with
reasonable salaries and other incentives. This is particularly significant
because it creates a clear pathway from training to employment and from
employment to entrepreneurship.
Who is behind this laudable
initiative?
Kudos must be given to the Wife
of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Olajumoke Oyebanji, popularly
celebrated as the BAORESS for initiating Adire Ekiti Hub. Her intervention
demonstrates the importance of leadership that does not merely speak about
empowerment but creates practical opportunities for people to become
self-reliant.
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Adire Ekiti Hub was not
established primarily for profit making. Its central objective is to empower
the people by creating opportunities for skills acquisition, employment,
entrepreneurship and poverty reduction. Adire Ekiti is an example of an
empowerment programme that goes beyond the distribution of items or financial
assistance. It gives beneficiaries something that can remain with them for
life: knowledge, skills and the capacity to create wealth.
The Hub provides a training
ground where people can learn, practise and eventually become independent
professionals. It also provides a platform through which Ekiti-made products
can reach a wider market. The broader objective is to contribute to the
development of Ekiti State by making the people more productive and
economically independent.
I must also appreciate the
Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, for supporting his wife and
providing the necessary resources and logistics that have contributed to the
smooth running of the Hub. An initiative of this magnitude requires commitment,
investment and institutional support. Indeed, nothing is too much when the
ultimate objective is to put smiles on the faces of the people and create
sustainable opportunities for them.
The economic impact of Adire
Ekiti cannot be underestimated. Apart from creating employment and providing
markets for local businesses, the Hub contributes to the circulation of money
within the Ekiti economy. In simple terms, when people, organisations and
institutions patronise products made in Ekiti, a greater proportion of the
money spent remains within the local economy. This supports local workers,
suppliers, designers, artisans, transporters, traders and other businesses
connected to the production chain.
This is closely related to the
idea of local content development, that is using local labour, local skills,
local materials and local services to build industrial capacity and strengthen
the economy.
Since the commencement of Adire
production in Ekiti, various associations, organisations, unions, clubs,
religious bodies, political groups, schools and individuals have patronised the
Hub. Ekiti indigenes living outside the State have also shown interest in
purchasing and promoting Adire Ekiti products. For example, fabrics produced at
the Hub have been used for programmes and celebrations such as International
Women's Day, Teachers' Day and Workers' Day, alongside customised shirts,
shoes, bags, scarves and other fashion accessories.
These activities create a chain
of economic transactions. The fabric producer earns income; the designer earns
income; the tailor earns income; the person supplying materials earns income;
the transporter earns income; and the businesses selling the finished products
also benefit. Therefore, Adire Ekiti is not simply a fashion initiative. It is
gradually becoming part of the State's local economic ecosystem. It also has the potential to increase
government revenue through the expansion of legitimate business activities and
the growth of the local production base.
Another important contribution of
Adire Ekiti Hub is its acceptance of students from higher institutions of
learning for Industrial Training (IT) and practical exposure. The Hub has
provided an avenue for students to move beyond classroom theories and gain
practical experience in textile production, fashion, design and
entrepreneurship. One of the
institutions that has benefited from this opportunity is Rufus Giwa Polytechnic
(RUGIPO), Owo, particularly students from the Department of Art and Design. The Department of Art and Design covers areas
related to textile design, fashion and clothing production. Students therefore
require practical environments where they can observe and participate in real
production processes.
Adire Ekiti Hub provides such an
environment !
Students who come for Industrial
Training are exposed to practical knowledge that complements what they have
learnt in the classroom. They can observe the creative process, understand
production techniques, interact with experienced practitioners and appreciate
the commercial side of textile production. This collaboration between the Hub
and higher institutions is important because it connects education, skills
acquisition, industry and entrepreneurship. RUGIPO students have opened the
floor, and there is room for students from other polytechnics, universities,
colleges of education and other relevant institutions to benefit from the same
opportunity.
Perhaps the most impressive
feature of Adire Ekiti is the transformation of beneficiaries from learners
into instructors. A successful empowerment programme should not end when the
training period is over. It should create a ripple effect in which
beneficiaries are able to transfer the knowledge they have acquired to others. Adire
Ekiti has demonstrated this principle. Those who have acquired the necessary
expertise can become trainers themselves. In this way, one beneficiary can
eventually train several other people, creating a multiplier effect. This means
the impact of the initiative can continue long after the initial training. It
is therefore not simply about training one thousand people; it is about
creating a system where those one thousand people can potentially train
thousands more.
The future of Adire Ekiti is
promising if the initiative continues to receive the necessary support,
patronage and investment. There is an opportunity to develop Ekiti into a
recognised centre for indigenous textile production, fashion and creative
enterprise. With increased patronage, improved marketing, modern equipment,
stronger partnerships with educational institutions and greater access to
national and international markets, Adire Ekiti can become more than a State
empowerment programme. It can evolve into a significant creative industry with
the capacity to attract visitors, create jobs and promote Ekiti culture. The
initiative can also contribute to cultural preservation. Adire is not merely a
piece of cloth; it represents creativity, identity, heritage and the ability of
African communities to transform local knowledge into economic value.
Adire Ekiti represents what can
happen when vision, leadership, skills development and economic empowerment
come together. It has challenged old assumptions, created opportunities for
young and old people, provided employment, supported local businesses, promoted
indigenous production and opened its doors to students seeking practical
industrial experience. Most importantly, it has shown that empowerment is most
effective when people are given not just something to receive, but something to
learn, practise and build upon.
The story of Adire Ekiti is
therefore a story of hope, creativity, enterprise and economic transformation. Adire
Ekiti is not just about making fabrics; it is about making lives, making
opportunities and making Ekiti stronger.
I therefore commend the First
Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Olajumoke Oyebanji, for the vision behind this
initiative and appreciate the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, for
providing the support required for its success.
May Adire Ekiti continue to grow,
create opportunities, promote Ekiti-made products and place Ekiti State
prominently on the map of indigenous textile production in Nigeria and beyond.
* Abass Badirudeen is the personal
photographer to the Wife of the Governor of Ekiti State
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