Public and civil servants in Osun State have been mandated to wear Adire (a distinctive local fabric) uniform to work every Thursday to promote Nigerian fashion and culture.

Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun made the remarks during the state’s International Fashion Week in Osogbo.

The spokesperson for the governor, Ismail Omipidan, said that the governor’s directive would take effect from August 27.

The governor maintained the initiative was part of efforts to preserve and promote the production of Adire Osun as well as bolster the image of Osun as a culturally correct and indigenous product inclined state.

The governor, represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Wole Oyebamiji, launched mass production, promotion and marketing of Adire.

He said the International Fashion Week and the launch of Adire Osun were no doubt giant strides towards diversifying the state’s economy and creating jobs for the teeming youths.

Oyetola said the state government had partnered with Musty Great Development and Alexandria Jones Couture, United States of America, to organize the International Fashion Week to promote the Osun brand of Adire for global exhibition.

Adire is indigenous to Osun and it is not for nothing that Osogbo, the capital, is referred to as ‘Ilu Aro’ (Home of dye),

the governor said in a report by the News Agency of Nigeria.

Oyetola also urged the residents to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the initiative.

He said his administration was committed to promoting and projecting culture to the world in a way that would draw attention and attract humongous revenue to the state.

In furtherance of efforts of this government to preserve and promote the production of Adire Osun as well as bolster the image of Osun as a culturally correct and indigenous product inclined state, every Thursday has been declared Adire Osun Day.

Consequently, effective from August 27, 2021, all public and civil servants in the state shall wear Adire to work,

he said.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Adebisi Obawale, said the initiative aimed to unlock the untapped potential in culture, fashion, and tourism.

Obawale said the purpose was to build marketing channels through which Adire products would be produced, promoted and marketed globally.

Residents of the state were urged to embrace the development and to brace up to their responsibility by promoting their cultural heritage to the outside world.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.