Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has launched the “Adire Ekiti Hub” as part of efforts at empowering Ekiti youths by providing them with essential skills and opportunities for sustainable livelihood.
A total of 200 beneficiaries drawn from Ekiti Central Senatorial District began the training sponsored by Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his wife in partnership with the Nike Okundaye Art Foundation.
Two batches of 200 participants each drawn from Ekiti North and Ekiti South senatorial districts will benefit from the training next week.
The comprehensive training programmes focused on the traditional craft of Adire dyeing and textile production with participants receiving hands-on training from skilled artisans, learning traditional techniques alongside modern practices to ensure their competitiveness in today’s market.
The Adire Ekiti Hub which has the main building and workshop was commissioned by the wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Aderonke Ogunwusi.
The First Lady, Dr. Oyebanji who is also the initiator of Widows and Orphans Hope (WAOH) Project, said she envisioned “a community of skilled artisans, vibrant entrepreneurs and a thriving Adire industry that contributes to the growth and prosperity of Ekiti State.”
Governor Oyebanji charged the beneficiaries to make use of the opportunity offered by the Adire Ekiti scheme which include self sustenance, productivity and becoming job creators rather than job seekers emphasized that “provision of palliatives cannot solve Nigeria’s problems.”
He promised that his administration would support the beneficiaries to stand on their own, give them opportunities to access soft loans and market advising anyone among them who saw the scheme as another opportunity for free money to perish the thought as they will be strictly monitored to follow the terms of the scheme.
The wife of the Ooni, Olori Ogunwusi, said Adire Ekiti is a platform for capacity development, skills acquisition, job creation and wealth creation in addition to being a major part of the cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.
The Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Nike Art Foundation, Chief Nike Okundaye, who was represented by Mrs. Nneka Moses of Goge Africa, urged the stakeholders to support Mr. Oyebanji, whom she described as a “visionary Governor” and his wife, Dr. Oyebanji in rewriting a new chapter in the Ekiti story for the world to see.”