The management of Global Adire Egba Development Limited on Tuesday resolved to strengthen its collaboration and partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, to establish a global “Adire Village” in Abeokuta to tackle the challenge of the growing imitation of the local tie and dye fabric while boosting Adire production in the state.
The Chairman, Committee of Adire Global Village, Oluyinka Kufile, disclosed this when he led other members of the committee to pay a visit to the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, at his Ake Palace, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
Kufile maintained that the initiative will consolidate and empower the indigenous Adire industry in Abeokuta through the creation of a world-class Adire Village, offering infrastructure, synergy, innovation, and cultural pride.
He also submitted that the vision of the organisation is to promote sustainability, combat threats from cheap imports, and preserve the cultural heritage of Adire craftsmanship by organising the industry into a formal, empowered cooperative.
The business tycoon added that the initiative will also put an end to the infiltration of the Adire market by substandard Chinese products.
He said” We are ready to partner with SMEDAN to establish A “Global Adire Village” in Abeokuta and we have reached agreement with the agency and it is ready to collaborate with us as to achieve our aims, although the DG is not here but the the Ogun State manager of SMEDAN is here and he has assured of their readiness to work with us.
“The need to produce enough Adire, curb Chinese incursion into the Adire market, reduce the cost of production, make materials available and affordable, and make Nigerians believe more in indigenous Adire products, among others, prompted the initiation of the Adire Village”.
He added that the initiative was a collective idea of Egbaland.
Kufile explained that “Along the line, we got in touch with SMEDAN, and since then, SMEDAN has believed in what we are trying to do. This visit will enable us to discuss the possibility of partnership so that they can assist us in promoting the project, ensuring it has Ogun State and federal government support.
“The major industry that generates large employment is the textile industry, and if you have an Adire textile hub here in Ogun State, employment opportunities would be unlimited. The site for the Adire Village will have all the facilities; everything in one village”.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, represented by a delegation led by the Southwest Director of the agency, Mr. Olukayode Sode, alongside the Ogun State Manager of the agency, described the project as laudable, noting that it would further enhance the growth of the Adire industry, its value chain, and provide job opportunities for youths and women in the state.
The Manager of SMEDAN in the state, Mr Awoniyi Biodun, pledged to embark on more consultations with the agency’s headquarters to fast-track the timely takeoff of the project based on the request of the project committee.
Also, the project coordinator, Prof. Olajumoke Familon, said the world-class Adire Village would offer infrastructure, including road networks, a state-of-the-art administrative block, a technology hub, a production and finished product hub, a clinic, and quarters, among others.
Mr. Tunde Bajela of ICLED applauded the enthusiasm of the revered monarch in the project. He called on the Director-General of the agency to ensure the timely facilitation of the agency’s contributions to the project, saying that a lot of time and commitment had been invested in the project.
The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, in his remarks, described the project as commendable, stating that the project would help mitigate the numerous challenges faced by Adire makers in Abeokuta and preserve the cultural heritage of Adire craftsmanship.
Oba Gbadebo who marvelled at the virtual presentation of the Adire Village, said that the project would no longer be a village but an Adire city by the time it was completed.
