Sustaining Ekiti Heritage through Youth Empowerment
Ekiti State is changing the narrative as a prominent empowerment destination with a fresh initiative, through Adire Ekiti Hub, from the state’s First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, writes Gbenga Sodeinde
Having succeeded with her major pet project, Widows and Orphans Hope (WAOH), which is already making waves in the grassroots, the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, switched her economic empowerment bid for the people of the state to a higher gear with the launch of the Adire Ekiti Hub.
The Adire Ekiti Hub is an initiative of the first lady that is aimed at empowering many unemployed youths including young widows, and create a vibrant local fabrics market and turn Ekiti into a destination of choice for Adire business.
Oyebanji and her husband, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who are the sponsors of the project, were united in their desire to use Adire Ekiti to make a statement that the shared prosperity mantra of the administration is not a mere slogan, but a realistic dream of reducing poverty, generating employment and contributing to the growth of the local economy.
The couple reached out to a renowned arts and culture icon, Chief Nike Okundaye of Nike Art Foundation for a partnership to train the beneficiaries on Adire fabrics making. Out of the first batch of trainees would emerge trainers who are expected to train more trainees for the scheme in the future.
The challenge of the venue to be used for the hub was promptly solved with the donation of a facility by the former lawmaker for Ekiti Central in the national Assembly, Senator Babafemi Ojudu. He donated what used to be Raliat Ojudu Women Development Centre (ROWDEC) and its adjoining workshop which was given a facelift and remodelled to suit the purpose it was meant for.
A day before the official unveiling of the hub, on March, 3, the wife of the governor and Ojudu inspected the facility. The inspection gave the first lady opportunity to meet the training team from the Nike Art Foundation led by Mr. Femi Ologe, and on March 4, the hub was officially launched. The Adire Ekiti Hub which has the main building and workshop was inaugerated by the wife of the Ooni of Ife, Aderonke Ogunwusi.
Beneficiaries
A total of 200 beneficiaries drawn from Ekiti Central Senatorial District began the training, which lasted for one week. Two batches of 200 participants each drawn from Ekiti North and Ekiti South senatorial districts have commenced training which brought the total number of beneficiaries across the three senatorial districts to 600.
The First Lady noted that the Adire Ekiti would benefit the state in the areas of provision of sustainable livelihoods, promotion of entrepreneurship, creation of opportunities for economic empowerment and preservation of cultural heritage in the Land of Honour.
She revealed that her vision to make the state “a community of skilled artisans, vibrant entrepreneurs and a thriving Adire industry that contributes to the growth and prosperity of Ekiti State.”
She remarked that the opening of the Adire Ekiti Hub marked the beginning of a new chapter for the people of the state which holds the promise of long-term benefits for the beneficiaries, local economy and building a brighter future for the coming generations.
According to her, “The Adire Ekiti Hub represents a platform for creativity, skill development, and collaboration. It is a symbol of our commitment to nurturing talent, fostering innovation and building a brighter future for the people of Ekiti State.
“Through this initiative, we envision a community of skilled artisans, vibrant entrepreneurs, and a thriving Adire industry that contributes to the growth and prosperity of our state.”
State Governor’s Commitment
On his part, the State Governor who 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 explained that provision of palliatives cannot solve Nigeria’s problems.
He expressed assurance that the administration would support the beneficiaries to stand on their own, give them opportunities to access soft loans and market, while urging anyone among them who saw the scheme as another opportunity for free money to perish the thought as they would be strictly monitored to follow the terms of the scheme.
Continuing, the governor noted: “Government cannot give everybody employment; it is good to be educated, your education will prepare you to do better in whatever area of life you find yourself so, don’t see this as a share of the national cake. The challenges we have with programmes like this will be put behind you to ensure that you overcome them.
“We came on the mantra of continuity and shared prosperity and it was not an accident. I have no doubt in my mind that prosperity is possible in Ekiti and it can be shared to everybody. But good things don’t come cheep, what is packing in Ekiti is platform and access to opportunities.
“Those are the things that have kept us down, we have no platform, nobody to promote us. We are educated but we are poor. When people are educated, they shouldn’t be poor; education should be a licence to prosperity. What we are doing today is that we are providing access and opportunities and those are the two things you need to succeed. So, when you have those two things, the sky is your limit.
“We are going to hand-hold you, to train you and not to leave you alone because that is the problem of many government interventions. We are going to monitor you to the level that you will become independent and become employers of labour. If we do 200 per senatorial district, that is 600 (across the state) and you can now know the multiplier effects. A time is coming when all of you will not be able to meet up with the demands (for your product), that is what I want to see. By the time we are doing one year anniversary of this project, we will call you back to tell your success stories,” the governor said.
Impact
On part, Ojudu who commended the governor and his wife for their commitment to empowering ordinary citizens explained that the wealth of the nation lies in the skills of its people.
The former National Assembly member hinted that his appointment by the Governor as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Olowe of Ise Foundation which also has Mrs. Okundaye as member contributed in no small measure to the establishment of the Adire Ekiti Hub.
He revealed that it was during the dinner in honour of the Board that Okundaye offered to train Ekiti youths and women the art of tie and dye (Adire) which he followed up with the donation of the facility to serve as the operational base of the Adire Ekiti Hub.
He added: “Everyone who is trained here should see it as a good opportunity for personal development; having a skill and making use of it as an incredible path to escape poverty. Empowering a woman is the easiest way to train her children to make a great contribution to societal development. I want to charge you all the beneficiaries that you should make the best use of what you will learn because you cannot tell how far you will go.”
Ogunwusi posited that 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.
She described herself as one of the gatekeepers of Adire and other African fabrics, adding that Adire commands respect in the global market with patronage from all parts of the world.
Commendations
The Chief Executive Officer, Nike Art Foundation, Chief Nike Okundaye, described Adire Ekiti as the next big thing that would happen in creative economy, while expressing her readiness to assist in ensuring growth of the hub to prominence and a springboard for empowerment in local craft.
Okundaye, who was represented by Mrs. Nneka Moses of Goge Africa, urged the stakeholders to support the governor and wife whom she described as a visionary leader that is on the path of rewriting a new chapter in the Ekiti story for the world to see.
The Nike Art Foundation CEO, who applauded the Governor for bringing her on board, pledged the full support of the Foundation in ensuring that the beneficiaries get the best of training in preparation for their foray into the market and to also train others in the art of Adire making.
According to her, “I want the beneficiaries of this Adire Ekiti scheme to know that they are being given an opportunity many don’t have. When some people receive grants, they take it as a national cake. Don’t take this as a national cake; this is a legacy project, thanks to the first lady for putting this together. You are the next big thing that will happen and you cannot afford to fail. Goge Africa will tell the world of what you are doing. We will collaborate with the Governor and his wife to make this project stand very well. Thank you for bringing us on board. Ekiti State is Nigeria’s best kept secret.”
Former Ekiti State Director of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Dr. Abimbola Oni, charged the beneficiaries to be conscious of the fact that the First Lady was giving them a lift and a business opportunity capable of changing their stories for good and making them self reliant.
Oni averred First Lady was making history because by the time the beneficiaries became owners of their businesses, they would always remember the role played by the initiator of the project in changing their situation for better.
She added: “Adire is connected with economy and fabrics of the Yoruba land. This is a step for you to be self-reliant, you will always be an employer of labour. In all fashion shows, Adire stands out. What the First Lady is doing for you is what you will appreciate appreciate forever. I want to appreciate her for putting this training in place to empower the youth of Ekiti.”
The First Lady said: “The Adire Ekiti Hub has come to stay and will never be shut down because it will have trainees from time to time until Ekiti becomes a prominent destination for training, production and marketing of Adire fabrics in line with her dream. There will be a meeting on how we will start them up so that they can put what they have learnt into practice.”
She was conducted round the training facility by the lead facilitator, Ologe, who explained that many of them learnt the art very fast because of their enthusiasm in acquiring the needed skills and knowledge.
One of the beneficiaries of the Adire Ekiti empowerment scheme, Tola Faweya, hailed the governor’s wife for the opportunity to learn the craft of Adire fabrics production declaring her readiness to utilize the opportunity for her self development and setting up a personal business.
According to her, “I and other beneficiaries are grateful for this opportunity. I have been looking forward to it but coming here has broadened my horizon about the nitty-gritty of Adire production. Between the first day when the Hub was declared open and now when the First Lady paid us a surprise visit, I have learnt a lot and I am ready to put what I have learnt into practice to better my life. We are also happy with the Governor’s promise to assist in setting us up to see us grow in the business.”
If well managed and sustained, Adire Ekiti Hub promises to be a great legacy the Ekiti governor and the First Lady will be remembered for long after they might have ended their tenure in the government house.
