By Abiodun OLOFE
How time flies; it’s exactly a year today since the Adire Ekiti Hub was inaugurated by the visionary First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, as a platform for skill acquisition and empowerment.
The initiative, which was launched in 2024 to empower unemployed youths and widows through training in Adire (tie-and-dye) textile production, has since become a powerhouse for entrepreneurship and the preservation of Yoruba cultural heritage.
It is worthy of note that within its inaugural year, the hub has trained and empowered many individuals from Ekiti Central and South Senatorial Districts, with plans to extend the program to Ekiti North.
The initiative has earned Ekiti a unique place on the global map and attracted applause from every individual and stakeholder, including members of the Ekiti State Executive Council, Ekiti caucus in the National Assembly, members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and chairmen of the Local Government and LCDA in Ekiti.
The contributions of Adire Ekiti Hub can be measured through its impact on creativity and job creation for unemployed youths and young widows. Beyond this, it has suddenly turned out to be a cultural preservation centre, thereby reaffirming the significance of Ekiti to the Yoruba tribe.
The hub’s establishment was made possible through the collaboration between the visionary Princess of Ado Ekiti and the Nike Okundaye Art Foundation, with the facility’s building along Ekiti State University road, Ado Ekiti.
The First Lady envisions the hub as a platform for creativity, skill development, and economic empowerment, contributing to the state’s growth and prosperity and giving the fountain of knowledge state a new name among other comity of States and on the World map.
As the Adire Ekiti Hub marks its first year, it stands as a testament to the Ekiti State First Lady’s commitment to fostering self-sufficiency and cultural pride among Ekiti citizens at home and in the diaspora.
Adire Ekiti to the world
Adire Ekiti for One
Adire Ekiti for All
Abiodun OLOFE
Office of Ekiti State First Lady
