Aso-ofi and Adire local fabrics are synonymous to culture and tradition of the Yoruba people of Southwest states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos states and people of the West are trying hard to ensure that the local fabrics are not only serving as a means of livelihoods to many jobless people but to also rebrand the ancient Yoruba local fabrics to the fabric brand of international standards.
Just as Aso-ofi is locally made from Iseyin in OkeOgun axis of Oyo state, Adire, Kampala tie-and-dye fabrics, Sanyan, Alari, among other local fabrics are traditionally made in Itoku in Abeokuta, Ogun state; Osogbo in Osun state and some places in Ondo and Ekiti states, hence, some State governments in Southwest states, have tried in recent time to resuscitate and rebrand the Yoruba local fabrics for local and international consumption.
For instance, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state built Adire Mall of international standards at Itoku, Kemta in Abeokuta South local government with Adire Ogun Seal and Adire Fashion Parade in 2019 to attract investments in the production and distribution of Adire fabrics locally and internationally with a view to generating huge revenue, just as late Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state inaugurated Aso-ofi International Market in Iseyin, Oke-ogun area of Oyo state in order to resuscitate the local fabrics for modern usage.
But, it seems the Southwest governments are not paying much attention to these local fabrics since AsoOfi International Market in the ancient home of the fabrics in Iseyin has been abandoned by Oyo state government and Adire Mall at Itoko, Kemta in Abeokuta is not getting due attention that is befitting of Adire and tie-and-dye fabrics. The governments have since left the vocation and trade to the little effort of the operators of micro, small and medium-term enterprises amid several socio-economic issues facing the country.
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Speaking on the less development of local fabrics like Aso-ofi in Iseyin, Oyo state, the Association of Aso-ofi Marketers called on Governor Makinde to urgently give attention to the abandoned International Aso-ofi Market in Iseyin, Oke-ogun area of Oyo state, saying it is high time to explore and exploit the comparative advantage and economic opportunities that Aso-ofi fabrics offer the people, the states and Nigeria at large.
The Association claimed that since the market that was supposed to have multiplier economic effects on the people of Oke-ogun was abandoned, marketers of Aso-ofi had no choice except to continue to take their wares to Ibadan and Ede markets in order to survive.
“We have lost over N2 billion to the abandonment since the day the market was inaugurated by the last administration, some of our people went to banks to take bank loans to boost production and employed more weavers, but we never knew that the former governor took us for a ride.
“We are appealing to our amiable governor to please come to our aid and start work on the project so that the potentials of the market could be realized in the areas of economic and social growth for the people of Iseyin and Oke-ogun in general,” the Chairman said.
In a statement signed by its President, Imuran Alarape Kangunhan, the Chairman, Taiwo Ariwoola, the Youths Chairman, Sulaimon Onimama and the Youths Secretary, Wahab Gafar Pakoto in Ibadan, the Association said it had planned inviting Abigail Makinde to be the Mother of The Day at the forthcoming World Aso-ofi Day celebration, but the death of Governor Makinde’s mother was a big loss and therefore, consoled the Governor over the loss of his mother.
The Youths’ Chairman, Onimama hinted that the choice of the governor’s mother as the Mother of The Day was because she was noted to be a lover of culture and traditional fabrics of AsoOfi when she was alive.
“We sympathize with our amiable governor on the death of his mother, a sad event that took place last week, but we take solace in the fact that Mama left a legacy that is worth of emulation in motherhood, she left behind good children and was a notable lover of Yoruba culture and traditional Aso-ofi.
“We planned to make her our Mother of The Day in our forthcoming World Aso-ofi Day but God knows best, we pray that the children she left behind will continue to make her proud wherever they are.”
