Nov. 17, 2025
The Osun government says its purpose of hosting the “Adire Osun Festival”, is to showcase the cultural heritage of the state.
The Secretary to the Osun Government (SSG), Mr. Teslim Igbalaye, said this on Monday while addressing a news conference in Osogbo.
Igbalaye said the festival scheduled for December would boost the state’s rich cultural heritage.
He added that Gov. Ademola Adeleke had approved the festival as an annual event, noting that it would promote the cultural and economic values of the state.
“This event is expected to be an annual celebration and a testament to the state’s rich cultural heritage and its people.
“The festival will showcase the unique Adire textile, a symbol of Osun’s history and creativity.
“As Chief Creative Officer, the governor emphasised the importance of documenting and supporting creativity in the state”, he said.
Igbalaye explained that the festival aims to boost the economy through tourist attraction, job creation and stimulation of the local economy.
“It also aims at youth engagement, encouraging young people to participate in cultural activities and promoting productivity and creativity,” he said.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Osun Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniji, said that the Adire Festival would play a vital role in translating the cultural practice into narratives that build demand, influence perception, and attract investment.
Adeniji said the festival would not only be for admiring cloth and colour, but also to recognise a living archive, a powerful engine of identity, creativity, and economic hope.
“Adire Osun speaks; it tells of who we were, who we are, and, with careful stewardship, who we can become.
“The Adire of Osun is more than cloth. It is an instrument of identity, a potential engine of jobs, and a promise to the next generation that their heritage will be a foundation for their future, not a relic of the past,” he said.(NAN)
