Governor Ademola Adeleke has ordered all Osun civil servants to wear adire to work on Wednesdays to promote Nigerian culture.

The directive was announced in a circular issued by the head of service, Ayanleye Aina, on Thursday in Osogbo.

The circular said the directive affected all categories of public servants across ministries, departments and agencies.

It also affected tertiary institutions, local governments, local development councils and area offices.

”Consequently, every Wednesday is adopted as Adire Osun day, with all accounting officers and heads of agencies expected to comply with the directive.

“Additionally, all political appointees are also expected to comply with the directive from the State Executive Council to special advisers and other categories of appointees,” it said.

The circular further said the governor presented the issue of wearing adire during the last council meeting, and it was unanimously approved and adopted.

Mr Adeleke said adire had its origin from Osun, noting that the new decision will reassert the traditional claim of Osun to the adire genre, according to the circular.

The governor recalled meeting with Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, where the duo resolved to host an annual Adire Day celebration.

Mr Adeleke further announced his administration’s plan to create mini-industrial clusters to support the adire industry and other craft sub-sectors in Osun.

“Our administration is working on the creation of SME industrial clusters. The adire and other craft sub-sectors will be supported to grow and flourish. By this decision, we are determined to rebuild the Adire industry, that is under threat from foreign mass producers.

“We are poised to breathe life into our culture with Osun as the cradle of the Yoruba nation,” he said.

Mr Adeleke’s predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, had on July 11, 2021, directed all civil servants to wear adire every Thursday to boost the fabric industry. 

(NAN)