The Ogun State government has called on foreign investors to partner with the state to improve and increase  production of the Adire fabric.

Olusegun Olaotan, the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, made the call during the 15th International Arts and Culture Expo (INAC), held on Friday in Abuja.

The theme of the expo is, “Networking Nigerian Crafts to the World.”

Mr Olaotan said that the state was trying to develop its economy through mass production and exportation of adire fabric, urging international investors to partner with the state in actualising this.

“As a state, we want to develop a different economy from that of the Federal Government, we invite international investors to partner with us to develop this adire business.

“We seek improved exportation of the product. Adire business is a big business in Ogun now, we want to develop adire production to be a major source of income for the state,” he said.

Mr Olaotan noted that the state had been able to create an adire sales website – www.adireogun.com, where individuals could purchase the fabric online.

According to him, thousands of  transactions have  been recorded through the website in the last one year.

He noted that the state was known as the home of crafts as it was well endowed with a number of crafts like pottery, wood carving, adire production and more.

He said that investors could take up these crafts to develop the state’s economy.

He said that the state government had constructed an adire market in partnership with the  federal government and would be inaugurated soon.

Local and international delegates were thrilled with cultural performances from Ogun.

There was a melodrama performance titled, “A Glimpse into Ogun State”, which dramatised how adire is  prepared and various styles the fabric could be used for.

The state also had an exhibition of its local cuisines like Ofada, Ikokore, Ota imoye, Kokoro, Robo egba and Adun.

Earlier, Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), said that it was high time Nigerian schools embraced adire as uniforms.

He said this would go a long way in developing the nation’s economy and promoting use of locally made products. 

(NAN)