Runsewe excited by Abiodun’s adoption of adire as school uniform

…urges other leaders to promote local fabrics

By Ebere Chibuzor

National Council for Arts and Culture has applauded the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, for his strategic campaign to promote indigenous fabrics.

This was disclosed by the Director General of the NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe, who is also President, Africa Region of the World Craft Council (WCC).

He noted that the pronouncement by the governor to adopt Adire fabrics as official uniform for all the students in Ogun State remained the very critical and visible engagement to support cultural awareness and creativity.

This, he said, would lead to emergence of the adire heritage economy and ensure rural development.

An evangelist and campaigner of Nigeria’s cultural advancement through the adaptation and showcasing the diverse heritage lifestyles, Runsewe has at various times while at the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation,NTDC, and now at NCAC, made the use of indigenous fabrics the fulcrum of national identify and promotional materials marketing agenda at local and International cultural tourism events.

” I’m  the happiest Nigerian today and I must thank Ogun State governor for joining us to showcase the adire heritage fabrics and adopting it as school uniform for students in Ogun State, including its use by government officials and in all activities of government businesses. This is the way to go as it will benefit the rural economy, empower women and youths and help in historical revival of heritage teachings and knowledge” Runsewe stated.

It must be noted that adire fabrics was rebranded and became the face of cultural marketing promotion at World Travel Market during Runsewe’s time at the NTDC, adopted as golf fabrics, laptop bags, face masks as part of the protocols for new normal pandemic, and on national colours for specially made suits for international outings for exhibitions and marketing Nigerian cultural tourism opportunities.

At the NCAC cultural marketing projects such as National Festival for Arts and Culture, International Arts and Crafts expo, and conferences, local heritage fabrics such as adire and other heritage fabrics across the nation were usually on gross display as flags, neck and wrist wears, with diplomatic communities generously gifted and presented with various varieties and qualities of our local heritage fabrics.

Governor Abiodun had on Thursday during the flag off of adire digital market, held at June 12 cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, advocated the promotion of Nigerian indigenous fabrics to the world, noting that adire fabrics could be adopted as national colour wears for athletes, and other sporting engagements, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Information and Culture counterpart should buy into the agenda to use adire fabrics to market Nigeria to the outside world.

The governor further explained that Ogun State was ready and willing to partner with all Federal Government agencies in sports and culture to promote the adire fabrics economy and help grow adire entrepreneurs, empower women and youths and expose the limitless cultural endowments in Ogun State.