Busuyi Ogidiolu
Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji has encouraged the people of the state to embrace production of hand-made items, to reduce the rate of joblessness, especially among school leavers.
The Governor’s wife made this known in Ado Ekiti while addressing newsmen shortly after moving round the Venue of exhibition of hand-made and craft works which is part of activities lined up for a week-long Festival of Arts and Culture in Ekiti State.
She observed that most of the Art works and hand-made products exhibited could be used locally, and as well serve as source of foreign exchange earnings, thereby providing a source of income to people who engage in the business.
Dr Oyebanji, who noted that white-collar job for everyone is gradually becoming unrealistic, said that was why she came up with the pet project known as “Adire Ekiti”, to impart skill of adire making to young women and unemployed graduates.
“Adire Ekiti” was equally featured in the exhibition at the ongoing cultural festival.
“When I see “Adire Ekiti” products being displayed, I feel on top of the world. Generally speaking, all the products displayed are awesome with quality and people have started making demands for the products”,she stated.
She used the medium to encourage both employed and unemployed to embrace production of hand-made items, which could serve as an extra stream of income for them.
“I have come to charge the participants to keep the flag flying and for Ekiti people to patronize them so that next year’s activities would be better than this,” the Ekiti First Lady added.
In a remark, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Professor Rasaq Ojo Bakare, said the exhibition was to showcase the rich creativity and culture of the state.
