A Non-Governmental Organisation, The Lady of Africa Empowerment and Advocacy Foundation, has called on the federal and state governments as well as private sectors to support its initiative to build a N2billion Adire Gallery.
The gallery which will have its headquarters situated on Lagos-Ibadan expressway and branches in the five divisions of Lagos State at Epe, Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu and Lagos Island is to promote the wearing of local fabrics called Adire, promote the Nigeria and Yoruba culture in particular as well as create jobs for thousands of youth especially those in the creative arts industry
According to the President of the Foundation, art enthusiast, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Proclips
Media Communication Limited and Covener of Adire Street Culture Festival Revolution, Princess Oluwabukola Fasuyi, the Adire Gallery house is a novel idea created by the foundation to fight against poverty through direct empowerment of indigenous people.
“That the Nigerian economy is in a recession is no longer a debate but we cannot sit down to sulk; thus we must all rise to the occasion by creating proactive measures to combat the problem confronting our dear country today,” she said.
She added: “Our projection is to ensure that the Adire Gallery house empowers the people and create sustainable wealth that will be plowed back to their communities to continuously stimulate the economy of local communities
She further said the gallery, when completed, will directly empower 100,000 producers of Adire annually which will gradually grow to one million producers per year globally in the first five years.
“We anticipate that we would have been able to directly empower 200,000 producers and marketers within the same period. We plan to indirectly empower over five million by 2030,” she added.
On the impact the gallery would have on the Adire fabric, Princess Oluwabukola said the Adire which is commonly worn by the Yoruba people will be placed on the same pedestal with other Internationally recognized fabrics.
“We want to revolutionize the way we use the Adire and put it on the same pedestal as the Ankara, Guinea brocade ‘and other well accepted materials from across the globe. The Lady of Africa Foundation has created an event called Adire Street Culture Festival Revolution, a yearly festival that would be projected in Nigeria and across the world with over 10million people expected to attend.”
She appealed for support from private sector, religious organizations, government both at the federal and state level especially the Lagos State government and other South West governors to support financially in building the gallery.
She also called on Nigerians in diaspora to support the initiative to promote Yoruba culture, adding that those who supported it would have their individual names, corporate logos and other emblems crested on the walls around the gallery for future generations to see.
“We call on government, corporate entities and well meaning Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to partner with us in this noble course. Your widow’s mite will go a long way in making this dream a reality.”
