The Osun State Government has granted approval to train more than 8,000 young people across the state’s 332 wards, in a bid to foster wealth creation and youth empowerment via the Adire Osun initiative.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, who had earlier announced that the Adire Osun Festival would be held annually, stated that the event will highlight both cultural and economic aspects of the state.
At the unveiling of the Adire Osun Festival 2025, Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, explained that the festival is designed to galvanise youth participation in traditional arts and cultural expression.
He added that the festival is expected to draw tourists into the state and generate employment opportunities, thereby strengthening Osun’s economy.
According to him, “Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen, Adeleke has declared Adire Osun Festival an annual event, aimed at promoting cultural and economic values of our great State. The festival will showcase the unique Adire textile, a symbol of Osun history and creativity. As Chief Creative Officer, Mr. Governor emphasizes the importance of documenting and supporting creativities in Osun State.”
Teslim Igbalaye further said, “Adire Osun Festival 2025 will feature street show of various Colourful Adire Fabrics, with a view to promoting Osun’s rich culture and traditions as well as reclaim Osun and Osogbo’s historical place as the source of Aro and Adire.”
He expressed excitement about the state’s transformation, noting, “We are excited to transform Osun State into an entertainment hub of creativity and culture.”
Also addressing the gathering, the Chairman of the Council for Arts and Culture, Hon. Ebenezer Adeniji, urged young people to tap into the Adire craft as a pathway to financial autonomy and to contribute meaningfully to the creative sector.
On the theme of the festival, Adeniji observed, “Creating Wealth, Empowering Youths, is not a mere loose slogan to the festival; it is its logical next step. As culture without opportunities becomes a museum piece. Heritage without pathways to prosperity becomes nostalgia. We have the raw material: ancestral motifs, time-honoured techniques, and communal stories woven into fabric. Our task is to transform that cultural capital into sustained livelihoods and meaningful futures for our young people.”
He pressed the youth to immerse themselves fully, adding, “We must empower the youth. If culture is to have a future, young people must feel invited into it, as makers, designers, marketers, entrepreneurs, and cultural managers. Empowerment requires training that is relevant, accessible, and inspirational.”
Finally, he challenged them to take ownership: “To the youth claim this space. Learn the craft and remake it. Build businesses that honour your lineage and engage the world.”
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