As part of its efforts to create employment opportunities for the youth and encourage common use of essential facilities hitherto beyond the reach of individuals, Ekiti State government has approved a sum of N1.8 million for the establishment and construction of Aso-Oke weaving and market centre in Ado-Ekiti
The job will be carried out by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development through direct labour.
The government gave the approval of its establishment recently at the executive council meeting held in Ado-Ekiti.
“The centre is tailored to serve as a destination for interested young school leavers to learn and acquire the skills/sales of varieties of Aso-Oke. It will also become a cluster for people involved in the production/sales of the clothing materials in the state, a boost to the economy of the state as well as revenue generation for the state government. It will further attract tourists into the state,” Commissioner for Information, Olatunbosun, has said.
Olatunbosun, in a communiqué after the meeting said the Aso-Oke otherwise known as Aso-Ofi in Ekiti State, originated from the South-Western part Nigeria from time immemorial and later spread to neighbouring tribes like Igalas, Idomas, Ebiras, Tivs with their Aso-Oke styles and colours.
“The piece of clothing is hand woven through a painstaking process. It is made with a spindle and other tools known in Yoruba as Orun, Apasa, among others. More often than not, the Aso-Oke is considered as ceremonial clothing for all important ceremonies such as wedding, coronation, age grade and burial. Market for the Aso-Oke is readily available both locally and internationally and the materials required for the production are readily available within and around the state,” the commissioner said.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the project falls within the infrastructure and industrialisation agenda of the present administration.
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