No fewer than 1,000 artisans, fashion designers, craftsmen and accessory makers have already been empowered as Osun State prepares for the 2025 Adire Osun Festival. The update was shared at a press conference where officials highlighted the economic potential of the creative sector and the cultural value of the adire textile for young people and the broader community.
Speaking at the briefing, the secretary to the state government, Teslim Igbalaye, said the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke is committed to reclaiming Osun and Osogbo’s historical place as the source of aro and adire. He explained that the festival, now declared an annual celebration, will showcase the unique adire textile, which he described as a strong symbol of Osun’s history and creativity.
According to him, the event is designed to create jobs, engage youths and open opportunities for local creatives to access global markets through digital business, cultural tourism and export opportunities.
Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of the Osun Council for Arts and Culture, Hon Ebenezer Adeniji, stressed that culture is a tool for building an alternative economy for any state. He said when government invests in creative people, especially the youth, it strengthens communities and supports long-term economic growth. Adeniji urged young people to embrace the adire craft, learn it, remake it and build businesses that reflect their heritage while speaking to modern audiences.
He added, “The adire of Osun is more than cloth. It is an instrument of identity, a potential engine of jobs, and a promise to the next generation that their heritage will be a foundation for their future, not a relic of the past.”
Also speaking, the senior special assistant on creative economy, events and entertainment, Laface, announced that the Adire Osun Export Summit will take place on December 19 at Oasis Event Centre. He added that the major attraction, the Adire Osun Carnival, is scheduled for Saturday, December 20, 2025.
While urging the governor to officially declare December 20 as adire day in Osun State, he explained that the carnival will feature a large Yorucentric street parade moving through key parts of Osogbo before ending at Freedom Park for a night-long concert with artistes, DJs and cultural performers.
