The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has renewed calls for a stronger federal government role in reviving Nigeria’s indigenous textile industry.
Oba Akanbi also stressed the need to align local fabrics with contemporary fashion tastes.
Speaking through a statement issued by his press secretary, Alli Ibraheem on Tuesday, the monarch said “Nigeria could reduce dependence on imported clothing by encouraging large-scale local production tailored to youth preferences.”
Oba Akanbi disclosed that earlier discussions with the Bank of Industry, BOI, on supporting indigenous textile manufacturing had not produced the desired outcome, prompting him to seek broader government involvement.
According to the statement, the monarch proposed “that locally woven fabrics such as Aso Oke and Ofi be adapted into modern designs, including suits, jeans and jackets, to increase acceptance among young Nigerians.”
He explained that the approach was driven by changing fashion habits, noting that, “You must think like the children and the youths if you want to influence them in any way.”
Stating that the initiative aimed to make traditional fabrics suitable for everyday wear rather than restricting them to ceremonies, the monarch said youths could not be compelled to wear cultural attire unless it met their lifestyle needs.
The monarch also linked the campaign to broader economic goals, asserting that “increased demand for locally made fabrics would expand job opportunities for weavers and reduce foreign exchange spent on clothing imports.”
Oba Akanbi also raised concerns over the confusion between Yoruba culture and religion, which he said had discouraged younger generations from embracing cultural symbols.
“Our traditional clothes and accessories such as Ofi and beads are demonstration of rich culture and luxuries of wealth. Mislabelling cultural expressions as idolatry had affected their acceptance,” he stated.
He questioned why cultural attire was rarely worn in religious settings, stating, “You only see a Yoruba child wearing Ofi and using beads at either wedding or naming ceremony. You can’t see Alfa or Pastor wearing Ofi to mosque or church. Why?”
Oba Akanbi said traditional rulers have a responsibility to clarify the distinction between culture and religion, adding, “as traditional rulers, we have the role of clearly differentiating between the rich Yoruba culture and religion… Our culture is clean and has to be promoted for coming generations.”
DailyPost / Omowunmi Adewuyi
