Osun State government has revealed plans to build Adire centres in Ife, Ede and Osogbo to promote the production of the cultural textile in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Teslim Igbalaye, who is Chairman of the Committee on Adire Osun Festival 2025, made this known on Monday in Osogbo during a press conference to unveil the one-week festival activities.
He said the festival is expected to bring economic benefits, youth engagement, cultural preservation and entrepreneurship opportunities to the state.
Igbalaye explained that the Adire Osun Festival would serve as an annual celebration reflecting Osun State’s cultural heritage. He said Governor Adeleke has approved the festival as a yearly event aimed at promoting the cultural and economic value of the state, adding that it would showcase the Adire textile as a symbol of Osun history and creativity.
He highlighted key benefits of the festival, including tourist attraction, job creation, encouragement of youth participation in cultural activities, preservation of the Adire heritage and the creation of business opportunities for artisans, designers and entrepreneurs.
Igbalaye added that the 2025 edition would feature a street display of colourful Adire fabrics to further promote Osun’s culture and restore Osogbo’s historical relevance as the source of Aro and Adire production.
He stated that the government is committed to positioning Osun State as a hub of creativity and cultural expression, using the festival as a unifying platform for talent and innovation.
In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Adeleke on Creative Economy, Events and Entertainment, Hon. Tunde Laface, reiterated the major components of the festival and appealed to the state government to declare a public holiday for Adire Day in Osun.
Laface stated that the festival has already empowered over 1,000 Adire producers, fashion designers, craftsmen and accessory makers. He announced that the Adire Osun Festival Export Summit scheduled for December 19 at Oasis Event Centre would showcase trade, export opportunities and the fashion aspects of Adire production.
He explained that the main event, the Adire Osun Carnival, would hold on Saturday, December 20, 2025, featuring a Yorùbá-centric street parade beginning at Olaiya Junction and moving through major parts of Osogbo before returning to Freedom Park for the continuation of activities.
Laface noted that the carnival would include live bands, DJs, MCs and cultural displays at major junctions, with iconic floats representing various Yoruba cultural symbols and communities. He added that the event would also engage youths through performances by bikers, skaters, cultural troupes, drummers and other groups dressed in Adire.
He further stated that arrangements would be made with relevant government agencies to ensure security, traffic control and emergency medical services during the festival, with adequate public enlightenment for road users.
Laface emphasized that the festival draws inspiration from notable celebrations such as the Calabar Carnival, Ojude Oba Festival and the Osun Osogbo Festival, and is expected to boost the state’s internally generated revenue while providing empowerment and employment for youths.