More than 50 women have completed specialized training in traditional Adire tie-and-dye fabric production as part of an initiative to foster economic self-reliance and preserve local cultural heritage in Kogi State.
The empowerment program, organized by the Ijumu Women Association under the theme “Empowering Ijumu Women Through Indigenous Craft for Economic Self-Reliance,” concluded with a graduation ceremony held in Iyara.
Speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Government of Kogi State, Dr. Folashade Ayoade, commended the association for pioneering the initiative, describing it as the first of its kind in the area. She emphasized that financial independence for women is essential to enhancing family stability and advancing national socio-economic development.
Ayoade urged the graduates to apply the skills they acquired diligently, highlighting hard work and commitment as vital components of sustainable business growth.
Underscoring official endorsement for the project, the Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, Alhaji Haruna Ibrahim, announced that the local council intends to adopt Adire shirts for its official campaigns during the upcoming 2027 elections.
Ibrahim pledged ongoing local government support for the Ijumu Adire project, reiterating his administration’s goal to position Ijumu as an economic hub within Okun land through direct investment in small-scale enterprises.
Addressing social challenges in the community, the Olujumu of Ijumu Kingdom, Oba Williams Olusegun Ayeni, stated that concern over youth involvement in social vices and the urgent need to promote girl-child education inspired the establishment of the organization.
The President of the Ijumu Women Association, Chief Olufunmilayo Bodunde, congratulated the graduates, describing them as budding entrepreneurs capable of building economic prosperity through traditional craftsmanship.
“When you empower a woman, you feed a household, you uplift a community, and you secure the future of an entire generation,” Bodunde said, adding that the association envisions an economically vibrant Ijumu where women collaborate to drive broader societal transformation.
