Nigeria’s Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says leveraging on technology to boost the culture and tourism economy is best way to go, especially with the Covid-19 global atmospheres.
The Minister disclosed this on Thursday at the official launch of the Adire ogun digital market place in Abeokuta,Ogun State South West Nigeria.
As the world continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, the Minister said a lot of businesses are resorting to smart solutions to keep running.
Beside the adherence to the covid 19 protocols, the benefits of the new online mall will extend to improving culture and tourism which would translate to jobs and prosperity for the locals across the value chain.
The digital mall where buyers and sellers of the popular clothing material called Adire meet is an innovation by the government of Ogun state to boost the local garment industry and also boost culture and tourism globally.
The Adire Ogun Marketplace will be the largest inventory of Adire Textiles and accessories globally, with over two thousand merchants from Abeokuta.
“With AdireOgun.com, anyone, anywhere in the world can log on to this website, window shop and also buy any ‘adire’ material of choice. In other words, this will catalyze trading in ‘adire’ globally. And, of course, by using this website, an interested user is guaranteed to buy original and top-of-the-class ‘adire’ from the globally-acknowledged home of the product,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said the Adire Ogun Marketplace will be the largest inventory of adire textiles and accessories, with over two thousand merchants from Abeokuta, which is the undisputed premier centre of ‘adire’ production, not just in Nigeria but perhaps in the world.
The Minister commended the foresight of the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for leveraging technology to promote culture, describing AdireOgun.com as a confluence of technology and culture and a great innovation.
“Today, we are here for the launch of AdireOgun.com, the Adire Ogun Marketplace. I must commend and congratulate His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for his leadership, the Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism for initiating this project which, I am told, was created to position Ogun State Adire merchants in a global market, thus ensuring the economic viability and sustainability for their trade,” the Minister said.
He said the launch of the website could not have come at a better time as the world continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, with a lot of businesses resorting to smart solutions in order to keep running.
Alhaji Mohammed said the various Covid-19 safety protocols, especially social distancing, mean that physical contacts are being reduced to the barest minimum hence the need to come up with the kind of smart solution such as AdireOgun.com.
The Minister, along with the Ogun State Governor, made the first purchase of ‘adire’ by placing their orders through the marketing portal.
The Ogun State Governor enjoined the Minister to champion the campaign for the use of ‘adire’ at the Federal Government level in order to give expression to the President’s commitment to the development of the local economy.
The Minister also used the occasion to present to the Governor the different awards won by Ogun State at the last edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture.
The traditional ruler of Egba land Adedotun Badebo said his community would now have an opportunity to reach out to the international market via the digital Adire mall. He said the fabric is sought after world over but the hindrance has always been the reach.
In her remarks, the state government’s consultant in the Tourism and Culture Ministry Adenrele Shonariwo said the digital platform will bring all stakeholders in the Adire business and the entire value chain together and in the end will be a boost to the state and national economy.
She said it was going to make it easier for the fabric to reach the international community.
In her intervention, the First lady of the state, Mrs Bamidel Abiodun spoke on the need to adhere to some environmental and safety standard in the production processes.
She said there were harmful chemicals used in Adire production and cautioned producers of the fabric to adhere to all the requisite standards in order to make it a safe venture.
