Alake Unveils Adire Hub at Ake Palace to Boost Local Textile Industry, Fight Adulteration

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has opened an Adire Hub at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta as part of efforts to upgrade local Adire production and position the indigenous textile for domestic and international markets.

The initiative aims to train and upskill Adire producers, expose them to multiple financing options, and fight the importation of adulterated fabrics.

A New Chapter for Adire

ValidViewNetwork gathered that the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has opened an Adire Hub at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as part of efforts to upgrade local Adire production and position the indigenous textile for domestic and international markets.

The initiative, promoted by Global Adire Egba Development Limited in collaboration with ICLED Business School, Lekki, Lagos, is expected to provide training, skills development, and access to financing for Adire producers.

Upskilling for the Global Market

Speaking with journalists during the opening of the hub on Thursday, September 3, 2026, the Project Coordinator, Prof. Olajumoke Familoni, said the facility was established to train and upskill Adire producers to enable them to compete effectively in the global market.

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“We are here because we are trying to open up the hub. Adire Hub is a part of the proposed Adire Village. The hub right now is to educate and upskill the Adire producers so that they can partake in the domestic and international market,” Familoni said.

Familoni, who is also the President/Provost of ICLED Business School and a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Management, said the initiative would expose producers to multiple financing options.

“We cannot leave them out there and expect them to partake in a global market at the level where they are,” she said.

Fighting Adulteration and Imitation

Professor Familoni revealed that the Adire market is worth more than $1 billion in Nigeria, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has about 1.4 billion consumers.

“So, if these people are trained, you can see that they have a lot of markets. They can come up and can be upskilled. We are also embarking on this initiative to fight imitation and importation of adulterated Adire fabrics from outside the country. That is the main reason, so that people can reject adulteration because they can see something that is local, authentic, and they can buy it,” she said.

She called on the government to provide intervention funds to support the development of the Adire industry, saying increased investment would benefit Abeokuta and Ogun State.

A Call for Government Support

“We are calling on the government to give us intervention funds. The Alake has been investing; our community members, over 70-year-old men, have been investing in this thing. There are intervention funds somewhere that they can use to make this thing really produce these things and make this thing happen. It’s going to benefit the nation. It’s going to benefit Abeokuta, the revenue of Ogun State at large,” Familoni said.

Also speaking, Chief Yinka Kufile, the Aro of Egbaland and representative of the Alake, described the establishment of the hub as a welcome development, stressing that the initiative would help promote local producers and develop the Adire industry in Egbaland.

A Lesson for Nigerian Youths

The Alake’s Adire Hub is a powerful example of how traditional institutions can drive economic development.

By investing in skills training, fighting adulteration, and opening up global markets, the initiative is creating opportunities for local producers, many of whom are women and young people.

For Nigerian youths, the lesson is clear: your talent is your currency. The Adire producers of Egbaland are being given the tools to compete globally.

The same politicians who speak of diversification will never allow their own children to rely on imported goods. Their children are taught to value what is local and authentic.Invest in your skills.

Value your heritage. And never underestimate the power of what you can create with your own hands.