In line with the present administration’s commitment towards making Oyo State a haven for tourists, the Oyo state government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Iseyin Weavers and Marketers Association’s plan to hold its annual Aso Ofi, an indigenous textile Festival.
The Special Adviser to the Oyo state Governor on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Ademola Akeem Ige made this disclosure while receiving members of Iseyin Weaver and Marketers Association in his office today.
According to him, “the administration under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde is poised to make Oyo state a haven for tourists to appreciate the numerous cultural and tourism potential that abound in the State.”
“The Aso Ofi Festival, when holds, will afford the state the opportunity to showcase its indigenous cultural product to the global market.”
“Iseyin people are synonymous with Aso Ofi and this is the reason the town is generally referred to as “Home of Aso Ofi”.
Hon Ige added that Iseyin Aso Ofi Weavers need to move to the next level with government’s support and collaboration.
Earlier in his speech, Secretary of the Association, Mr Wahab Gafar Abiodun commended the Oyo state Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde for embarking on series of infrastructural projects in Iseyin since he came on board.
According to him, before the Governor came on board, our road from Iseyin to Ibadan was bad but this government is about to complete its reconstruction now. This road has afforded us opportunity to enjoy more patronage in our weaving market than before. So we appreciate His Excellency for this gesture and other ongoing projects like the Iseyin-Ogbomosho road and remodeling of Ebedi Stadium. We can boldly say that Iseyin is benefitting from the government of Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration in terms of capital project and we are grateful for that.”
Speaking further on the purpose of their visit, Mr Wahab Gafar hinted that the Association has come to solicit government’s support for the celebration of their annual Aso Ofi international market day as well as the construction of a befitting market on the 13.5 hectares of land allocated to them by the previous administration in the State which at present, is being encroached upon by land grabbers in Iseyin town.
According to him, we have come to make passionate appeal to his Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde to come to our aid for two things; one to assist us in the celebration of our annual Aso Ofi international day. We had our first edition of the celebration in the year 2014; second in 2015 and third edition in the year 2017. Since then, we haven’t held any celebration because of change of government in the State and the coronavirus pandemic that ravaged the world in 2019 till now.”
“So, this year 2021, we felt we should celebrate the festival because the idea behind it is to celebrate the Aso Oke festival as one of the state’s Tourism potential and showcase the business and economy inherent in it to the global market.”
“Secondly, we want government to help us to commence the construction of shops and stores on the large expanse of land already allocated to us by the previous administration but which is now being encroached upon by some land grabbers. Presently, we have built some temporary open stalls on the said land but we need government assistance so as to make the market to be of international standard.” He concluded.
