The Paramount Ruler of Iwoland, HIM Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has tasked the federal government to consider outright ban of foreign jeans to promote local fabrics and boost Nigeria’s economy.
As a custodian of culture, Oluwo lamented the infiltration of religion into our cultural values most especially the Yorubas, saying traditional rulers have role to play in distinctively differentiate Yoruba culture from religion.
Oba Akanbi explained he has earlier discussed partnership deal with the Bank of Industry (BOI) but not yielding as expected.He expressed the hope in federal government’s involvement to embrace and domesticate production of various dresses such as suit,jeans and Agbada with local Ofi.
He expressed displeasure over lumping the rich Yoruba culture with idolatry,saying no enlightened person will embrace scaring religion.
Oba Akanbi explained that the youths and teenagers could not be forced to start wearing Aso Oke except the fabric was sewn to suit their needs.
The monarch, who had sewn the fabrics into different trendy styles for male and female, said he would partner celebrities, especially Nigerian Government to sew new styles to gain acceptability among youths.
Oba Akanbi said,”I want to task the federal government to outrightly ban importation of foreign jeans into Nigeria, promote local jeans made of Ofi to aid job opportunities and advantages”
“It is about using our own fabrics to make clothes of western dresses which our kids like. You must think like the children and the youths if you want to influence them in any way”
“We cannot compel our youths and teenagers to start wearing agbada made of Aso Oke or Aso Ofi. But now I have branded our Aso Oke as Telu Jeans and Telu Jeans is normal jeans trousers, shorts and jacket made of Aso Oke”
“Our traditional clothes and accessories such as Ofi and beads are demonstration of rich culture and luxuries of wealth. So enticing and admiring but because a people affiliated wearing Ofi and using some cultural accessories as paganism, our children does not accept it.
