PROPOSED OFI DAY 2016 BY OYO STATE GOVERNMENT IN ISEYIN : Credit Raji Afeez Abiola(Rajah)

PROPOSED OFI DAY 2016 BY OYO STATE GOVERNMENT:  Written by: Raji Afeez Abiola(Rajah).

Aso-Oke is the traditional wear of Yoruba(The tribe of the south West People in Nigeria, Africa), Yoruba's known to be the second largest tribe in Nigeria after the Northerners.
Aso-Oke Pronounced ("ah-SHOW-key") is a short word for Aso Ilu Oke, which means cloths from the Up-Country. In many occasions this wear also refers to as ASO-OFI.

This particular weaving(ASO-OKE) started centuries ago among the Yoruba's but predominantly among the Iseyin(Oyo State), Ede(Osun State), Ilorin(Kwara State) and Okene(Kogi State).

Aso-Oke as rightly called, is a cloth that is worn on special occasions by the Yoruba's usually for chieftaincy, festivals, engagement, naming ceremony and many other important events in the society.

Honestly, the investigation and surveying revealed that, among the towns that are producing the product (Aso-Oke), the product from iseyin town is most unique and quality one (Wikipedia). The investigation shows further that, it is only in Iseyin the varieties of Aso-Oke such as ETU, SANYAN and ALAARI can be found in large quality and quantity.
Aso-Oke weaving as old as Iseyin Town itself and it is known as the major occupation of the town, maybe that is why Iseyin has been named as HOME OF ASO-OKE.

Iseyin is a city located in Oyo State of Nigeria. It is approximately 100km north of Ibadan. The city with estimated population of 302,990 in 2011(National Population Commission of Nigeria NPC (web)). Iseyin is the 4th Largest City in Oyo State after Ibadan, Ogbomoso and Oyo Town and usually nicknamed as HOME OF ASO-OKE or ASO OFI as it was mentioned above. Invariably Aso-Oke can be found almost everywhere of the town ( I.e Oke-Ola, Ijemba, Oke-Babadudu, Koso, Ekunle, Isalu e.t.c.) not only found readily available alone but with uniqueness quality that can not be found anywhere in the world.

Honestly I was not amazed or astonished when Oyo State Government chosen OFI day as the State 2016 World Tourism day. Kudos to the State Government to make such move, but I don't known why state Government waited for long before they embark upon on this kind rewardable project!. Anyway, maybe it's because of "RECESSION" of a thing, open the eyes of the State Government to this. Are they been such move has been taken for a long time, a lot of revenue and job opportunity would have generated by the state Government in the past. Anyway, people do say "It better to be late than never". The step has been taken by state Government now(Thank God) but they need to be seen beyond celebration of World Tourism day. They need to see this as an avenue to generate revenue and job opportunity. This task can be realized if the State Government can provide an enabled environment(Market for Aso-Oke, Locally and Internationally) for the project.

I can remember vividly, in some years back(like twenty years ago), many people in Iseyin were employer of Labours through the production of Aso-Oke, few of Iseyin people were doing white collar job, because they were realized millions of Naira in the production, not until recently where the production was no more lucrative due to the lack of standard Market for the product. Thank God the product is picking again.

Honestly, if an enable environment(Standard Market) can be produced for the product (Aso-Oke) the under listed benefits can be actualized by individual and State Government.

Such benefits are following:-
*It will generate revenue to the State Government.
*It will reduced unemployment in Iseyin and Oyo State in general.
*It will promote Yoruba culture, Nationally and Internationally.
*It will reduced social vices among the youths of Iseyin and Oyo State.
*It will put Oyo State on the tourism map in the world.
*It will produced raw materials for the. Industries Locally and Internationally.
*It will increase the tourist attraction of Iseyin and Oyo state.
The findings shows that, the materials can be used for another production aside the wearing attired purposes, such as

*Throw cushion
*Fila and Gele
*Aso-Oke Shoes
*Aso-Oke bags and lot more.

As we are looking up for 2016 World Tourism Day (OFI Day) on September 27th, 2016 powered by Oyo state Government, the people of Iseyin are welcoming you to the HOME OF ASO-OKE and I am appealing to you (Oyo State Government) that we should not only see the day come and gone alone but we want the memory of the day to remain in our mind so long and see immediate benefit and impacts that September 26th 2016 put into our town (Iseyin) and Oyo State in general.

I wish the Oyo State Government contingent, the Stake Holders and the people of Iseyin Local Government Happy OFI DAY to you all in advance.
May God bless Iseyin Local Government, May God Bless Oyo State in general.