A Textile artist and convener of Craft A Woman/Girl Initiative (CAWGI), Ifeoluwa Ojo, popularly called ‘omoge Ifeoluwa’, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to empower youths so they can embrace entrepreneurship.

Ojo made the call during a free adire empowerment programme. She said this would reduce unemployment in the country.

The programme, which aimed at empowering 20 less-privileged women with the skill of Tye&Dye production in Ibadan, was held at the National Museum of Unity, Aleshinloye, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Ojo disclosed that she conceived the idea of empowering youths, especially women, whom she described as ‘mothers of every sex’ after her service year in 2021 with the view to strengthening self-reliance. Already, over 400 women have been trained under the initiative.

“I have come to the reality that formal education has overridden all informal skills in the country since the era of colonisation, and this must end,” she said.

She also called on government to adequately fund local textile industry to shore up the country ‘s revenue.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Director and Curator, National Museum of Unity, Aleshinloye, Ibadan, Mrs Oriyomi Pamela Otuka, lauded the initiative targeted at resuscitating local textile production among women and youths, adding the country can key in the sector which will greatly increase its value.

While saying National Museum remains embodiment of culture and tradition, Otuka called on government to appropriate more money into the sector so it could serve as an alternative to oil sector in the country.

Her words: “It is high time our government re-invested in the tourism sector as this will increase its IGR, helps to preserve culture and traditional and showcase to the outside world. Recently, in Brazil, the popular Rio Carnival held, which attracted a lot of tourists, and also impacted the country positively. Will they not make huge money?”