The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo has moved to end the influx of counterfeit and foreign (Chinese) made adire in Abeokuta markets and other places in Egbaland by inaugurating a special committee to tackle the menace.
Speaking to newsmen after the inauguration at the Ake palace in Abeokuta on Wednesday, the Alake explained that it was imperative to check the influx of the fake fabric lest the situation imperils the age – long heritage of the Egba people.
Gbadebo said that there was also need to enlighten the people on why they should not patronise fake or Chinese Adire, saying buying them would send local producers and dealers out of the trade and invariably hurt the economy of the state and Nigeria.
He tasked the committee chaired by the Aro of Egbaland, High Chief Oluyinka Kufile to ensure they know where the fake Adire was being made and afterwards dumped in Abeokuta markets.
The revered monarch assured that he would not fold his arms and allow the people to take the jobs as well as the source of income away from many youths and homes and plunge them into poverty and criminal activities.
“This committee is set up in order to tackle the influx of fake (Chinese) Adire in markets in the state capital. We must not allow infiltration and our name as Egba must not be tarnished.
“Adire started in Itoku, here in Abeokuta , it is our trade and there is need to ensure that the quality of our Adire is not tampered with.
“Before we can say something is not good, we must first ensure that ours is better and we must ensure quality control in our Adire production,” Alake said.
A member of the committee and
Giwa Obinrin of Egba land, Hajia Modinat Adegbite, noted that the counterfeiting of Adire fabric by the Chinese had been pushing the local producers trade to the brink.
Adegbite hailed the Alake for the bold step, explaining that it was disheartening seeing influx of fake Adire in the markets while the local producers of the fabric are hurting daily.
“It is sad that most people can not differentiate between the fake Adire and the original one produced locally.
“This is why the committee is set up to tackle and put an end to the challenges . Adire is synonymous to the Egba and we will not allow anyone to spoil the name built by our forefathers.”
Also, Princess Comfort Omotade, the Mojibade of Egbaland, noted that Adire fabric and the Olumo rock remained the two major attractions the Egbas were known for.
“The committee is going to zoom into action immediately and we are going to ensure that we stopped Chinese Adire from entering Abeokuta markets.
“We won’t allow fake and Chinese Adire to be sold at Itoku market again . We will ensure the promotion of the locally produced Adire .
“The Alake has given us the mandate and we are going all out to stop this atrocity.
“We are determined to maintain the quality of the locally produced adire and protect it from undue competition and proliferation by imitators,” she said.
In his contribution, Mr Funso Idowu, also a member of the committee, said that the committee was saddled with the responsibility of checking the menace of fake Adire in the market.
Idowu explained that the committee would embark on enlightenment and let the people aware of the dangers of patronising the fake fabric to the economy of the state.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Committee, Princess Adejoke Shomoye, said the cultural inheritance of the Egbas as symbolised by Adire must be protected .
She said, “Adire production is a chain of activities, every sides involved must be protected. Our cultural inheritance must not be allowed to walk into extinction. We shall do everything in our capacity to eradicate the adulterated Adire fabrics from our indigenous Adire market and in Egbaland as a whole.”
