Ladire TV Series: Why We Embarked on Project - Olori Aderonke Reveals as Season 2 Audition Holds

Kayode Olawuni, Ile-Ife

Wife of the Ooni of Ife and Co-founder/CEO of Adire Oodua Textile Hub, Ile-Ife, Queen Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, has said that the Ladire TV project is an initiative aimed at equipping the younger generation with the knowledge, culture and craftsmanship of adire textiles, an agelong Yoruba heritage.

Olori Aderonke stated this on Saturday at the Audition for the season 2 of the series, held at the Hub auditorium located inside Ife Grand Resorts and Industrial Hub, Ile-Ife

She revealed that the Hub in addition to adire textile production, also offers free training and empowerment programmes for young people, women and children courtesy of the sponsorship by the Founder and Her husband, His Imperial Majesty, Arole Oduduwa, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife.

"Ladire is a TV Series which started in 2021 with the first Season of sixty episodes and this is the audition for Season 2. The project is targeted at younger generation to instill in them the knowledge of and appreciation of the rich history, beauty and craftsmanship of Adire as an invaluable cultural heritage.

"Nearly 85 percent of actors and actresses in the previous season were young people who are mostly students in higher institutions and the Season 2 will not be an exception", Olori Aderonke stated.

The foremost Queen emphasized the urgent need for improved promotion of Adire textiles based on the huge cultural and global economic values it possesses. This, she note, can potentially and significantly increase our GDP as a nation if well managed.

According to her, more than 5,500 people mostly women and youths have so far benefited from the various programmes at the Hub since inception in 2021, nothing that it welcomes more people in the community and environs to tap into the benefits.

She added that the Hub pays out millions of naira monthly to young entrepreneurs and brand partners in Adire production and sales. This, she noted, has been and will continue to be a huge income stream to youths who leverage the Adire entrepreneurial opportunities available at the Hub.