Chief Nike Okundaye, founder of the Nike Art Gallery, has trained 100 Nigerian women residing in Italy in the art of Adire making.
This revelation was made by Chief Okundaye during an interactive session with Berexnews in her Lagos office, located at Lekki, Lagos on Wednesday. She noted that the training, which took place in 2015, was aimed at empowering women, many of whom had turned to prostitution due to a lack of viable livelihood opportunities.
According to Chief Okundaye, the initiative was driven by her desire to preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage while providing these women with a dignified and sustainable means of earning a living. “I saw the need to help our people, especially the women in Italy, who were struggling and had no real means to support themselves. Adire making is not just about art; it is a tool for survival and empowerment,” she stated.
The training focused on Adire, a traditional Yoruba textile art involving intricate resist dyeing techniques. Chief Okundaye emphasised that the craft has significant global appeal and could offer the women an opportunity to become financially independent by tapping into the European market’s growing appreciation for African textiles.
She further explained that the program was part of her broader mission to change the narrative for Nigerians in the diaspora and to restore dignity and pride to those in vulnerable situations. “This was not just about teaching them a skill. It was about giving them a second chance at life and showing them that they can achieve so much more. By promoting our culture through Adire, they could also represent Nigeria positively wherever they go,” Chief Okundaye said.
The training in Italy marked a pivotal moment in her ongoing efforts to use art as a tool for social and economic transformation. Chief Okundaye continues to advocate for the empowerment of women through skill acquisition, believing that such initiatives can break cycles of poverty and dependence.
