Potentials of Adire Production for Sustainable Tourism Development in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Abstract

Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, Nigeria, is globally renowned as Adire’s epicenter, a traditional Yoruba resist-dyeing textile art, yet its significant cultural heritage remains underexploited as a catalyst for holistic, sustainable tourism development. As a result, this study aimed at examining the impact of Adire production on sustainable tourism development in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 384 respondents in the study area. Systematic random sampling was used to administer the questionnaire in a predetermined sequence, ensuring representativeness across clustered Adire production hubs. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. Findings of the study revealed a youthful cohort (mean age 31.85 years, 77.35% under 40) and female-dominated (66.41%) producers driving Adire production with 80% family participation. Findings showed that 80% train apprentices engage in Adire production. Findings of the study further revealed that Adire employs 184 individuals across 42 trainers (mean 4.38/trainer), with 90.27% of respondents affirming the potential of Adire production for sustainable tourism development, 81.4% viewed it as an employment source, and 41.3% recognized its role in promoting local culture. The study advocates leveraging Adire production for community-based tourism, niche market experiences for tourists, and local entrepreneurship. It recommends standardization, strategic branding, and a multi-stakeholder framework to harness Adire's production potential to position Abeokuta as Nigeria's leading sustainable cultural tourism destination.