On Fridays, offices, banks, and even some schools in Nigeria look like they have undergone a cultural shift overnight. Suits and ties give way to senators, kaftans, danshikis, ankara, aso-oke, and isiagu. It feels so natural that many people assume it has always been this way. But who actually decided that Fridays belong to native wear?
In short, no single person or national law made the final call. The Friday practice grew from a mix of culture, religion, regional influence, and deliberate state policies.
Why Friday Felt Right for Native Wear in Nigeria
Long before any official policy, several factors were already pushing Nigerians toward traditional dress at the end of the workweek. These forces include: 
Religious practice: Friday is Jummah, the special Friday congregational prayer that Muslims observe. The Qur’an instructs Muslims, especially men, to attend the Friday prayer in the mosque. For congregational prayers, people usually prefer clean, dignified traditional attire like kaftans, babban riga, and matching caps.
The time of the prayers being midday created a style habit that slowly influenced wider office culture.
Cultural pride: Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups, and clothing remains a powerful marker of identity. Iro and buba, sokoto, kaftans, babban riga, isiagu, etc. formerly had no place in modern office space. Hence, after Western suits, shirts, ties, and skirts on Monday to Thursday, Friday became the day to wear that identity into modern workplaces.
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States Made Native Wear Official for Fridays
While the habit grew organically in many private offices and banks, several state governments turned it into formal policy:
Ondo State (2022): Under Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in October 2022, the state executive council directed all civil servants to wear traditional attire every Friday. It also permitted students in both public and private schools to do the same. Officials explicitly declared Friday a “Cultural Day” to protect Yoruba culture from being eroded by Western influence.
Oyo State: In Oyo State, native wear on Fridays was already common. However, in January 2025, Governor Seyi Makinde strengthened the practice by directing civil and public servants to wear attire with a touch of aso-oke every Thursday as well. According to the Oyo State Head of Service (HoS), Mrs Olubunmi Oni, the aims were cultural preservation and economic support for local weavers, dyers, and tailors. “As people wear it, the manufacturers will produce more, and it will boost the economy of those trading in it, sewing it, and even tying the gele in the state,” she said.
Abia State (2025): The State Executive Council approved a policy mandating civil servants to wear traditional outfits every Friday. It also required State Executive Council members to wear native attire on the first Monday of the month to promote indigenous craftsmanship and strengthen cultural identity.
Delta State (2025): The Delta State government announced an updated civil service dress code that explicitly permits traditional attire only on Fridays and special occasions.
Niger State: In 2023, Governor Mohammed Bago banned kaftans and babban riga from Monday to Thursday, while still allowing traditional wear on Fridays (which coincides with Jummah).
Other states and many federal institutions have quietly followed similar patterns, with Fridays designated as Traditional or Cultural Dress Day. Some progressive workplaces even already accept refined native pieces earlier in the week.
In conclusion, no single person decided Fridays are for native wear in Nigeria. Culture, faith, economics, and a series of deliberate state decisions did.
Beyond style, it serves as a weekly reminder that modernity and heritage can both exist.
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