The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has backed efforts to transform traditional Adire production into a modern textile industry capable of generating foreign exchange, creating jobs and securing a significant share of the international market.
The initiative, being driven by Global Àdìrẹ Ẹ̀gbá Development Limited, seeks to modernise production, empower young entrepreneurs and position the indigenous tie-and-dye fabric as a globally recognised textile brand.
The Project Coordinator, Prof. Olajumoke Familoni, disclosed this on Friday at the second edition of the Àdìrẹ Hub, held at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The event featured an exhibition of creatively designed Adire fabrics, clothing and other products by local traders.
Familoni said the initiative was designed to move Adire beyond its traditional market through improved production techniques, better packaging, mechanisation and access to international markets.
She said the Àdìrẹ Hub would form part of a proposed Àdìrẹ Village, where registered traders would receive support to promote their products for export and expand the value chain to include bedsheets, duvets, rugs, jewellery and other items.
“Our goal is for Àdìrẹ to become a recognised global product and brand. We want to bring in the younger generation, expose them to modern markets and introduce them to international opportunities, including the African Continental Free Trade Area,” she said.
According to her, the proposed Àdìrẹ Village would have production workshops, retail outlets, a training centre, museum and library.
She added that efforts were ongoing to secure the support of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, for the project.
Familoni said mechanisation of Adire production had commenced under the leadership of the Balogun Ake, noting that modern production methods were necessary for local manufacturers to compete with imported textiles from countries such as China and India.
She expressed optimism about a proposed partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), saying the project required patience, commitment and sustained collaboration to achieve its objectives.
Also speaking, the Director of ICLED, Dr Tunde Bajela, said the vision of Global Àdìrẹ Ẹ̀gbá Development Limited was to transform Adire into a global textile brand capable of capturing at least one per cent of the international textile market, estimated at $1 trillion, within 10 years of the company’s establishment in 2024.
He said achieving the target could translate into a market share worth more than $10 billion, with the potential to create employment and reduce poverty in Egbaland.
Bajela identified the proposed Àdìrẹ Village as a major strategy for achieving the ambition, explaining that it would provide a platform for businesses across the textile value chain to collaborate, expand production and access funding from development institutions, including the Bank of Industry and the Development Bank of Nigeria.
He added that the village would host an annual Àdìrẹ Festival to showcase art, culture, fashion and music, attract international attention and promote tourism.
According to him, the initiative was engaging the Ogun State Government over land allocation in Abeokuta and had also opened discussions with SMEDAN to lease an identified property for the proposed village.
He expressed optimism that SMEDAN would provide institutional support to mobilise operators in the tie-and-dye industry and help them expand their businesses.
The event also featured performances by a children’s troupe, while Adire vendors displayed their products as part of efforts to promote the indigenous textile industry and attract wider patronage.
END
Advertisement
