In a bid to boost the production of locally made Adire fabric and curtail its importation, the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to provide support through subsidies and the establishment of industrial hubs dedicated to Adire production across the country.
The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, made this announcement during her visit to the Adire Mall in Itoku and Asero areas of Abeokuta, Ogun State. She emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting Adire on the global stage.
Accompanied by the National Programme Manager of the Community and Social Development Project, Olubunmi Bello, Edu stressed the need to restrict the importation of foreign-made Adire products. She expressed concerns about the influx of fake Adire, particularly those produced in China, and called for the promotion of locally made Adire to create jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s micro and macro economy.
Edu stated, “Local production must be enhanced at all costs to meet the demand. We don’t want to be selling fake Adire, made in China Adire brought into Nigeria. What we want are local ones made by our people to create jobs, it will build micro and macro economy and it will help Nigeria to be more of a manufacturing country rather than an importing country.”
The minister also highlighted the government’s intention to provide subsidies to Adire makers to ensure the availability of local Adire for both domestic use and exportation.
She noted that the government’s efforts would eliminate the fake products that enter the country, stating, “If we support the local manufacturers, subsidize this for them, and bring more people into this to meet the demand, it will automatically eliminate the ones that come into the country.”
Furthermore, Edu lauded the collaboration between the federal government and the Ogun State government to create hubs in Abuja and other countries’ embassies to promote and export genuine Adire, which is distinct from the imitation products. This initiative is aimed at taking Adire, which is integral to the identity of the people of Ogun State, to the global market.
As part of the government’s poverty alleviation efforts, the minister unveiled plans to offer training and establish new Adire clusters in two other senatorial districts where Adire production did not previously exist. The goal is to provide livelihood opportunities, new skills, and economic empowerment to local communities.
Edu concluded by emphasizing the importance of Adire as a valuable fabric recognized worldwide, and how supporting its local production is aligned with President Muhammadu Buhari’s goal to lift 50 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next 42 months.