Government urged to support local Adire fabric industry

The Federal Government has been urged to support the local Adire fabric Industry with financial incentives that would enhance their contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Daar Communications’ maiden Adire Exhibition, Managing Director, Radio Services, Ambrose Olutayo Shomide, said the exhibition was in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Faaji FM, which will be 10 years old on December 1, 2022. “It’s our way of promoting African culture and the cultural heritage of our people.
It’s part of our support for the campaign of promoting local goods for the revival of Nigeria’s economy,” he said.

Shomide applauded the Adire producers in Abeokuta for their ingenuity and creativity. He promised Daar Communications’ support for growing the Adire sub-sector of the industry, adding that plans have been concluded to hold the event yearly.

Shomide said the industry, when duly promoted, would boost employment opportunities. “Govt must make available soft loans and other financial support to the people in this industry,” he said.

He, however, urged Nigerians to patronise Adire fabric and other locally-made products. Commissioner for Tourism, Adijat Motunrayo Adeleye, said: “Adire fabric is our pride, everyone knows that its origin is from Ogun State.

She said the governor is mostly proudly adorning Adire, while several civil servants in the state also wear Adire on Fridays, adding: “There is absolutely no fashion that you cannot do with Adire.”
She bemoaned a situation whereby the Chinese are imitating Adire in their factories, saying: “That is not Adire. Theirs is machine-made and ours in indigenous, handmade quality Adire. The local Adire is durable and superior to that made with a machine.”

Noting that the state government has discovered that the cost of importing cotton was responsible for the high cost of Adire, she said the governor has assured that the state would grow its own cotton locally in order to get the cost reduced.