The Federal Government has been urged to make strategic investments in Nigeria’s indigenous Adire industry to unlock its potential as a $1 billion global trade asset capable of driving economic diversification, boosting non-oil exports and creating sustainable jobs.

The call was made by the Managing Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Superbrains Consulting Limited, Dr.Tunde Bajela, and the founder of the Innovation Centre for Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development (ICLED), Prof. Olajumoke Familoni, at the Adire Renaissance stakeholders’ engagement held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The programme, organised by ICLED in partnership with Wessy College of Arts and Technology, brought together policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs, artisans and industry stakeholders to chart a pathway for repositioning Adire as a globally competitive indigenous textile brand.

Delivering the keynote address titled, “How Adire Becomes a $1bn Trade Asset from Africa to America and Beyond,” Bajela said Nigeria’s expanding textile market presents a unique opportunity to transform Adire into a major export commodity capable of generating foreign exchange earnings while reducing dependence on crude oil.

According to him, Nigeria’s textile market is projected to grow from about $9 billion in 2025 to over $16.62 billion by 2034, despite the country depending on imported materials for more than 95 per cent of its textile needs.

He said developing the Adire value chain would enable local producers to tap into the $1.24 trillion global fashion and textile market.

“The global fashion and textile market is valued at about $1.24 trillion. If Nigeria succeeds in building the Adire industry into a $1 billion business, we would still account for less than 0.01 per cent of the global market.

“The opportunity is enormous. We have barely begun to harness the economic potential of our indigenous textile heritage,” he said.

Bajela urged the Federal Government, financial institutions and private investors to channel greater resources into local textile production, describing Adire as a strategic sector capable of stimulating cotton farming, dye production, chemical processing and other supporting industries.

He also proposed the establishment of a dedicated Adire Fund to provide affordable financing for artisans, manufacturers and operators across the value chain.

The financial expert expressed concern over the influx of foreign-made fabrics designed to imitate traditional Adire patterns, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to indigenous producers.

He, however, maintained that handcrafted Adire possesses a unique competitive advantage because of its originality, cultural identity and authenticity.

“Foreign manufacturers may continue to mass-produce imitation fabrics, but they cannot replicate the uniqueness of handcrafted Adire. Our products, supported by the creativity of local artisans and research institutions, possess an authenticity that commands premium value in the international market,” he added.

Speaking at the event, Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said the state government had continued to implement policies aimed at preserving Adire as a cultural heritage while positioning it as a major driver of economic growth.

She said Governor Dapo Abiodun had consistently promoted the indigenous fabric through his personal dressing and institutionalised the wearing of Adire by public servants every Friday to encourage patronage of locally produced fabrics.

Coker disclosed that discussions were ongoing on introducing Adire-inspired school uniforms to familiarise children with indigenous fabrics from an early age.

She also revealed that the government was supporting legislative efforts aimed at discouraging the importation of machine-made Adire replicas, particularly those produced in China.

“The government is working on measures to prohibit the importation of Chinese-made Adire because such products undermine our local market. A lot is happening behind the scenes to protect indigenous producers and preserve the integrity of authentic Adire,” she said.

Earlier, ICLED founder, Prof. Familoni, said the Adire Renaissance initiative was designed to preserve the originality of the indigenous fabric while equipping young people, especially girls, with skills in science, technology, entrepreneurship and textile production.

She explained that the organisation was collaborating with local and international institutions to promote education, entrepreneurship and community development through the Adire value chain.

According to her, the focus of this year’s programme is on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to inspire creativity among young girls and encourage them to become active participants in the indigenous textile industry.

Familoni disclosed that the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, had challenged ICLED about three years ago to address the growing problem of Adire adulteration.

She said plans were underway to establish an Adire Hub that would preserve the history and authenticity of the fabric while promoting innovation through a museum, historical archives, exhibition galleries, original Adire pattern collections and displays of locally manufactured products.

“Our girls are creative, brilliant and innovative. They can create beautiful patterns and designs, and they can also experiment to produce the Aro dye used in Adire fabric production,” she said.

Calling for greater investment in local manufacturing, Familoni urged governments at all levels to support indigenous industries, stressing that Nigeria’s economic future depends on building strong domestic production capacity rather than relying on imports.

She added that with the right policy support, financing and innovation, Adire could emerge as one of Nigeria’s leading non-oil exports while projecting the country’s rich cultural heritage onto the global stage.