The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has opened an Adire Hub at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta, Ogun State, as part of efforts to upgrade local production and position the indigenous textile for the domestic and international markets.

The initiative, promoted by Global Adire Egba Development Limited in collaboration with ICLED Business School, Lekki, Lagos, is designed to provide training, skills development and access to financing for Adire producers.

Speaking during the opening of the hub, the Project Coordinator, Prof. Olajumoke Familoni, said the facility would train and upskill Adire producers to enable them to compete effectively in both local and international markets.

Familoni, who is also President/Provost of ICLED Business School and a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Management, said the hub formed part of the proposed Adire Village project.

She said the initiative was necessary because many local producers lacked the skills, financing and capacity required to compete in the global textile market.

“We are trying to open up the hub. Adire Hub is a part of the proposed Adire Village. The hub right now is to educate and upskill the Adire producers so that they can partake in the domestic and international market,” she said.

Familoni said the programme would expose producers to various financing opportunities while equipping them with the skills needed to improve the quality and competitiveness of their products.

She said the Nigerian Adire market was worth more than $1 billion, while the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provided access to a market of about 1.4 billion consumers.

According to her, developing the capacity of local producers would enable them to take advantage of the huge market while preserving the authenticity of indigenous Adire.

Familoni also said the initiative was aimed at combating the importation and sale of adulterated Adire fabrics, urging consumers to patronise authentic locally produced textiles.

“We are also embarking on this initiative to fight imitation and importation of adulterated Adire fabrics from outside the country. That is the main reason, so that people can reject adulteration because they can see something that is local, authentic, and they can buy it,” she said.

She called on the government to provide intervention funds for the development of the Adire industry, noting that greater investment would create economic opportunities and increase revenue for Abeokuta and Ogun State.

Also speaking, Chief Yinka Kufile, the Aro of Egbaland and representative of the Alake, described the hub as a welcome development capable of strengthening the indigenous textile industry in Egbaland.

Kufile said local producers had been encouraged to develop and showcase their designs, stressing that the objective was to build a sustainable industry rather than promote individual interests.

“We just have to start from somewhere. We want to encourage our people. We got all the fabrics, we distributed them to our local people, wanting them to showcase their designs so that we can grow them,” he said.

He expressed support for the introduction of mechanisation into Adire production, saying the industry would gradually move from traditional methods to mechanised production to enable producers to meet growing demand.

The traditional ruler also stressed the importance of local production, saying: “Any nation or any tribe that cannot produce what they wear is a failure. And we don’t want to be a failure. We should be able to produce at least a certain percentage of what we wear.”

Representing the Ogun State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Adebola Sofela, the Deputy Director of Investment in the ministry, Shamsideen Akinwunmi, said the state government was committed to supporting initiatives capable of transforming cultural assets into sustainable economic ventures.

Akinwunmi described Adire as more than a fabric, saying it represented the history, creativity, skills and economic potential of the people of Egbaland.

“Adire is not merely a fabric; it is a story, a heritage, a skill and an economic opportunity. It carries the identity, creativity and ingenuity of our people, particularly the rich cultural heritage of Egbaland,” he said.

He urged stakeholders in the industry to embrace digital marketing and e-commerce, strengthen quality standards and intellectual property protection, and establish stronger links between micro, small and medium enterprises, tourism operators and export markets.