NANFeatures/Vol.10/No.251/2016 (Nov. 8)
Exploiting the potential of the Nigerian fashion industry
By Nkechi Okoronkwo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
“Globally, the fashion industry is worth one trillion dollars; imagine if we could tap just one per cent of that figure?
“I believe with adequate investment, skills training and favourable government policies, the Nigerian fashion industry can significantly add to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This is the view of Mr Emanuel Felix, an economic expert at the University of Maiduguri while assessing the potential of the indigenous fashion industry.
Supporting this viewpoint, Mr Bukar Babagana, an indigenous fashion exhibitor in Maiduguri, therefore, suggested a pragmatic approaching to making the industry viable and competitive.
He called on state ministries of commerce, industry and tourism to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and Ministry of Interior in promoting indigenous fashion designing.
“Cap knitting business in Borno is acknowledged to be the best in the whole world. I believe with proper support, many people can be employed and Nigeria can export such products.
“Unfortunately, most people believe that they will get the best only when they buy cloths outside Nigeria.
“Many Nigerians have neglected their traditional way of life and embraced other cultures.
“Today, we hardly see the traditional Borno hairdo and attire and that is why most of our local industries, that used to be employers of labour and catalyst for socio-economic and cultural development, have collapsed.
“Our youths do not have the basic cultural training and orientation to be seen as potential stakeholders in our cultural struggles to build an independent society that depends on its indigenous local resources,’’ he said.
Similarly, Mr Sony Emmanuel, a textiles dealer at Jimeta Central Market, Adamawa, observed that the Nigerian fashion industry could contribute between 30 per cent and 40 per cent to the GDP, if properly harnessed.
Emmanuel noted that the lack of nationalistic ethos among Nigerians was among the problems affecting the fashion industry.
To breathe new life into the industry, another economist in Jigawa, Alhaji Salisu Sani, pleaded with the Federal Government to ban the importation of cloths to protect the local fashion industry.
Sani, the Road Taxes Coordinator of Jigawa Board of Internal Revenue, insisted that allowing imported fabrics to compete with local products was counter-productive.
He advised government to encourage cotton farming, revive local textile industries and mount an aggressive campaign to ensure patronage of home-made fabrics.
According to him, the positive change of attitude towards local fabrics must begin with the leaders.
“For the campaign to be successful, our leaders must be seen to be using made in Nigeria fabrics.
The change must begin with the leaders, from Mr President, down to ordinary Nigerians,’’ he said.
Sharing similar opinion, some stakeholders in Gombe State have called on the National Assembly to enact a law to ban the importation of fabrics.
Mrs Victoria Mamuda, the state Director Culture, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, believed that such laws would protect local entrepreneurs.
“We expect both the state and national legislators to enact laws that will promote manufacturers of local fabrics, even if it means partial or complete ban on importation of foreign materials,’’ she said.
She also called on the Federal Government to reactivate the textile industry and promote cotton farming.
“For long, Nigerian attires and fabrics have suffered neglect due to the importation of foreign goods.
“Government should encourage local manufacturers by granting them soft loans to boost their businesses,’’ she said.
According to her, the current contribution of the local fashion industry in Nigeria to the GDP is minimal and will only increase if the industries are developed, especially at this time of recession.
But Mr Zaman Wasani, Director of Culture, Ministry of Information and Culture, Bauchi State, observed that Nigerians must learn to appreciate themselves by patronising local costumes for the development of the industry.
He said it was only by doing so that others would also admire and patronise same, thereby increasing demand and creating market for the products.
According to him, if local fabrics are patronised, youths will develop interest and learn how to produce, thereby creating job opportunities
In his view, Malam Usman Suleiman, a tailor in Bauchi and also dealer in local fabrics, observed that patronage of Nigerian-made fabrics had been on the decline in the past two years.
He attributed the drop to hike in the prices of locally made fabrics, in spite of their low quality.
“The fabrics, both traditional and those manufactured Funtua, Kano and other industries, are attracting low patronage.
“Between 2014 and 2015, we were selling such materials (wrappers) at between N800 and N1, 200 but now they sell between N2, 000 and N2, 500.
“To worsen the matter, quality of the materials is low, therefore, people prefer imported textile materials,’’ Suleiman said.
Sharing similar sentiments, some residents in Damaturu urged the Federal Government to impose heavier tariff on imported textiles to protect the local industry.
Malam Baba Alhaji, a retired employee of Kaduna Textile firm, shared the view, observing that the measure would curb importation of foreign textile materials and encourage the development of local industries.
He said the local textile industries were previously the major employers of labour in Nigeria and reliable source of revenue generation until when the country opened its doors to foreign textile materials.
In the light of this, Alhaji Mohammed Kaka, a civil servant in Yobe, advised the government to develop a five-year plan to resuscitate local textile industries.
“Government should provide farmers with inputs to produce adequate cotton to revive the textile industries.
“Cotton farmers in Gombe, Biu, Funtua and Adamawa abandoned farming for long; Nigeria needs to support the farmers and revive the ginneries to improve the economy,’’ he said.
Dr Shehu Yunusa, the Director-General, Adamawa Museum and Monument, nonetheless, underscored the importance of political will to develop the local fashion industry.
“Nigerian attires and locally made fabrics can only be promoted to attain international acceptance if government exhibits the necessary political will.
“This entails supporting the local industry with all necessary assistance and also encouraging the public to patronise made in Nigeria goods,’’ Yunusa said.
Taking these measures notwithstanding, Alhaji Musa Nura, the Chairman, Nigerian Textiles, Fabrics and Garment Dealers Association, Adamawa chapter, observed that the inability of the Nigerian fabrics industries to move with the changing times was one of its challenges.
According to him, indigenous textile firms are producing qualitative materials more than those of China and are not being patronised due to sub-standard designs and colours.
“Unlike imported materials that come with new designs regularly, local materials are almost always stagnant whereas people, especially women, have passion for designs,’’ he said.
All in all, Felix, an economist in University of Maiduguri, observes that designers of local fabrics have, in recent times, been perfecting their skills to enhance designs, styles and packaging of their products to make them acceptable globally.(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)