FG should explore potential in textile industry for economic development, says Okundaye

Mrs Nike Okundaye, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nike Arts Gallery, has advised the Federal Government to revive the textile industry in its diversification programme  to boost the nation’s economy.

Okundaye told the Naijaroyaltyculture.blogspot.com on Thursday in Lagos that the textile industry if well harnessed would contribute meaningfully to national development.

“There is need for government to improve and invest hugely in the industry to gain prominence beyond the shores of the country,” she said.

She said that many youths would be engaged by the sector, alleviate poverty, increase foreign exchange earnings and boost Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

Okundaye also said that the sector when revived would facilitate the production of “adire’’ and other local fabrics on a large scale.

Naijaroyaltyculture.blogspot.com reports that respondents in a survey carried out recently  in Jos , Plateau,  noted that the variety of locally made fabrics such as the `adire’, handwoven `akwete’ and `aso oke’ among others, would be globally acceptable with improved standard.

They underscored the importance of more investments in the sector in the areas of infrastructure, equipment and funding to improve on the quality of the fabrics in order to shore up their market value.

They also said that increased local patronage would help expand the market and grow the textile industry and allied activities.

Okundaye said that the Federal government should train youths from across the country at the revived textile industries on how to make local fabrics.

After then, the government should assist the youth with soft loans to establish and be involved in the production of the fabrics for sale at local and international markets.

“This will make them become self-reliant, financially independent and shore-up the nation’s revenue generation base.

“The training can begin in about six states and later extended to the other states,” she said.

Okundaye, however, pleaded with the Lagos State Government (LASG) to assist her with a place to be training youths in textile making.

She said that she had been involved in youths’ training project since 1980 but now needed a bigger space to train them on how to produce “adire’’ and some other fabrics.

“Since last year, Oba Elegushi had offered us a space within his palace where we have been training some youths,” she said.