Not many understand the capacity of the country’s textile industry which spanned several decades until it dimmed following unprecedented neglect and mismanagement by stakeholders.
It is indeed heart-warming that Nigerian governors, particularly those in cotton-producing states have been urged to establish garment industries to drive job creation and economic growth. This is not a new drive as many years down the line, not a few economic and industrial pundits have urged governments at all levels to reinvigorate the textile industry which once created millions of jobs across northern Nigeria and provided the ambience for economic growth.
Kaduna in North-West Nigeria was then the hub of our indigenous textile industry as it provided job opportunities for both skilled and unskilled labour. Several other northern states exhibited potentials for cotton production which is needed to enhanced the industry but due to lack of commitment from state governments and stakeholders, nothing tangible was achieved.
It is indeed, salutary that Comrade Peters Godonu, President of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria ,NUTGTWN, during the union’s 36th Annual National Education Conference called for a rejuvenation of the sector where states can take a front seat.
The event, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Textile Garment and Tailoring Employers’ Association ,NTGTEA, was held at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies ,MINILS, in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Godonu reaffirmed the union’s commitment to industrial development and praised Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for establishing the multi-million Naira Kwara Garment Factory in Ilorin.
Just like Gondonu, we urge other governors to emulate this initiative, particularly through public-private partnerships, as a strategy for wealth generation and sustainable development.
It was particularly encouraging that participants at the conference toured the Kwara Garment Factory to have an insight into its operations as that could ginger more of the likes in other states.
We align our touts with Comrade Issa Aremu, Director-General of MINILS, who described the conference theme as timely and emphasised the need for collaborative efforts in industrial revival. Representing the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Aremu highlighted the challenges facing the textile industry, including the importation of second-hand clothing, insecurity, and inadequate electricity supply.
Just like Aremu, we call on the government to protect existing textile factories and restore defunct ones to enhance job creation and reduce poverty. “The conference should aim to develop strategies for fostering effective partnerships amongst government, industry, and labour and identify the various roles of each stakeholder in sustainable industrial development.
It is worrisome that outside, the northern states where the textile industries once thrived, the ones in far apart states have either packed–up or are in limbo waiting for their ‘death knell’.
We must continue to encourage cotton farmers who are the ‘first bride’ of the industry to remain steadfast in the production of the basic ingredient imperative for the industry to thrive. Just like other sectors that being incentivized, this sector deserves no less since it would help cut down our dependence on imported fabric and enhance job creation and relatedly economic growth.
