By Rukayat Moisemhe
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called for deeper collaboration across the textile and leather value chain to drive revival and competitiveness.
Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadri, Director-General of MAN, made the call at the Textile, Wearing Apparel, Carpet, Leather and Footwear Sectoral Group AGM on Wednesday in Lagos.
The event had the theme, ‘Collaboration for Competitiveness: Strengthening Nigeria’s Textile and Leather.’
Ajayi-Kadri described the sectors as labour-intensive, with huge potential for value addition, jobs, and exports.
He said the industries also represent cultural heritage, reflecting Nigeria’s creativity and craftsmanship.
He noted persistent challenges, including high production costs, limited raw materials, poor infrastructure, smuggling, counterfeiting, and an influx of cheap imports.
According to him, collaboration must be strategic, involving manufacturers, government, financial institutions, research bodies, and development partners.
Such cooperation, he said, would support shared innovation and policy alignment.
Ajayi-Kadri stressed the need for coordinated efforts from cotton farming and spinning to garment making, and from hides processing to finished leather goods.
He urged stronger linkages between raw material suppliers and manufacturers, and greater backward integration and joint ventures to boost technology, skills, jobs, and capital.
He appealed to government to enforce policies that support local industries, ensure fair competition, and strengthen industrial clusters.
“Every metre of local fabric and every pair of Nigerian-made shoes strengthens our economy and dignity,” he said.
Veteran textile entrepreneur, Mrs Nike Ogunlesi, called for fresh thinking, policy consistency, and stronger stakeholder cooperation.
Ogunlesi, Chief Executive of Ruff ’n’ Tumble, said policy coherence was vital to avoid fragmented efforts and wasted investments.
She said Nigeria’s fashion scene was rising, with designers producing locally and hosting major fashion shows.
“People are taking initiative and making proudly Nigerian products, but they need policy support to scale,” she said.
She added that most fabrics used in Nigeria were still imported, with few industry players wearing local textiles.
“We need standards, quality control, and certification so ‘Made in Nigeria’ inspires trust,” she said.
MAN textile and leather group chairman, Mr Ilyas Saleh, said the sectors once held a prominent industrial position but had suffered setbacks.
He cited poor infrastructure, high energy costs, smuggling, and policy inconsistency as key barriers eroding competitiveness and investor confidence.
Saleh said collaboration remained essential for recovery and growth.
He said cooperation among sectors, investors, researchers, and stakeholders would strengthen value chains, improve technology use, and deepen local sourcing.
“It will expand market access across Nigeria, Africa through AfCFTA, and global markets.
“To reclaim leadership in textile and leather production, collaboration is not optional. We must innovate, unite, and work with government and partners,” he added. (NAN)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
