By Akpan Glory

A leading embroidery expert and Chief Executive Officer of Embroidery Chief, Mr Lukman Abdulsalam, has unveiled a national initiative to transform Nigeria’s fashion industry through skills training and access to modern embroidery technology.

The initiative, unveiled in collaboration with two Chinese firms, Beijing Dahao and Futong, was announced during a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja on Thursday with the theme “Stitching the Future: Building Sustainable Embroidery”.

Abdulsalam said the initiative seeks to raise awareness about the untapped potential in Nigeria’s fashion sector while empowering aspiring designers through affordable access to embroidery machines and technical training.

“This gathering is all about creating awareness, We want people to understand the opportunities in fashion, identify what is missing, and connect with the right people who can help them grow”.

He said the plan includes the establishment of embroidery hubs in 10 states, beginning with Lagos and Kano.

Each hub, he noted, would be equipped with 50 embroidery machines available to users at subsidised rates.

According to him, the initiative also includes comprehensive training in software design, machine operation, and technical maintenance.

“We are not just distributing machines; we are training people, from creating designs to troubleshooting and maintaining equipment. This is about empowerment,” Abdulsalam stated.

He explained that the training programme will be divided into three categories: software design (one month), machine operation (two weeks), and technical repair (one month), to ensure both theoretical and practical competence.

The embroidery expert added that the intervention is expected to support economic growth by promoting entrepreneurship, job creation, and export opportunities.

“This can boost Nigeria’s GDP,” he said. “Once people are trained, they’ll be able to design on shoes, bags, clothes, and decorative frames for both local use and export”.

He identified lack of digital design skills as a major gap the programme intends to address.

“We are only doing one per cent of what the fashion industry is capable of. With the right tools and training, we can do more,” he added.

A representative of Beijing Dahao, Mr Michael Zhou, said the company is exploring investment opportunities in Nigeria’s growing fashion and textile market.

Zhou, who spoke at a similar event in Lagos, said Dahao, a global manufacturer of control systems for embroidery machines is partnering with Embroidery Chief to deepen its presence in Nigeria.

“This is my first time in Nigeria, and I see a lot of potential, we plan to present our findings to our headquarters to establish a branch office in Nigeria for better after-sales service”.

Zhou said Nigeria’s embroidery business is large and promising, noting the country’s over 20-year history in the sector.

“I like Nigeria. I like the business atmosphere here,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr Tayo Bashir, Technical Adviser to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, said the Presidency is interested in supporting the initiative.

He said the engagement provided useful insights into areas where the government could collaborate with private stakeholders to promote industrial skills and economic development.

“Embroidery is no longer just a craft; it is becoming a viable sector for job creation and entrepreneurship,” he said.

Bashir encouraged young Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunities the initiative offers, calling the sector a “million-dollar industry”.

“This is a great opportunity for Nigerian youth, anyone with vision who gets involved now stands to benefit greatly as the industry grows,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade