By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has resolved to ban the importation of Adire/Kampala fabrics to promote local production and protect the general local cottage industry and conserve the scarce foreign exchange.
This was sequel to a motion on “Call to Revive and Promote the Traditional Fabric Industries of Adire/Kampala to Boost the
Nation’s Cultural Heritage, by Rep. Afolabi Moruf Afuape.
The House also wants the government to criminalise importation of adire into the country, while asking the National Directorate of Employment to establish formal training and orientation programs on skills, quality control, marketing, and business management for all local fabric producers.
The House also mandated its Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values to work in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency to launch a nationwide campaign to promote the cultural significance of Adire/Kampala and other locally produced fabrics and patronize locally produced fabrics.
Leading the debate on the motion, Rep. Afuape said there was the need to revive and promote the traditional fabric industries or adire and Kampala to boost the nation’s cultural heritage.
According to him, the Adire/Kampala fabric industry in Nigeria is crucial for economic growth, cultural preservation, and fostering entrepreneurship among citizens, particularly youth.
He said the influx of foreign imitations of Adire/Kampala, tie and dye into Nigeria’s market has negatively impacted the local industry, leading to a decline in livelihood of local producers and job losses.
He expressed concern about the absence of formal training, skills, production mechanisms, and equipment in the Adire/Kampala fabric industry, which is crucial in a competitive market.
He also said there the need protect consumers from imitations of Adire/Kampala products from foreign markets, as failure to do so could lead to dire consequences for the Nigerian local cottage industry, local producers, and foreign reserves.