Ecstasy pervaded the air as market men and women at Itoku and Asero markets in Abeokuta, Ogun State, welcomed the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu who found time to interact with them after touring erosion sites in the state.
Edu promised them the support of President Bola Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda in the bid to make Adire an international brand.
The Minister said the Federal government will invest largely in the sector as a means of creating jobs through local fabrics production chain as an avenue to reduce poverty and boost export.
Edu assured the market women of the government’s intentions to ensure their fabrics become known around the world.
She said government programmes under her supervision will ensure the utilization of the opportunities in Adire marketing to lift millions of vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty.
“First, you must be able to push local production to meet demands. Production must be enhanced at all costs. When local products saturate the market at a rate subsidized by the government, it will automatically eliminate whatever fluctuates coming into the market.
“We don’t want to be selling fake Adire, made in other countries. We want local ones made by our people which will create jobs, build micro and macro economies and help Nigeria become more of a manufacturing economy rather than an import-dependent one.
“These are the things that affect the exchange rates and other economic indices in the country. The government will provide subsidies for the people, so Adire makers can produce locally made Adire that will be used in the country and exported out of the country,” said the minister.
Dr Edu expressed happiness on the promise by Governor Dapo Abiodun to create Adire hubs in Abuja where original designs would be sold.
“This is the original one, not the fake which is imitated and brought in. If we support local manufacturers, subsidize this for them, and bring more people to join the production, it will automatically eliminate the ones coming into the country,” said the minister.
She disclosed that after interaction between her team and the state government, five intervention areas were identified that will positively impact the lives of Ogun people. Adire production comes first.
“Adire has both local production and modern production. We’ve been to production sites and clusters and also to the market to pick up some fabrics as well as interact with the market people and Iyalojas.
“This cloth I am holding is N15,200, we have some that sell for N25,000 and N75,000 respectively in the shops. We’ve come here to see how they are locally made, from the dying stage, the drying, and all other stages that go into producing the finally finished product which is the beautiful fabric,” said the minister.
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