One of Nigeria’s leading lenders, Ecobank Nigeria, has reaffirmed its resolve to support the growth of Nigeria’s Adire industry leveraging the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
The Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Kola Adeleke, who disclosed this recently at the third edition of the annual Ecobank ‘Adire Lagos Experience’, said the bank is committed to helping businesses exhibiting at the fair explore opportunities available through the Africa trade pact.
The event staged at the ultra-modern Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), has seen over 100 exhibitors showcase locally processed adire attires made by indigenous designers.
Adeleke highlighted the desire of Ecobank to continue partnering with the numerous exhibitors even after the fair to provide the needed support for capacity building to improve the quality of their products for export .
He restated the commitment of the bank towards achieving its ultimate objective which is to make Adire an African brand with global acclaim.
“This is very unique for us as an organization because it will help to grow our nation’s economy as we see the export potential there.
“We are going to profile all these merchants on the Ecobank single market trade hub and then position them so that they will be able to export their products to other countries in Africa and beyond, “Adeleke stated.
He further highlighted that Adire Lagos’ exhibition is part of the efforts of the bank to support and project the creative industry in the country, adding that as part of a Pan African bank which operates in 33 countries of Africa, Ecobank Nigeria will always look out to support various productive initiatives.
For his part, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ogun State, Dr. Fagbayi Oluwasesan, commended Ecobank for for helping to grow the Nigerian fabric sector through the promotion of Adire culture.
He stated, “The fabric is synonymous to Ogun state. We are the custodians of Adire. It is an indigenous textile from Ogun State and we have to protect it.
“That’s why we are happy with Ecobank for what they’re doing today, assisting us to showcase what God has given to us, protecting it, and also telling the world that this is what is good for us to be using as fabric.”
Adeleke further disclosed that the Ogun State government has introduced measures to check the importation of substandard textile fabric, which poses a major threat to the local Adire industry.
“The State House of Assembly has commenced steps, through our ministry, to curb the excesses or inflow of Chinese adulterated fabric.” He said.
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