Nigeria and Ireland have expressed renewed interest in collaborating to revive local textile industries, support small-scale manufacturing, and strengthen cultural exchange.

This was highlighted at the First Made-in-Nigeria Textile (MiNT) Summit in Abuja, where stakeholders, including the President of the Police Wives’ Association (POWA), Dr. Elizabeth Egbetokun, called on the Federal Government to implement practical measures to rebuild Nigeria’s struggling textile sector.

Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Peter Ryan, emphasized Ireland’s readiness to share its centuries-old experience in preserving cultural heritage and weaving traditions. He said:

“There is only one place in the world to make authentic Nigerian textiles, and only one place for Irish textiles. This is an area for cooperation, not competition.”

Ryan noted that Nigeria could achieve global recognition for its fabrics by protecting local designs, reviving value chains, and supporting community-based fabric technologies. He also highlighted collaborations emerging between the Nigerian diaspora in Ireland and local designers.

POWA President Egbetokun and other stakeholders stressed the need for sustained national commitment to revive the sector. Dr. Lizzie Ben-Iheanacho warned that losing indigenous textile knowledge risks cultural erosion and economic losses, as foreign producers could exploit local designs without benefit to communities.

Practical measures proposed included mandating locally made fabrics for school uniforms, supporting cotton farmers, protecting local mills, enforcing border controls, and incentivizing local production. Examples from Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Ogun State’s Adire initiative were cited as successful models of state-led industry revival.

The summit concluded that revitalizing Nigeria’s textile sector would stimulate rural economies, create jobs, preserve cultural heritage, and expand export opportunities, while deeper Nigeria-Ireland cooperation could enhance skills training, design innovation, and investment promotion.

Awards were presented to stakeholders who contributed to Nigeria’s textile and cultural promotion, including POWA President Egbetokun and Irish Ambassador Peter Ryan.