Nigeria’s moribund industries is one of the key reasons the country is not attracting investments in the textile sector, Sophia Khan, President Women in Business and Tourism Nigeria has said.
Against this backdrop, Khan said the first African Textile and Fashion Expo coming up from 5th-8th December in Abuja will serve as a avenue of providing innovative solutions on how to revive the sector
She said: “Nigeria had about 250 Textile Mills in the past, today there are less than 70 Textile Mills. As such, the African Textile and Fashion Expo is an avenue to revive the textile mills and by so doing create jobs for the teaming youths.
This expo is to tell the Federal Government that we are into partnership with them to promote the Nigerian Textile through port and high patronage from other African Countries
Almost all the African countries have shown interest to participate in this African Textile and fashion Expo.
“If we really want to diversify the economy, the federal government should allow private sector to drive the process of growth, that way the country can attract foreign Direct investment, she said,” she explained.
The President further stated that the event will be a week of activities for the tourism and the textile industry. Showcasing the accommodating nature and the richness of the Nigerian fabric world.
“The idea behind this lofty program is to tell Nigerians and the world that there is a lot to harness in the Tourism industry, apart from that, the Expo is in alliance with the federal government on the diversification drive from oil to non-oil.
This is to also prove that the nation’s sustainability should not be dependent on oil alone, tourism, exportation of products, showcasing Nigeria rich textiles through programmes like this are all part of revenue generation for the country and we expect countries present will exhibit their products,” she stated.
