Obasanjo urges national Adire association as Nigeria looks beyond oil for growth

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has renewed calls for the establishment of a National Adire Association and a permanent hub for the indigenous textile industry, arguing that the centuries-old fabric tradition can become a source of jobs, tourism and economic growth as Nigeria seeks to diversify beyond oil.

Obasanjo made the call on Saturday during the fifth edition of the Ecobank Adire Lagos experience, where he challenged industry stakeholders to organise themselves into a national body capable of preserving, promoting and commercialising one of Nigeria’s most recognised cultural products.

Speaking during an interaction with exhibitors and stakeholders at the event, Obasanjo said previous attempts to establish a national association for Adire producers had failed due to disagreements among participants, but insisted that the idea remained relevant and necessary.

“At one time, I suggested that there should be an Adire Association of Nigeria. I even offered myself as the Grand Patron. But before the association could properly take off, people started fighting among themselves,” he said.

“Still, we need something like that. We also need a permanent place.”

According to him, the vision was to create a national structure with units spread across different parts of the country, including Kano, Maiduguri and Osogbo, while establishing a central headquarters in Abeokuta where the various forms of Adire and related cultural artefacts could be displayed.

“I thought we would have an Adire Association of Nigeria, with Kano unit, Maiduguri unit, Osogbo unit and others, but we would have a building in Abeokuta that would serve as the centre. All these types of things would be displayed there,” Obasanjo said.

He described the development of the Adire industry as a national responsibility that transcends regional and ethnic considerations.

“This is a national issue, not a regional issue and not even a township issue,” he said.

The former president stressed the need to preserve indigenous knowledge and skills associated with Adire production at a time when younger generations are increasingly focused on formal education and urban careers.

“Everybody is going to school. So the question is, how do we continue to preserve this tradition while pursuing formal education? How do we keep it alive so that my children’s children will still be able to see it?” he asked.

Obasanjo also highlighted the tourism potential of the industry, saying Adire production centres could become cultural destinations capable of attracting both domestic and international visitors.

“It can also become a source of tourism. People can come and see how it is produced. They can learn about it and even pay to experience it,” he said.

His comments come as policymakers and private-sector players increasingly explore opportunities in Nigeria’s creative economy and cultural industries as potential drivers of non-oil growth.

During the interaction, Obasanjo challenged stakeholders to take ownership of the initiative and develop a roadmap for building a sustainable industry around Adire production.

“Who is going to accept the challenge?” he asked.

Responding on behalf of stakeholders, Bolaji Lawal, managing director and Regional executive of Ecobank Nigeria, said participants were willing to work together to advance the initiative.

“We all accept the challenge,” Lawal said.

He noted that interest in Adire was expanding beyond Nigeria, with participants and stakeholders from countries including Canada, Ghana and other parts of Africa increasingly engaging with the industry.

According to him, the growing international participation demonstrates the potential for Adire to become a stronger platform for cultural exchange, entrepreneurship and market development.

Obasanjo subsequently nominated himself as Grand Patron of the proposed initiative and urged stakeholders to establish a dedicated facility that could serve as a focal point for the industry.

“The first thing is to give us a place that we can use, a place that we can call Adire House,” he said.

Lawal informed him that such a facility already exists, prompting the former president to reaffirm his commitment to supporting the cause.

“Then I nominate myself as Grand Patron, whether you like it or not,” Obasanjo said jokingly, drawing laughter from participants.

Beyond industry organisation and tourism, Obasanjo called for the incorporation of Adire-making into Nigeria’s educational curriculum, particularly in technical schools, as a way of preserving traditional knowledge while creating opportunities for skills development and entrepreneurship.

“I believe one important way forward is to incorporate this into our educational system. It has to be part of the educational system. In technical schools, this kind of skill and knowledge should be taught as part of the curriculum,” he said.

The remarks came at Ecobank Nigeria fifth edition of the Ecobank Adire Lagos Experience, a four-day event held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event featured more than 100 exhibitors and vendors from Nigeria and across Africa, showcasing fashion, textiles, craftsmanship, art, culture and entrepreneurship.

Among the international exhibitors participating in this year’s edition were Creative Hub Africa and Shades of Class from Sierra Leone, Drame Khadidatou from Senegal, Tampoori from Ghana and Naylah Collection from the Republic of Benin, underscoring the growing continental appeal of the platform.

Ecobank said the annual event continues to promote indigenous textile production, support small and medium-sized enterprises and create market opportunities for African creatives while preserving cultural heritage.

For Obasanjo, however, the bigger opportunity lies in transforming Adire from a traditional craft into a nationally organised industry capable of generating jobs, attracting tourists, preserving cultural identity and contributing to Nigeria’s economic diversification ambitions.