The Federal Government of Nigeria is partnering with the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) to rejuvenate the nation’s cotton and textile industry, aiming to create over 1.4 million jobs annually. This collaboration was announced by Vice-President Kashim Shettima following a meeting with an ICAC delegation led by Executive Director Eric Trachtenberg at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s broader industrialization drive and focuses on developing key components of the cotton value chain, including farming, weaving, ginning, and linking cotton to the textile industry. Shettima called on stakeholders to formulate a roadmap for revitalizing the sector, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to maximizing opportunities within the cotton value chain. This effort is also intended to help Nigeria regain its ICAC membership.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu highlighted Lagos’s strategic position in the cotton value chain, noting the state’s potential to leverage these opportunities to maintain its status as Africa’s largest fashion hub. He pledged Lagos’s support for the federal government’s initiatives and its readiness to procure cotton produced in other regions for companies based in the state.
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State also expressed the Southeastern region’s intent to integrate into the cotton/textile sector, contributing to job creation and economic growth through industrialization.
ICAC Executive Director Eric Trachtenberg expressed satisfaction with Nigeria’s commitment to reviving the cotton and textile industry. He emphasized the transformative potential of the cotton value chain, drawing comparisons with successful examples from countries like China, India, and Pakistan. Trachtenberg assured that ICAC would support Nigeria by providing expert advice on improving productivity, enhancing the value chain, and facilitating investment.
