The Nigerian government, in partnership with the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), has initiated efforts to revive the country’s cotton industry.
This initiative aims to generate over 1.4 million jobs annually across the cotton and textile sectors.
The strategy focuses on enhancing various stages of the cotton value chain, including farming, weaving, and ginning, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s industrialization goals.
During a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized the importance of creating a detailed plan for the sector’s revival.
He expressed the administration’s commitment to leveraging the opportunities within the cotton industry and reinstating Nigeria’s ICAC membership.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu highlighted Lagos’s strategic position in the cotton value chain, citing its role as a major market and manufacturing hub.
He pledged the state’s support in sourcing cotton from other regions to sustain Lagos as Africa’s leading fashion center.
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State also committed to supporting the sector, viewing the initiative as a key step toward job creation and economic development in the Southeast.
ICAC Executive Director Eric Trachtenberg praised Nigeria’s dedication to revitalizing its cotton industry, noting the potential for significant economic transformation based on successes in other countries.
The ICAC has offered to provide expert advice to enhance productivity and investment in Nigeria’s cotton value chain.
