Ecobank supports indigenous designers to enhance adire export

Ecobank Nigeria and Ogun State have disclosed their support for indigenous designers to improve the quality of adire produced locally to make it exportable.

This was disclosed during the third edition of the yearly Ecobank ‘Adire Lagos Experience’ held at the ultra-modern Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos, with 100 merchants exhibiting locally processed adire attires made by indigenous designers.

The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ogun State, Dr Fagbayi Oluwasesan, said there is a need to promote the adire culture to help improve the industry.

He said all public and private sector players must ensure the indigenous adire producers get all the necessary support to improve production capabilities and sales.

The Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Kola Adeleke, expressed the Bank’s goal to ensure the country’s adire becomes an African brand, while the industry leverages the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and Africa single marker agenda.
Adeleke said the bank would partner and work with the 100 merchants to build their capacity and improve the quality of the products to make them exportable.

He said the ultimate goal of the bank is to ensure that adire becomes like an African brand.

“It is very important because it will help to grow this economy as we see the export potential there. We are going to get all these merchants on the eco-bank single market trade hub and then expose them to be able to export their products to other countries in Africa, “he said.

He stated that Ecobank Nigeria is driven by the ambition to support the creative sector of the economy.