Nigeria Loses $3bn Annually To Importation Of Ankara Fabrics

The Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, says Nigeria loses $3bn yearly to foreign manufacturers of ankara fabrics.

Musawa spoke in Algiers at the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2024.

The minister said there was a need to empower Africa’s fashion and textile ecosystem and boost the production of fabrics like adire, kente, bogolan, and ankara, which she said represent Africa’s pride, history, and identity.

“Despite this heritage, it is deeply ironic that many of the fabrics we cherish, such as ankara, are predominantly produced outside Africa,” Musawa stated. “Nearly 90 percent of the ankara consumed on our continent is imported, leading to an annual loss of approximately $3 billion to foreign manufacturers,” she said.

Musawa added, “We must reclaim our fashion narrative by strengthening local production capacities and ensuring that the benefits of this vibrant industry remain within our borders.”

With the African fashion industry projected to grow to $15.5bn by 2025, Musawa called for urgent action to address the structural challenges hindering local production.

“Investments in fashion will create millions of jobs, particularly for women and youth,” she said.

“By expanding local production, we will not only add value within our borders but also position Africa as a global hub for fashion.”

To address this issue, the ministry said it is working to establish manufacturing hubs and craftsmanship training programmes across Africa through the design nexus and destination 2030 initiative.

“We must reclaim our fashion narrative by strengthening local production capacities and ensuring that the benefits of this vibrant industry remain within our borders,” she added.