Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has called for stronger institutional and national support for Nigeria’s local textile industry, particularly the indigenous Adire craft, describing it as a key driver of jobs, cultural preservation, and economic growth.
Obasanjo made the call during a visit to the fifth edition of the Ecobank Adire Lagos Experience held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), Victoria Island, Lagos.
He urged stakeholders to take deliberate steps toward organising the Adire value chain by establishing associations across states of the federation, as well as developing dedicated cultural and tourism hubs to support production, training, exhibition, and marketing of the craft.
According to him, such coordinated structures would help preserve Nigeria’s rich textile heritage while positioning Adire as a globally competitive cultural product capable of generating significant income for artisans, entrepreneurs, and host communities.
Obasanjo was received by the Managing Director/Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria, Bolaji Lawal, alongside members of the bank’s senior management team, who conducted him round exhibition stands showcasing a wide range of Adire fabrics and other indigenous textile products.
The Ecobank Adire Lagos Experience, which began on June 11, is scheduled to end on Sunday, June 14, 2026. The four-day fair has attracted a large number of visitors, including business leaders, fashion enthusiasts, tourists, students, artisans, and expatriates.
Exhibitors at the event are showcasing hundreds of products ranging from Adire textiles, fashion accessories, footwear, artworks, and home décor items, reflecting a growing creative industry ecosystem across Nigeria and other African countries.
The fair has also featured participation from exhibitors across the continent, strengthening its position as a platform for cultural exchange, regional integration, and cross-border creative commerce.
Speaking on the turnout, Managing Director/Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria, Bolaji Lawal, expressed satisfaction with the level of participation and patronage recorded since the exhibition commenced.
He said, “We are delighted by the overwhelming response from exhibitors, customers, visitors, and stakeholders. The turnout has been very encouraging and reflects the increasing appreciation for Adire and other indigenous creative products. We encourage more people to visit the fair before it closes on Sunday to support our exhibitors and experience the rich cultural and entrepreneurial opportunities on display.”
Lawal added that Ecobank expects about 30,000 visitors over the four-day event, reinforcing the fair’s status as one of Africa’s leading platforms for promoting indigenous textile production, creative enterprise, and cultural tourism.
The Ecobank Adire Lagos Experience is part of Ecobank’s broader commitment to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, empowering local artisans, and expanding market access for African creative industries.
