The Nigerian textile sector is addressing some of the constraints that have held it down from realising the potential in employment generation and capital flow. Adoption of new technology would not only help textile producers in cutting the cost of production, it would also make their products competitive in the global market. It’s imperative for operators in the sector to be innovative since the textile business globally has gone digital. The industry has to be up and doing in terms of embracing new technology.

Investment in new technology is needed. The textile industry has to be cost effective in the short run. New technology will enable textile producers to come up with product samples very quickly, come out with new designs just by operating the computer. A lot of computer-aided designs have gone into textile printing today and that is the challenge facing the industry. While over 1,21,100 jobs have been lost as a result of inactivity in the textile sector, only 39 out of the 143 textile mills across the country are still in operation.

In Nigeria, textile manufacturing is a key local industry, supported by a chain of suppliers such as cotton growers and natural dye makers. Nigerians have a love for naturally dyed fabrics, with many prints based on traditional motifs. However traditional methods of dying fabrics are threatened by cheap imports.