The historic city of Abeokuta, Ogun State, is set to witness a major economic and cultural renaissance following the unveiling of the ‘Adire Village’ blueprint by the Global Adire Egba Development Limited in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
This bold initiative is designed to create thousands of jobs, empower Nigerian youth, boost local textile production, and position Adire – Nigeria’s iconic hand-dyed fabric – as a global fashion and cultural export.
Speaking at the official unveiling on Monday, Project Coordinator Professor Olajumoke Familoni described Adire Village as a hub that will merge cultural preservation with modern economic development.
“The village will be a catalyst for productivity and employment. We’re not just making fabric – we’re creating a sustainable ecosystem,” she said.
“From tie-and-dye artisans to chemistry students developing new colours, to designers reimagining Adire in contemporary fashion, the opportunities are endless.”
Familoni stressed that the local sourcing of raw materials – particularly cotton – could revolutionise Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings. Instead of importing white fabrics for dyeing, the project envisions a fully local supply chain, from cotton farming to finished garments.
“If Western retailers source directly from us, Nigeria stands to earn millions in foreign exchange. Adire could become our own ‘blue denim’ story,” she added.
Committee Chairman Oluyinka Kufile highlighted another pressing motivation for the project: combating the influx of counterfeit Adire from abroad.
“Unscrupulous traders have been smuggling fake Adire into Nigeria. By establishing a central production hub, we can protect the integrity of the fabric and support genuine artisans,” he explained.
The phased approach will begin with outsourcing some materials before transitioning to 100% local production. Eventually, Adire Village will host every stage of the production process – dyeing, screening, weaving, and fashion design – under one roof.
The launch was attended by dignitaries, including Oba Michael Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, who expressed strong support for the project’s cultural and economic significance.
Representing SMEDAN’s Director-General Charles Odii, Olukayode Shode (Southwest Zonal Coordinator) and Awoliyi Biodun (Ogun State Manager) pledged the agency’s commitment to ensuring the vision becomes reality.
Biodun noted:
“We will take your proposals to Abuja and work on clearing any bottlenecks. This is a project that aligns perfectly with SMEDAN’s mission of SME growth and job creation.”
The Adire Village project aims to establish a public-private partnership model that can industrialise production to meet global demand. By introducing mechanisation, quality control, and branding, the initiative hopes to see Adire fabrics sold in department stores from Lagos to London and New York.
The long-term goals include:
Making Adire fabrics available in shirts, jackets, home décor, and accessories
Creating export-focused production lines
Hosting annual cultural and fashion festivals to attract tourists
Establishing training programs for youths in design, dye technology, and business management
According to projections from industry stakeholders, the project could create over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in the first five years. Youth involvement will be key, with schools and universities integrating Adire production into cultural and entrepreneurship curricula.
Aderemi Adetayo, the Balogun of Ake, noted:
“This project shows that when tradition meets innovation, prosperity follows. Adire is part of our identity – now it can be part of our future wealth.”
Analysts believe Adire Village could become a model for leveraging cultural heritage into sustainable economic growth, similar to how Italy’s fashion industry grew from artisanal roots to a multi-billion-dollar export powerhouse.
If successful, the project could inspire similar textile and craft-based industrial hubs across Nigeria, promoting both cultural preservation and job creation.