Stakeholders from Nigeria and India have intensified calls for the revival of Nigeria’s textile industry, alongside expanded access to inclusive financing for women-owned businesses, during a high-level engagement held in Abuja.
The discussions took place at the Nigeria–India Textile Business-to-Business (B2B) engagement and policy roundtable, where private sector leaders, trade representatives, and development partners outlined plans to reposition the textile sector as a key driver of jobs, exports, and industrial growth.
Participants included leaders of the Nigerian organised private sector, notably the President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Jani Ibrahim, and the President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Emeka Obegolu, alongside Indian trade and industry partners.
In his presentation, Ibrahim warned that Nigeria’s textile sector continues to decline despite strong local demand.
He revealed that the country imported textiles worth over N1 trillion in 2025, while export performance has weakened significantly.
He described the situation as a major economic imbalance that requires urgent industrial restructuring and policy coordination to reverse.
A key outcome of the engagement was a proposed partnership with India focused on technology transfer, skills development, machinery supply, and manufacturing investment.
India was identified as a strategic partner, with industrial clusters proposed for cotton-rich states such as Katsina and Zamfara, while technical collaboration was suggested with Indian textile hubs including Surat, Tiruppur, and Coimbatore.
Stakeholders also discussed training programmes, virtual trade platforms, and direct business linkages between Nigerian distributors and Indian manufacturers.
The Nigerian business chamber called for a shift from fragmented production to a fully integrated cotton-to-garment value chain covering farming, ginning, spinning, weaving, dyeing, garment production, and retail distribution.
They also highlighted key challenges affecting the sector, including outdated machinery, weak financing structures, skill shortages, and limited domestic demand for locally produced textiles.
In a parallel policy session, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a roundtable on expanding non-interest financing for women-owned enterprises.
Obegolu described financial inclusion as critical to Nigeria’s economic development, noting that women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) remained vital to job creation and innovation.
He said many women entrepreneurs face barriers such as high interest rates, strict collateral requirements, and rigid banking conditions.
Obegolu advocated the expansion of non-interest financing models, describing them as more ethical, inclusive, and suitable for emerging businesses.
He added that the chamber would collaborate with financial institutions, regulators, and development partners to improve awareness and connect women entrepreneurs to funding opportunities.
