Obasanjo at 89: The farmer general who built one of Nigeria’s biggest agric businesses
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has renewed calls for the establishment of a National Adire Association and a permanent hub for the indigenous textile industry, arguing that the centuries-old fabric tradition can become a source of jobs, tourism and economic growth as Nigeria seeks to diversify beyond oil.
Obasanjo made the call on Saturday during the fifth edition of the Ecobank Adire Lagos experience, where he challenged industry stakeholders to organise themselves into a national body capable of preserving, promoting and commercialising one of Nigeria’s most recognised cultural products.
Speaking during an interaction with exhibitors and stakeholders at the event, Obasanjo said previous attempts to establish a national association for Adire producers had failed due to disagreements among participants, but insisted that the idea remained relevant and necessary.
“At one time, I suggested that there should be an Adire Association of Nigeria. I even offered myself as the Grand Patron. But before the association could properly take off, people started fighting among themselves,” he said.
