From:Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
Textile workers in Nigeria have launched an Education Endowment Fund and renamed their national secretariat building in honour of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, a revered leader and former General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN).
Endowment Fund and the renaming of the secretariat are part of efforts to revive Nigeria’s textile industry, which has been in decline due to decades of neglect, smuggling, policy inconsistencies, and weak infrastructure.
Comrade Peters Godonu, President of NUTGTWN, emphasized the importance of reviving the industry, highlighting its potential to drive economic growth, employment, and national development.
Godonu recalled Nigeria’s rich history of textile manufacturing, which contributed significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment in the manufacturing sector. He emphasized the need for genuine industrial renewal, aligning with the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Director General of the Nigerian Textile, Garment and Tailoring Employers’ Association (NTGTEA), Dr. Hamman Kwajaffa, expressed support for the revival of the textile industry, citing the need for government intervention and protection.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State and former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), also made a passionate plea for the revival of the industry, emphasizing its potential to drive economic growth and employment.
– The government should prioritize the revival of the textile industry
– Implement policies supporting local production and protecting Nigerian industries,Promote patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products and services,
-Provide support for skills development and empowerment of workers
Oshiomhole explained that when workers earn decent wages, they save, and banks have deposits to lend, creating a virtuous cycle of economic growth.
He urged the government to prioritize workers’ welfare and support local industries to sustain this cycle and promote economic development.
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