The Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, has reaffirmed the Council’s determination to revamp the ailing textile industry in Nigeria, as a major source of employment and revenue generation.

The DG reaffirmed this when the Director, DLK Clothing Signatures Ltd, Barr. Lovelyn Mbanefo and her team paid him a courtesy visit at RMRDC headquarters, Maitama, Abuja recently.

Speaking during the visit, Prof. Ibrahim noted that the cotton, textile and garment sector had in the past stabilized Nigeria’s economy, provided jobs and contributed to the nation’s GDP.

According to him, the case is different today as the sector is faced with lots of challenges such as poor cotton production, and man-made fibres as well as the use of obsolete machines in processing and production by the textile industries in Nigeria, which he said have adversely affected the growth of the sector.

He said the world economy is increasingly becoming knowledge-based and innovation-driven, hence, the sector needs to be modernized for improved performance.

The Director-General stated that the Council is working towards bringing together stakeholders, experts in textile R&D, the military and paramilitary to brainstorm on reviving the sector to ensure its stability and build patronage for indigenous producers and manufacturers.

He also said that RMRDC, being a member of the Tariff Technical Committee, will proffer measures in the area of tariff to make it favourable for the textile industry and consumers.

Earlier, Barr. Lovelyn Mbanefo said she was elated at the warm reception accorded her by the Council.

She had earlier highlighted some challenges her clothing industry is facing, which include unavailability of local raw materials for production especially PPE amongst others, cumbersome process involved in the importation of raw materials and machineries, inaccessibility to government intervention, loans and grants to enable the company scale-up production output and productivity.

However, despite these challenges, she said that the company exports some of its products to some neighbouring African countries.

She added that the company offers trainings to empower individuals with adequate knowledge and entrepreneurial skills in a bid to encourage them to set up their businesses.

She said with the intervention of RMRDC, she is certain that the clothing sector in Nigeria will have cause to smile again.