By Oyajimi Kehinde, Orisadare F.
In an effort to sustain and promote Adire/Kampala production in Ogun State, the State Coordinator of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Mr. Rabiu Basiru, recently visited Chief (Mrs.) Oluwakemi Abeke Oloyede, the Iya Loja General of Egbaland and Iya Loja of Asero Kampala Market, Asero Abeokuta.
The visit aimed to familiarize the RMRDC team with the activities involved in Kampala and Adire production, the sources of raw materials, and to explore possible areas of collaboration.
During the briefing, Mr. Basiru explained the Council’s mandate to promote and support the industrial utilization of local raw materials for sustainable industrial growth. He highlighted that RMRDC operates under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, with Coordinating offices in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Ogun State’s Coordinating office is located at the Block D Parastatals Building, Okemosan, Abeokuta, while the corporate headquarters is in Maitama District, Garki, Abuja.
Mr. Basiru noted that through its six core programmes, RMRDC has implemented numerous projects in Ogun State aimed at fostering new technologies, investments, innovation, and invention. He cited the Council’s support for cotton farmers and other agricultural groups under the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, including the provision of processing equipment and improved planting materials.
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He also emphasized the Council’s efforts to bridge the information gap between raw material producers and users by collaborating with relevant government agencies and the organized private sector.
Mr. Basiru took the opportunity to inform the Kampala and Adire producers and marketers about the upcoming Investors Forum, which will focus on investment opportunities in cassava production, processing, and marketing. He stressed that starch, a key raw material used in Kampala production, is derived from cassava, highlighting the potential benefits of the forum.
Chief (Mrs.) Abeke Oloyede and her team expressed gratitude to the Council for its efforts in promoting local industrial raw materials. She noted that the Council’s visit was timely, especially as there is a growing need to develop local dyes for Kampala and Adire production.
Providing an overview of Adire production, Chief Abeke explained that Adire is a traditional Yoruba textile art form originating from Southwestern Nigeria, particularly Abeokuta. The term “Adire” means “tie and dye” in Yoruba and involves the use of cassava starch, indigo dye, and other natural materials. The production process includes design creation, dyeing, washing, drying, and finishing. She further explained that Kampala fabrics come in different classes based on their designs, such as Alabere, Eleko, Oniko, Alaro Dudu, and Alaale.
Chief Aribiola Moses, Secretary of the Kampala Adire Market in Asero, listed essential raw materials including fabric, candle wax, caustic soda, and hydrosulphite. He described the product range as comprising various tie-and-dye and batik patterns of different quality levels.
Moses revealed a major challenge: about 85% of raw materials are imported, leading to increased textile prices due to exchange rate instability and product adulteration by foreign suppliers.
Chief Adeleye Oluwatosin, Otun Babaloja of Adire Market, appealed for RMRDC’s intervention to promote locally made dyes. He asserted that Ogun State possesses natural resources that could be researched and developed to produce dyes needed for Adire production.
Mr. Oyajimi K.M, Principal Scientific Officer at RMRDC, informed the producers and marketers that the Council is sponsoring a bill mandating a minimum of 30% value addition to raw materials before export. He stated that the era of exporting raw materials cheaply and importing finished products at high prices would soon end in Nigeria. He urged Adire producers and marketers to support the policy once it becomes law, emphasizing the potential for job creation and economic growth.
