A coalition of African organisations and media groups has launched a campaign to reduce the continent's dependence on imported clothing by processing more of its own raw cotton domestically. The 'Power, Protect, and Purchase' campaign, unveiled in Lagos under the Africa Made It movement, targets capturing $34 billion in annual economic output from the cotton and garment industry. Africa currently runs an annual $35 billion trade deficit in textiles, according to the coalition.
The core problem, research by Africa Practice cited at the launch showed, is that Africa exports up to 98 per cent of its raw cotton abroad while retaining only two per cent of the final value. This means the continent misses out on the wealth generated from its own resources. To reverse this pattern, the coalition said Africa needs $1.8 billion in targeted funding to develop local spinning, weaving and sewing factories.
The investment would yield significant returns, the coalition stated. It would boost local garment production, create nearly two million permanent factory jobs and direct about $33 billion annually into African households. The sector would also strengthen rural economies through local cotton purchases and factory wages that flow back to farming communities.
Marie Wilke, Editor-in-Chief of Africa Made It magazine, highlighted the disconnect between Africa's cultural influence globally and its economic returns from that influence. 'African culture, design, and storytelling influence global fashion, music, and media like never before. Yet, without domestic manufacturing infrastructure, Africa's creative authority yields very little economic return,' she said at the launch. 'Linking raw cotton harvest directly to local processing ensures that intellectual property, commercial margins, and industrial jobs remain on the continent. It is time to wear our power,' she added.
For Nigerian business owners and investors, this means potential opportunities in textile manufacturing and garment production if local processing capacity develops, while for consumers it could eventually mean more locally made clothing options, though the infrastructure still needs to be built.