Africa's Garment Sector

Africa’s Garment Sector (2)

Taking the Garment industry in Africa/Nigeria on a path of predictable progress

It is commonly said that just at the breaking of a storm is the darkest cloud. We as Africans need to look inward to see what we need to do to take our nations and our people out of abject poverty in to living in abundance. If every man had a means of livelihood or was assured of a means to take care of his family life would definitely be better for individuals and the society in general.

If I was asked and I’m sure you too what the basic necessities for living were we would say Food, shelter and clothing. These are the basic fundamentals that if anyone had life would be easier and livable.

African governments are working to improve food supply and chains in their countries by boosting agriculture by whatever means; farmers, subsidized seeds and fertilizers, equipment etc. and a lot of countries have recorded improvements in local food supply and are now exporting some major products.

As food production is being boosted there is the look at housing for all which is more long term as a lot of investments are needed to secure housing for all. Looking at the last point is clothing, every African nation has a population that needs to be clothed. Research has shown that Africa imports 80% of its ready-made clothes from Asia (figure also includes our beloved Ankara)

With a population of 2 billion people therefore we can estimate that if a person buys 1 new dress a year (minimalist thinking) then Africa buys 1.6 billion clothes per year all from Asia which would cost about 1 dollar per piece (minimalist thinking again) therefore I can categorically say that Africa contributes 1.6 billion dollars in revenue per year to Asia on clothes alone.

An obvious rethink is needed here. Cotton is grown here and most of the natural resources needed for the manufacture of other fabric are waste products of our crude and other materials abundantly available for the production of textiles.

Other resources needed for a vibrant industry are manpower, space, technology, power and policy are and can be made available on the African continent.

I believe that a decided, decisive, intentional investment in the infrastructural and intrasructure of the development of a garment industry can and will change the African landscape.

This investment is as simple as is complex and is myriad web of events but if contemplated will lead in a predictable line of progress.

Funding is being poured out right now in Nigeria to revive the textile industry and cotton growing around the nation however this approach is incomplete without a consequent investment in the garment sector and surrounding sub-sectors we would still be a nation who does not roast the animal it takes in hunting even if it killed it.

This Is how I see it Africans need to Clothe Africa for a change!!

We take example from Joseph in the bible who set up storehouses in every city for grain from the fields which surround it. 

This is what I see:

Every country has states and states have regions and regions have districts (local governments)

Using Nigeria as a format: Every region should establish a Community based training center (CBT) this CBT’s will run as training centers equipping people within the community with the required skill for garment manufacturing at entry level (the basic garment manufacturing course). This will be approximately 3 CBT’s in each state and 109 centers across the country

These CBT’s will have a dual function.

• ·         Training during the day
• ·         Garment Factory at night.

This plan eliminates waste of facilities, if training centers are set up for only training they would lie fallow for time without use. This plan Maximizes the investment in facilities and machinery.

Using our earlier approximation, the CBT’s would churn out at least 2000 skilled workers every quarter.

The next question would be what happens to these people where will they work? What factories will they go to.

These people become the standards that are being created and will initially plug into existing businesses (allowing our fashion professionals to produce world class clothing), bespoke houses, fashion houses and existing factories.

I anticipate a growth in quality and then quantity of clothing produced.

On another level states within a geopolitical zone will be expected to invest in at least one garment factory with a 2000 employee capacity which can run up to 3 shifts per day. This investment will be a one-time investment as the factories will be self-running and self-servicing.

As the regions/ local governments train and deploy the Operators they can be employed either locally within their communities of move to get employment in the state facilities.

This process will create jobs on every level, skilled and unskilled workers and allows there to be local production of apparel to meet the varying needs of the local communities and states.

There will be need for policy changes, laws, dedicated power grids, considerations for green production and other pertinent Issues.

This discourse did not consider the private sector whose contribution and influx into the sector will drive competitiveness and cause growth.

This is a path that we as a nation- Nigeria/Africa need to take to create a better and brighter future for one another.

You can apply these thought to you own country and regions and see how the opportunity explodes in your view.

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 The thoughts unfold layer by layer, I would be sharing this multidimensional, multi-thronged approach that affects other linked sectors like agriculture, minerals, ICT, research and development and even government.

Look out for our next post and make sure you read our previous posts The Garment Sector, Africa’s Garment Sector