In a dramatic turnaround, six Nigerian governors have pledged to breathe new life into the nation’s comatose textile sector, drawing inspiration from a transformative tour of Benin Republic’s thriving Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ).
The governors, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made the bold commitment during an inspection of the integrated industrial hub near Cotonou—part of President Bola Tinubu’s ambitious plan to establish agro-industrial processing centers across Nigeria and end the country’s over-reliance on raw commodity exports.
‘We Can Do This’: Governors United in Industrial Ambition
The delegation—comprising Governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Dikko Radda (Katsina), and Umar Namadi (Jigawa)—witnessed firsthand how deliberate policies, reliable infrastructure, and private investment can transform agricultural value chains into thriving industrial ecosystems.
Kwara Governor AbdulRazaq, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, described the mission as “an African peer-learning exercise designed to help states avoid costly mistakes and adopt proven industrial practices.”
“We have examined the cotton, cashew, and soybean value chains. What we have seen has been a tremendous success, and we will take these lessons back to Nigeria,” he declared.
PERSONAL PAIN, RENEWED PURPOSE
For Governor Lawal of Zamfara, the visit struck an emotional chord, reviving memories of his father’s textile empire and a bygone era of industrial glory.
“This takes me down memory lane because I grew up around this industry. My father was one of the owners of the Zamfara Textile Industry. At one point, the factory operated three shifts, with about 2,000 workers on each shift. Zamfara also had about 23 ginneries and an oil mill, where even cotton seeds were converted into oil,” he recalled.
“Reviving this industry is one of the legacies I want to leave in Zamfara State, and I am determined to make it a reality.”
Lessons Applied: States Map Out Industrial Path
Jigawa Governor Namadi said the GDIZ model provides a clear blueprint for the state’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, promising to “industrialize Jigawa and create sustainable jobs for our young people.”
Katsina Governor Radda emphasized the replicability of the model, noting his state’s massive cotton and soybean production capacity: “We have both comparative and competitive advantages. By applying these lessons, we can create jobs, generate wealth, and build stronger links between agriculture and industry.”
Plateau Governor Mutfwang called the GDIZ a “successful proof of concept” that demonstrates the power of political will, competent management, and intentional planning. “This kind of success requires intentionality. It cannot happen by chance.”
Governor Uzodimma praised President Tinubu for directing the delegation, describing the visit as “a practical step towards implementing the administration’s industrialization agenda” that could unlock shared prosperity across Nigeria.
One Vision, Many States
The governors affirmed that participating states are working closely with the Federal Government and development partners to provide the critical infrastructure needed to launch Nigeria’s own industrial processing zones.
AbdulRazaq noted that Nigeria had previously studied Ethiopia’s industrial model and was now building on lessons from Benin Republic to accelerate domestic manufacturing.
“This aligns with the President’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy. It demonstrates that ambition must be driven by production, processing, and a firm belief that Nigeria has the capacity to achieve it,” Mutfwang concluded.
