I will create thousands of jobs by reviving textile industries, cotton ginneries, oil mills - Governor Lawal

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has announced ambitious plans to generate thousands of jobs by revitalizing the state's dormant textile industries, cotton ginneries, and oil mills. This initiative aims to transform Zamfara's economic landscape by re-establishing its agricultural processing capabilities.

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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.

Governor Lawal's vision was significantly shaped by a recent visit to the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) near Cotonou, Benin Republic. Witnessing the GDIZ's success in processing cotton, cashew nuts, and soybeans into finished and semi-finished products provided a practical model for Nigeria's efforts to establish agro-industrial hubs.

The GDIZ model, as observed by Lawal, demonstrates the power of coordinated government policy, robust infrastructure, and private sector investment. It effectively links farmers to processors, reduces the export of raw commodities, and fosters job creation across agricultural and manufacturing value chains.

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This visit has given me a clear pathway. Reviving this industry is one of the legacies I want to leave in Zamfara State, and I am determined to make it a reality.

This visit evoked personal memories for Governor Lawal, recalling Zamfara's past as a hub for textile manufacturing. He remembers a time when the Zamfara Textile Industry employed thousands, and numerous ginneries and an oil mill operated, even processing cotton seeds into oil. He is determined to recreate this economic vitality, viewing the revival of these industries as a key legacy he wishes to leave for Zamfara State.

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When the entire system is restored, farmers, processors and manufacturers will participate in the value chain, creating jobs, adding value and improving the economic conditions of our people.