Broadcast journalist and founder of the Purple Woman Foundation, Ireti Bakare-Yusuf, says Nigerian-made lace should be recognised as a Nigerian product, stressing Nigeria’s pivotal role in the lace industry.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE News, Bakare-Yusuf said Nigerian-made lace should be recognised as a Nigerian product rather than Austrian lace made in Nigeria.
She stressed that the production and workmanship of the lace are Nigerian, even where some manufacturers import materials used in the production process.
“It is not Austrian lace made in Nigeria. It is Nigeria-made lace.”
Bakare-Yusuf said Nigeria played a pivotal role in the lace industry, challenging the perception that Nigerian-made lace was an Austrian product.
“They wanted to do a history about the fact that the Austrians were denying Nigeria’s involvement, indeed the critical involvement, in fact, the pivotal involvement of Nigeria in the lace industry.”
Bakare-Yusuf said Lagos has a long-standing connection to the lace trade, with Gotà recognised as a major centre for the sale of lace in Nigeria.
“If you are a Lagos person, you would know that Gotà is the home of lace. That’s where you sell this.”
Bakare-Yusuf explained that while some Nigerian manufacturers imported materials such as yarn, the production and workmanship were carried out in Nigeria.
“Rudy used to import some of the yarns and stuff like that. But the workmanship is Nigerian.”
She said the failure to properly identify Nigerian-made lace has contributed to the misconception that some locally produced lace is manufactured in Austria.
“The failure to properly identify Nigerian-made lace has contributed to the misconception that some locally produced lace is manufactured in Austria”.
Bakare-Yusuf cited Supreme Lace as an example, saying the brand is known by many Nigerians but its Nigerian manufacturing origins are not always recognised.
“Many people will know what Supreme Lace is. It’s just that many would have been fooled to think it was made in Austria, not in Agege.”
She said Nigeria should take greater ownership of its lace industry and ensure that locally manufactured products are properly recognised as Nigerian.
“We need to make it ours.”
She said Nigeria’s contribution to the lace industry should be properly documented and recognised, highlighting the important role played by Nigerian traders and manufacturers in developing the market.
“It is important that Nigeria’s contribution to the lace industry is properly documented and recognised, particularly the role of Nigerian traders and manufacturers in developing the market.”
She also highlighted the significance of the documentary in bringing attention to Nigeria’s contribution to the industry.
“Austria paid for that documentary. That’s our story. Nigeria didn’t pay for it.”
Goodness Anunobi
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