DIALOGUE ON THE PROTECTION OF TEXTILE HERITAGE IN NIGERIA HELD AT SEMINAR ROOM 2, CONFERENCE CENTRE, UI HOTELS, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA. APRIL 27, 2023.
The Department of Jurisprudence and International law, Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan in conjunction with University of Exeter and Federal University of Technology, Akure held a Dialogue on April 27, 2023 on the theme “Protecting Textile Heritage in Nigeria.” The Dialogue was aimed at examining reasons for the increasing extinction of indigenous textile in Nigeria and the solutions that must be put in action to protect, revive, and preserve the indigenous textile industry and heritage of Nigerians. However today, modernisation, globalisation, duplication of indigenous textile by other countries and the lack of efforts to preserve the knowledge and skills of indigenous textile-making is facing continuous threats, loss and erasure not limited to climate hazards and extreme weather events.
The workshop was attended by erudite scholars and researchers, skilled indigenous textile makers, students from different disciplines, legal practitioners, traders, tailors and fashion designers, an aspiring movie maker and others from different works of life. From the University of Ibadan were Prof. Oluyemisi A. Bamgbose, SAN. Deputy Vice Chancellor (RISP.) (UI) who gave the goodwill message on behalf of the Vice Chancellor; Prof J.O.A. Akintayo,(Head, Jurisprudence & International Law); Dr. Afolasade Adewumi (Jurisprudence & International Law); Dr Muyiwa Adigun (Public Law); Dr. Jide Ololajulo (Archaeology & Anthropology); Dr. Emuobosa Orijemie (Archaeology & Anthropology); Dr. Ibeto Fabian Onyebuchi (Agricultural Extension). Dr Olufemi Adetunji (University of Exeter); Dr. Ayeni Dorcas (FUTA); Dr Adiji Bolajoko (FUTA); Mr. Akinyemi Dolamu (Federal Poly Osun); Mrs. Oyin-Adejobi Omotolani (Polytechnic Ib.); and Mrs Olatunde Caroline Oluyemi (Assistant Director at the National Museum of Unity Ibadan were in attendance among others. The workshop brought together 47 registered participants.
Many solutions were proffered at the Dialogue towards ensuring the protection of indigenous textile in Nigeria. Some of the recommendations include: the need for the government to overhaul the existing legal framework in Nigeria to holistically address the protection, conservation and the promotion of techniques and practices of preserving textile heritage, the need for the government to provided financial support to the industry, the need to ban the importation of indigenous textiles into Nigeria with the use of legislation and policies, the great need to build an apprenticeship system to allow people learn the production of indigenous textiles in Nigeria, the need to encourage donors to give textile antiques (cultural heritage) to the museums for posterity, and most importantly, the need for every member of the society to show their endorsement for indigenous textile in Nigeria.
The participants consented that the state of Indigenous textile as cultural heritage has been greatly affected by westernization. It is fast losing its place in the community as a means of identity amongst the younger generation. Hence, The dialogue served as an eye opener to the urgent need for the government, vocational and tertiary institutions and legal institutions, as well as the everyday individual in his or her own capacity to take action to engage in the fight to protect and preserve the indigenous textile industry from extinction. There are high-hopes that all attendees in their own capacity will take action to preserve indigenous textile in Nigeria by supporting and advocating for its use, its production and also, its preservation.